Keeping Stroke Victims Safe in the Kitchen


For many stroke victims, recovery is a lifelong process and includes mental, physical and emotional rehabilitation. It can also present some safety challenges around the home, and that is especially true in the kitchen. However, there are some steps families and professional caregivers can take to make sure the kitchen is safe after a stroke.

Meal preparation can be difficult for some stroke victims, especially if they have yet to recover the full motor function of their hands, but for many older adults, maintaining independence is important. Rather than preparing food for them, helping them in the process, such as by cutting fruits and vegetables, can make cooking go more smoothly, but most of all safely.

Cooking isn’t the only safety hazard in the kitchen for stroke victims. They might also have a significant risk of falling, especially if there are items in hard-to-reach places. If there are certain things they use on a regular basis, but that require reaching or bending, caregivers may want to make them more easily accessible.

Above all else, senior care providers should make a point to remove any tripping hazards. Any stray clutter or loose rugs could raise the risk of a fall, which are the leading cause of injury-related deaths among seniors.