Recovery at home
Setting up home after a stroke: daily living, one-handed tasks and safety
“Dad's coming home from stroke rehab next week with one weak side. What do we actually need to change at home, and what should we buy before he gets here?”
Start with safety, not gadgets: make the bathroom and the night-time toilet trip safe, clear trip hazards, and put the things used every day within reach of the stronger hand. Then add a few one-handed aids for eating, dressing and the kitchen. Follow the rehab team's advice first, and don't buy mobility equipment the rehab team hasn't recommended.
I'm Christian. I run Ability Warehouse and I hold a Bachelor of Medical Science, with years working across pharmacies and the disability sector alongside people of different ages and abilities. I'm not an occupational therapist, a physio or a speech pathologist — for anything clinical I'll point you to one. These articles are here to help you choose what genuinely fits.
- Australia-wide delivery
- Members save 10%
- Written to help, not to upsell
Where do you actually start?
Coming home after a stroke is a big step, and it's easy to feel you need to buy everything before the car pulls into the driveway. You don't. The first job is to make the home safe for the way the person moves now; the second is to make daily tasks possible with one stronger side; the third is to make them easier. Do those in that order and you'll spend less and get more right.
Most people come home with some mix of weakness on one side, tiredness that arrives quickly, and changes to balance. Some also have changes to swallowing, speech, vision or attention on one side. Those last few are clinical, and the rehab team will tell you what applies. What follows works for the common, practical problems.
Safe first, possible second, easier third. Make the bathroom and the night-time toilet trip safe before you buy a single gadget.
Before they come home: ask the rehab team these questions
Five questions worth asking before discharge
Write the answers down. They'll decide most of what you need to buy.
- Has anyone looked at the home, or will they?Ask whether an OT will do a home visit or an assessment, or whether they can go through photos and measurements with you. Many rehab teams arrange something; it's worth asking rather than assuming.
- How should they walk, and with what?If the physio has chosen a walking aid — a quad stick, a frame — use that one, set at the height they set. Don't swap it for something you bought online.
- How do they get on and off the toilet, bed and shower?Ask exactly how they've been doing transfers in rehab, and whether they need someone with them. Copy that method at home.
- Are there any eating, drinking or swallowing instructions?If a speech pathologist has recommended particular drinks, food textures or cups, follow that exactly. Don't change it because a different cup looks easier.
- Which side should we set things up on?There are good reasons to put things on the stronger side, and sometimes good reasons to encourage use of the weaker side or attention to it. Ask the OT what they want for this person.
A room-by-room check before the first night
Walk through the home the way the person will move through it — slowly, and at night with the lights off except for what they'd use. Tick off what's done. Most of this costs nothing.
Room-by-room safety check
Tick each one as you go. It saves on this device so you can come back to it.
Getting around
-
Why it matters
Weakness on one side often makes one foot catch or drag. Loose rugs and cords are the easy thing to remove.
-
Why it matters
Night-time toilet trips are a common time for falls. Being able to see the floor and the doorway helps.
-
Why it matters
A rail on the side of the stronger hand gives something solid to hold. If there isn't one, ask the OT about it.
Bathroom and toilet
-
See shower chairs and stools
Why it matters
Standing on one leg on a wet floor to wash the feet is the riskiest part of a shower. Sitting removes it.
-
See raised toilet seats
Why it matters
If not, a raised toilet seat or a toilet frame with arms usually solves it.
-
Why it matters
Towel rails and suction rails are not designed to take a person's weight in a stumble.
Bedroom
-
Why it matters
A bed that's too low makes standing hard; too high and the feet dangle. Bed risers or a lower mattress can fix it — ask the OT first.
-
Why it matters
Reaching across the body with the weaker side, or twisting, is when people lose balance.
Kitchen and living area
-
Why it matters
No climbing, no bending to the back of low cupboards, no reaching overhead with one arm.
-
Why it matters
Low, soft couches are hard to get out of with one strong arm.
-
Why it matters
Including the GP, the rehab team, a family member — and make sure everyone knows to call 000 in an emergency.
