To Stay Home or Not to Stay

overcome homebound!

We're out of the car now, entering the home may be our next obstacle. But what about that threshold?! Stepping over that edge may seem next to impossible! Now that we have covered car transfers and managing that floppy wheelchair we can cover the next home safety area and throw in a few tips and tricks along the way.

Door jams can be simple. They can be downright scary. It depends on your ability, assistance provided and what type of surface you are stepping from and to.

There are other questions to ask here as well. Do you have any specific handicapped grab bars? Is your door jam an inch high, level or a gigantic 3-4 inch drop (as that is what it may look like to patients!)

Tip #1: One of the few but best tips on threshold transfers is as simple as turning side ways (if you don't use a walker) and using the door jam as a hold assist. This allows more muscles to actually stabilize your stepping up and down.

It is wiser yet to lower yourself with your stronger side trailing and to raise yourself back up into the door way etc with your stronger side leading. This way strength lowers you and strength pulls you back up.

If you are using a walker, for some of the scariest thresholds, back up to them and step back wards and up using your walker as something to push on. Stepping down is as simple as walking as close to the edge of the door jam as possible then lowering the entire walker so all four legs are touching the other side of the threshold and stepping down using the walker to lean on.

Tip #2: Grab bars are a lifesaver but can be costly and unsightly. I have learned over the years that a simple door pull handle or two (excuse the pretty door pull, there are simpler ones out there) strategically placed can sometimes be all the extra umph in the right place that mom needs to get in and out of her front (back or any) door safely.

They are cheaper than grab bars and even though the more elegant ones are more than the basic ones, they are still cheaper and less noticeable than the bigger white or silver grab bars.

Tip #3: If you need to fix any drop from the threshold to the next surface, this is easily done with a piece of ply wood and a two by four. Be sure to secure it in place (I'm not a carpenter sorry) so it won't "walk" or "inch" away, leaving a fall inviting gap.

These uneven surface differences can be difficult for mom to see if she has any type of eye trouble or spatial disorientation. They can be equally as scary for the post stroke or total joint replacement patient as well.

The goal here? Make life safe and simple for your loved one to get out! Fresh air and sunshine are some of the best medicine for everyone! Help them to be able to utilize this free resource. Ever had cabin fever? It happens to everyone! Your loved one is no different.

Remember that home medical equipment will always be there but it will always be far more expensive than the alternatives.

Back to Home Safety from Threshold Management

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