Grooming

Using the Bathroom Sink

• Faucets are often easier to use when the handles are lever handles, which allow a person to turn water on and off with a fist or arm movement. Finger movements and grasping is often difficult for stroke survivors, so handles that require these types of movements may need to be replaced.

• A person in a wheelchair will find it difficult to reach the sink unless the sink is a cut-out or roll under sink, which provides room for legs underneath the seat while in a seated position. Someone who uses a walker or cane may find it helpful to use a roll under sink so they can sit on a chair while at the bathroom sink. A cabinet under a sink may be removed to provide the space. In addition, pipes should be covered or insulated to avoid leg burns.

• Someone who is forced to use only one hand will find it difficult to use items such as nail brushes and soap bottles. Suction pads can be used to hold tools in place on a counter top. Using the suction pad as a stabilizer reduces the need for using a hand to hold the object. Squeeze bottles and soap pumps may be easier to use than products’ original containers.

• Brushing teeth can be made easier by increasing the size of the toothbrush handle and using a flip-top for dispensing toothpaste. A toothpaste squeezer may also be helpful for people with limited grasping ability.

• To ensure that the individual is able to set the water to the correct temperature, it may be useful to mark the desired settings just as one with limited vision or feeling would do for their bath faucet.

• When shaving, an electric razor may be easier to handle and safer than a regular razor.