homeafterstroke.blogspot.com
Home After a Stroke
Work Smarter Instead of Harder
June 22, 2022
An Unexpected Delight
June 13, 2022
A Window Into My Soul
For a month I have worked hard to get rid of many possessions before I move to an independent living facility in Michigan. A friend has loaded up my car five times with things to donate and put possessions on the curb on four garbage days. This friend has expressed remorse about some of my decisions to get rid of stuff. Today I realized why I have been steadfast and relentless about my decisions to get rid of so many possessions.
For 18 years I have been living in a spacious home that makes me happy. I would be depressed if I saw boxes stacked against the living room and bedroom walls of my apartment because they do not fit in my walk-in closet.June 3, 2022
Reasons for Letting Go
I am getting ready to move to an independent living facility in Michigan and have spent the last three weeks giving nice things to charity and throwing others in the garbage. Living in 9 different residences in 5 different states over the years has given me plenty of practice with the process of letting go of objects. Early moves when I was in my twenties taught me to think about getting rid of belongings that my husband and I never took out of boxes since the previous move.
I am also motivated to let go by the high cost of facilities for old people. I used graph paper to plot the small apartment I can afford and put my furniture in it. I learned I have to get rid of more than I anticipated. Every piece of furniture has to do double duty. For example, my small kitchen table will be used as a desk and a breakfast table. My small bookcase will hold belongings I used to keep in the big buffet below and a big roll top desk. My radio/CD player will sit on top of the bookcase.The payback for a stressful move is that I will be in a safe environment and be closer to my family. homeafterstroke.blogspot.com
May 26, 2022
Open & Close Cereal/Bread One-handed
May 20, 2022
Downsizing Begins
After my visit to an independent living center in Michigan, the reality of downsizing became real. After I drew my furniture on a grid it became clear that the one bedroom apartment I can afford is too small for my beloved oak furniture. For example, it took me two days to empty my desk and find a tiny alternative. I am testing the efficiency of my new arrangement instead of waiting to figure it out as I unpack in a new environment. It is better to find out now what I really need and what I can live without. I took photos to help me remember the complicated new configuration. homeafterstroke.blogspot.com
From 200 pound monstrosity to
May 12, 2022
Lucky Shoes
I never win lotteries or raffles so I was stunned when I had good luck finding a discontinued shoe I bought repeatedly for 18 years. My brace man trimmed my leg brace to fit the shoe shown below. Buying the same shoe over and over meant I never had to try on shoes to see if they fit. On a lark, I went to the shoe store I have been using for 18 years and asked if they had this shoe stashed in the back even though it is no longer made. I was stunned when the salesman walked out of the back room swinging 2 boxes with a grin on his face. They were not only size 6 double wide, they were the beige color that goes with everything. He was glad to sell them and I was thrilled to delay wondering if my brace would fit a new shoe. homeafterastroke.blogspot
May 4, 2022
Equipment that is WalMart Cheap



homeafterstroke.blogspot.com
April 27, 2022
Bathing When I Travel
When I travel I cannot count on towel racks being close to the shower. Before I get in the shower I check to see if the toilet is close to the shower. If it is far away I drag a chair from the bedroom and place it close to the shower. Then I open a towel and put it on the closed toilet seat or chair. This gives me a clean place to sit after I get out of the shower. I also put a folded towel on the closed toilet lid or a chair so I can dry myself. After I am dressed I take the stool out of the bathtub. I fold the stool and place it on the towel covered toilet seat and use the ends of the towel to wipe off the water. homeafterstroke.blogspot.com
April 13, 2022
Good News about arthritis in my Good Hand
Eighteen years of overuse damaged the cartilage in the finger joints of my sound hand. This produced bone-on-bone pain and swelling. Fear about losing the use of my good hand motivated me to follow the joint protection principles I wrote about on February 11th, 18th, and 25th.
After 2 months the pain and swelling in my good hand receded. For example, a painful hand no longer wakes me up before my alarm clock goes off. To see if the brief pain in my middle finger also disappears I decided to stop doing crossword puzzles. Currently I am reading books I got from the library while I drink my morning coffee. Thank God I have a book easel. My post of April 28, 2020 shows how I read hands-free.
Now I have to figure what to do with my aching good shoulder. Moving objects I use regularly to the bottom shelves in my kitchen cabinets has helped. Now I have to tackle the ache I feel when I drive for 45 minutes. When I visited Point Pleasant Beach recently, I was concerned about the ache I felt in my shoulder towards the end of the ride. This was a surprise because my good shoulder does not hurt when the steering wheel pulls to the left as I slow down to stop for a light. However, keeping my car in its lane during long slow curves on the highway takes sustained effort. My plan is to see if new tires and a front end alignment makes a difference.
Bottom Line: Pain turned into a guide for what to do about arthritis. homeafterstroke.blogspot.com
April 4, 2022
My Pill Map
I take 10 pills a day so I need a system to make sure I take them correctly. I am highly motivated because my pills can help prevent another stroke. For example, taking a baby aspirin every day thins my blood. Once a week I open all my bottles to put my pills in a 7 day pill box. Two or three times a year I put 2 tiny pills in one day's compartment but no pill in the next day's compartment. They are so small they can slip out of my hand without my feeling it. I catch this mistake with my back-up strategy.