Maylee S. is proud of the house she has called home for over 30 years. It’s a safe and quiet place to raise her children, befriend her neighbors, and tend to multiple gardens of beautiful flowers.
At age 63, after working many years in a local clinic and nearing retirement, Maylee suffered a stroke that changed her life. She lost the working use of her entire right side and her ability to speak. Not only a traumatic event, but an ill-timed one, as it occurred at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic when many services were shut down.
Following her hospital and rehab time, Maylee was confined to her home to recover. She was unable to leave her home on her own, as she could not use her walker on the steep front stairs and walkway.
Where to turn for help?
Making Maylee’s home safe
The Age Well at Home team conducted an intake interview with Maylee to assess her needs and better understand her capabilities and limitations. It was determined that she would benefit most from:
- accessible stairs from her front door and down a steep hill to the street
- sturdy railing running alongside the steps
- higher toilet
- shower bench
In September 2020, the Age Well at Home team was able to build a set of wooden steps that are “accessible” for Maylee to use with her walker because they are wider and more shallow than regular stairs. The team collaborated with a local contractor to build a beautiful set of sturdy iron railings alongside the new staircase, providing Maylee with a safe and dependable means to lean against the railings on both sides of the stairs, while gripping her walker securely with her left hand.
Her son, or another family member or friend, could accompany her down the steps if needed, but she gained immediate independence with the installation of the stairs and railing.
Lastly, a shower bench was purchased and positioned to enable Maylee to safely sit and shower with a handheld shower wand in her left hand.
“It has made a huge difference”
“I appreciate so much all the work Age Well at Home did to help me to recover from my stroke and allow me to move better.
I can now get in and out of my home more easily and safely to work in my flower gardens, to go to doctor’s visits, and to visit friends and family.
I couldn’t afford to have this work done without Age Well at Home, and it has made a huge difference for me in getting in and out of my house and taking care of my personal needs in my home.” – Maylee S.