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Making a house easy to navigate for an individual with Parkinson’s is very simple to do with some quick changes. View our room by room diagram for some fast ideas.

Office

• Use a chair with a firm, straight back. Avoid chairs with soft cushions, swivel chairs or chairs with wheels.
• Make sure there are no exposed wires that could be tripped over. Plan where furniture is arranged so that extension cords aren’t needed.
• Use a telephone with large buttons so numbers can be easily dialed. Enter numbers into speed dial and use voice commands where technology allows.

Bedroom

• Select loose clothing that is easy to take on and off. Velcro can be helpful.
• Make sure a firm chair is available to use when dressing and a footstool to use when putting on shoes.
• Avoid use of space heaters, electric blankets and other flammable fire hazards.
• Install a bed rail between the mattress and box spring.
• Use nightlights to keep the room from getting too dark and difficult to navigate at night.

Kitchen

• Use self-closing cabinets and drawers.
• Lower counter spaces and work spaces so that cooking and kitchen tasks can be performed from a sitting position.
• Use a food processor for cutting and peeling vegetables and other hard to eat foods.
• Install nonskid rubber mats near sink and stove. Clean up spills immediately.

Bathroom

• Have grab bars and handrails securely installed in the bathroom.
• Use a shower chair and a hand-held shower spray. b baths are taken, use a tub transfer bench.
• Use only rubber or rubber back mats in the bathroom to keep it skid free and safe.

Garage

• Have a phone put into the garage in case the person with Parkinson’s should fall or get stuck inside the garage and need to call for help.
• Put things away and off the floor to avoid falling over loose objects. Minimize clutter.
• Install handrails along walls and stairwells.

Whole House

• Make sure all rugs are anchored and smooth.
• Keep furniture in its usual place and make sure wide spaces are placed between furniture to make it easy to move around.
• Invest in touchable lamps or those that react to sound.

Outside

• Seal and fix cracks in pavement.
• Install sufficient light on front and back porch.
• Install handrails along all staircases and entryways.
• Pick up tools and garden items to prevent falling.

Tips courtesy of Parkinsons’s Hope.com

Contact CareWorks Health Services for more information about how to create a safer home for loved ones with Parkinson’s disease or to learn more about our Orange County senior care services.

Click here to download a printable PDF version of this page.

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