Home is where the heart is and this is especially true for mesothelioma home care. But providing care at home for a loved one with mesothelioma requires making some adjustments. Safety is a top priority. Comfort and convenience are also important both for the mesothelioma patient and the caregiver. Making a few changes in the home for mesothelioma home care can make things easier for everyone and improve the overall environment for care.
Here adapted for mesothelioma home care are some suggestions from the book The Comfort of Home An Illustrated Step-by-Step Guide for Caregivers:
(For a list of suggested home medical equipment you may need, click here.)
Safety in the Home Environment
- The ideal home environment is on one level, the ground floor. Consider setting up your mesothelioma patient’s room on the ground floor if your home consists of multiple stories.
- Remove unnecessary furniture such as low tables that may be a barrier to a clear path in a room.
- Arrange the remaining furniture to provide enough room for a walker or wheelchair. To accommodate a wheelchair, furniture should be five and a half feet apart.
- Adjust furniture so it will not move if leaned on.
- Try to have a few chairs with armrests long enough to help the person get up and down from sitting.
- Make chair seats 20” high for ease of transfer to and from a wheelchair
- Modify or cushion sharp corners on furniture, cabinets and vanities
- Place non-skid tape on the edges of any stairs.
- Tack or tape down area rugs.
- Install lever handles on all doors.
- To widen doorways, remove molding and change regular hinges to offset hinges. Remove room doors if possible.
- Install entry ramps. Rails can be added for safety.
- Always provide railings along stairs. When possible, extend the handrail past the bottom and top step.
- Make sure all hand rails can bear the person’s full weight and will not give way.
- Plan for extra outdoor lighting for good nighttime visibility, especially on stairs and walkways.
- If your mesothelioma patient relies on breathing equipment, have a plan of action in case of a power outage.