The bathroom: where to put your money first
If you buy only a few things, make them for the bathroom. Wet floors, hard surfaces and getting up and down are a hard combination with one weaker side.
- A shower seat. If they're reasonably steady, a stool may be enough; if their sitting balance isn't reliable, choose a chair with a backrest and arms. A shower stool with armrests adjusts 48–60cm and is rated to 136kg. A shower chair with a backrest and arms adjusts 37.5–52.5cm, has 53.5cm between the arms and is rated to 140kg. If they shower over a bath, a transfer bench lets them sit outside the bath and slide across instead of stepping over the wall.
- Toilet height and arms. A raised toilet seat with armrests comes in 5, 10 and 15cm heights with arms 21cm above the seat, rated to 136kg. Or an over-toilet frame with 48cm between the arms and a seat height of 47–63cm gives two arms to push up from.
- A proper grab rail. A fixed rail where they turn and sit. A ribbed grab rail comes in 30, 45 and 60cm lengths with a 3.2cm diameter and concealed fixings — have it fixed into a stud or with proper wall fixings by someone who knows how.
For washing one-handed, a long-handled sponge or back washer helps reach the back, the stronger arm and the feet without twisting.
One-handed daily living: eating, drinking, dressing and the kitchen
Once the home is safe, small aids can give back a lot of independence. The principle is simple: hold things still so one hand can do the work, and make handles bigger or easier to grip.
- Eating. The hardest part one-handed is chasing food around the plate. A plate guard clips onto a 20–30cm round plate to give a wall to push food against. A scoop plate has a lip that grades from 1.3 to 3.8cm high, built into the plate. Bendable cutlery has soft-grip handles and a shaft you can bend to the angle that suits.
- Drinking. A two-handled mug (200ml) is easier to hold steady, and a light non-slip cup (42g) is easy to lift one-handed. If the speech pathologist has given instructions about drinks or cups, follow those first.
- Dressing. Elastic coiler laces turn lace-ups into slip-ons and fit up to eight pairs of eyelets. A button hook and zip puller (23.5cm) does buttons one-handed. A long-handled shoehorn (45cm) helps with shoes without bending far. Our dressing aids guide goes deeper.
- The kitchen. A food workstation (a 50 × 30cm board with a clamp that opens up to 11cm) holds a bowl or jar still while you work one-handed. A battery-powered one-touch jar opener takes jars 3–8.8cm across.
One thing to raise with the OT: a common piece of rehab advice is to dress the weaker side first and undress it last. Ask them to show you the method they've been practising, and stick to it at home.
What to buy now, and what to leave for later
Your shortlist — tick what applies
Tick only the items that match a problem you've actually seen or the rehab team has flagged. We'll build a list with live prices. If you're not sure, ask us first — we'll happily tell you to hold off.
Safety first (before the first shower)
-
Shower stool with armrests
Why it matters
Adjusts 48–60cm, rated to 136kg.
-
Wide Aluminium Shower Chair
Why it matters
Adjusts 37.5–52.5cm, 53.5cm between the arms, rated to 140kg.
-
Raised Toilet Seat with Armrests
Why it matters
5, 10 or 15cm heights, armrests 21cm above the seat, rated to 136kg.
-
Grab Rail - President
Why it matters
Lengths of 30, 45 or 60cm, 3.2cm diameter, concealed fixings. Have it fitted properly into the wall.
Daily living (once you've seen what's hard)
Only if the rehab team recommends it
-
Comfort-Plus MiniQuad Cane - Airgo
Why it matters
The small-base quad stick adjusts 71–99cm and is rated to 136kg, but the physio should choose the aid and set the height.
-
Why it matters
These are prescribed and fitted by the rehab team for a specific reason. Please don't buy them on spec.
Your suggested list
Prices are live; members save 10%. Tick items above to build this list. Not sure? Ask us first — we’ll happily tell you to hold off.
Buy now, or wait for the OT?
Buying ahead vs waiting for an assessment
Worth sorting before they come home
- Clearing walkways, adding night lighting and moving everyday items within reach — free, and helps from day one.
- A shower seat, so the first shower at home is done sitting down.
