Month: September 2025

What is Stairs

A physiotherapist will teach the best way of managing stairs but in the absence of expert advice most people find it easier to put the good leg up first going up and the affected leg first going down.

What is Walking

After a stroke the ankle may be unstable and the foot may drop. Hip and knee control may be diminished. The patient’s walking needs to be assessed                                            by a physiotherapist who will teach independent … Read more

What is Wheelchairs

Sometimes a wheelchair will be a useful temporary measure to help the patient get to the lavatory instead of using a commode or get out of the house for a change. But this should not stop the person earning to walk and thereby becoming more independent even if a chair is still needed for longer … Read more

What is Getting around

hysiotherapists are the people to advise on mobility and someone who has not been in hospital should ask the doctor to arrange for physiotherapy to learn the best way of moving around safely. In some districts community physiotherapists make home visits. They will also advise the carer on how best to give help with getting … Read more

What is Cooking and housework

When someone has great difficulty cooking and doing the housework the local Social Services department may be able to arrange for meals-on-wheels and/or a home help. Meals-on-wheels are delivered to the home one or more days a week for a small charge, Some areas run lunch clubs where people who are able to get out … Read more

What is Personal hygiene

Bathroom and toilet doors should not be locked. If this creates a problem, fit a special lock which can be opened from outside in an emergency. If the bathroom or toilet is small it will be safer to have the door rehung to open outwards. If getting on and off the toilet is a problem, … Read more

What is Meal times

If swallowing food is a problem a speech therapist should be asked to help. When the affected hand has limited grip, cutlery with extra thick handles will be easier to hold. A cheese knife with a sharp curved blade can be used to cut through food with downward pressure and a rocking action. It is … Read more

What is Activities of daily living

When coping with activities of daily living is too difficult, help should be sought from occupational therapists employed by the local Social Services department or the local hospital occupational therapy department. OTs and physiotherapists can help with re-learning these activities and if necessary teaching new ways of doing them. OTs will be able to recommend … Read more

What is Memory and concentration

It is quite common to have difficulty in remembering new information after a stroke. This makes it harder to learn new ways of coping with dressing and other activities of daily living. There may be the loss of the ability, to remember pieces of information in sequence, like all the digits of a telephone number … Read more