Regain Your Independence By Make These Five Simple Changes To Your Life

One day you could be driving your own car, doing your own laundry, and cooking four course meals, then suddenly require help just to get yourself dressed. Whether you have survived a debilitating stroke, became paralyzed in an accident, or have rheumatoid arthritis, you don't have to allow your disability or injury to prevent you from enjoying an independent life. While additional equipment such as stair lifts might be needed to complete various tasks, you can easily adjust to a new life that involves better mobility and freedom. Be patient with yourself, accept assistance when you need it, and implement these five basic changes to your lifestyle to lead an independent and fulfilling life.

1. Have A Walk-in Shower Installed - Having the ability to bathe yourself is a big deal, especially when you are not accustomed to needing round-the-clock care. Walk-in showers make it easier for people with limited mobility to bathe themselves thoroughly, without fear of falling or slipping. If you have trouble lifting yourself off the ground, a walk-in shower eliminates the difficulty you would have getting in and out of a bathtub.

2. Use A Stair Lift - Although stair lifts are generally used by people who are wheelchair bound, they are also exceptionally useful for those who have limited ranges of mobility in their feet, legs, hips and arms. Utilizing stair lifts makes disabled persons more independent as they no longer have to feel like they are confined to any particular parts of their home and can move about without dreading what could be a potentially dangerous trip.For more information about stair lifts, contact companies like All-Star Lifts.

3. Adopt A Service Dog - Stair lifts can help disabled persons to get down to the basement or up to a bedroom, but service dogs can help carry important items and even act as early warning devices. Service dogs not only make great companions at home, they are also very helpful when it comes to travel. If you are normally nervous about venturing out on your own, adopting a service dog can help you to regain your confidence and become better acquainted with the idea of going shopping on your own, without outside help.

4. Embrace Pubic Transportation And Paratransit - If you don't have a vehicle that you feel that you can operate safely, you might be relying on relatives and friends to help you go from point A to B. What may make you feel more independent is having the ability to create your own travel schedule by using public transportation to get around instead. Paratransit services can be sent out to your home, while public transportation regularly makes accommodations for those with physical impairments and disabilities. 

5. Move To A One-Story Home - While stairlifts can be used to modify a multi-story home so that it is more accessible for people with impaired mobility, living in a ranch styled home or even one-level apartment might personally be better for you. Living in a home that consists of a single level can help you to go from one room to another faster, enabling you to feel more independent and in better control of your surroundings.


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