- A way to manage the toilet safely, especially at night — a raised seat, a frame or a bedside commode, matching what they did in rehab.
- Simple, low-cost one-handed aids like elastic laces or a plate guard, once you know that task is hard.
Better to wait (or spend nothing yet)
- Walking aids, wheelchairs and transfer equipment — the physio or OT should choose and set these.
- Splints, braces and positioning aids — they're prescribed for a reason, not bought on a hunch.
- Building work or expensive changes to the bathroom — get an OT's recommendation first.
- Anything for a problem you haven't seen yet. Recovery often continues for months, and what's hard in week one may not be hard by week six.
Pacing, tiredness and keeping things the same
Tiredness after a stroke is common and can be overwhelming, and it makes everything else harder — balance, concentration, patience. Build the day around it. Put the shower at the time of day they have most energy, sit down for tasks that can be done sitting, and break bigger jobs into short sessions with rests in between.
Keep things in the same place, every day. A consistent layout means less searching, less reaching and fewer surprises, which helps everyone, especially if memory, attention or vision has been affected. A talking clock that announces the time can help with orientation for some people.
And look after the carer. Helping someone recover from a stroke is a long job. Accept help, take breaks, and use the support services below — they exist for carers as much as for survivors.
When to call the rehab team, the GP or 000
A quick word on paying for it
If the person is on a funded plan, check with their plan manager, support coordinator or funding body about how products like this are handled before you buy — everyone's situation is different. We are not a registered NDIS provider. We provide a tax invoice listing the item and our ABN on every order, which is usually what's needed for a claim or reimbursement.
Questions & answers
What equipment do you need at home after a stroke?
It depends on the person, but the usual starting point is the bathroom: a shower chair or stool, a way to stand from the toilet safely (a raised seat or frame with arms) and a properly fixed grab rail. Add one-handed aids for eating, dressing and the kitchen once you've seen which tasks are hard. Walking aids should be chosen by the physio.
Should we buy equipment before the person comes home from hospital?
Sort out safety before they arrive: clear walkways, add night lighting, and set up the shower and toilet. Hold off on walking aids, splints and expensive changes until the rehab team has recommended them, because they need to be chosen and set for the individual.
How can someone eat with one hand after a stroke?
A plate guard or scoop plate gives a wall to push food against, a non-slip surface stops the plate moving, and thicker-handled or bendable cutlery is easier to hold. If a speech pathologist has given instructions about food textures, drinks or cups, follow those first.
Which side should things go on after a stroke?
There are good reasons for different approaches, depending on the person. Putting everyday items on the stronger side makes them easier to reach, but the rehab team may want to encourage use of, or attention to, the weaker side. Ask the OT what they recommend for this person.
What should we do if we see signs of another stroke?
Use the F.A.S.T. test: Face — has their mouth drooped? Arms — can they lift both arms? Speech — is it slurred, and do they understand you? Time is critical: if you see any of these signs, call 000 straight away.
Safe first, then one task at a time
Make the bathroom and the night-time toilet trip safe, clear the floors, and put everyday things within easy reach. Then watch which daily tasks are genuinely hard and solve those one at a time, with the rehab team's advice leading the way. If you'd like a second opinion on a shortlist, call us on (02) 9125 4293 — we'll tell you what's worth it and what can wait. Free advice for stroke survivors and carers is also available from StrokeLine on 1800 787 653.
This article is general information to help you set up the home after a stroke. It is not medical or rehabilitation advice and does not replace the hospital or rehab team, who should guide walking aids, transfers, swallowing and any prescribed equipment. In an emergency, call 000. Specifications mentioned are taken from each product's listing as at November 2026; the live product cards show the current details and price.
Sources
- Stroke Foundation — signs of stroke (F.A.S.T.) (opens in a new tab)
- EnableMe (Stroke Foundation) — StrokeLine 1800 787 653, free advice for survivors and carers (opens in a new tab)
- Occupational Therapy Australia — find an occupational therapist near you (opens in a new tab)
- healthdirect — occupational therapy: what an OT does (opens in a new tab)
