Journey Together
Accessibility
Ramps & Entryways
Grab Bars & HAndrails
Grab Bars & HAndrails
- Why: Ramps make entry easier for those with mobility issues, providing a smooth, safe way to enter and exit.
- Tips: Ensure ramps have a gentle slope, sturdy handrails, and non-slip surfaces.
Grab Bars & HAndrails
Grab Bars & HAndrails
Grab Bars & HAndrails
- Why: Grab bars offer stability and prevent falls, especially in bathrooms.
- Tips: Install bars near toilets, showers, and stairs, ensuring they’re securely mounted. More tips for creating an accessible-friendly home.
Adjustable Furniture
Grab Bars & HAndrails
Adjustable Furniture
- Why: Adjustable furniture like desks, chairs, and beds can help reduce strain and improve comfort.
- Tips: Look for options that can be raised or lowered to suit your needs.
Ergonomic Tools
Non-Slip Flooring & Rugs
Adjustable Furniture
- Why: Ergonomic tools reduce strain on hands and joints, making daily tasks easier.
- Tips: Use long-handled grabbers, easy-grip utensils, and jar openers to minimize effort.
Non-Slip Flooring & Rugs
Non-Slip Flooring & Rugs
Non-Slip Flooring & Rugs
- Why: Non-slip floors prevent falls and make moving around safer.
- Tips: Choose low-pile carpets or non-slip vinyl, and use rug pads to keep them in place. A non-slip mat in a shower can also help.
Smart Home Technology
Non-Slip Flooring & Rugs
Non-Slip Flooring & Rugs
- Why: Smart devices simplify tasks by allowing voice control or automation.
- Tips: Use voice-activated assistants, motion sensors, and smart thermostats to enhance convenience.
IMPROVED LIGHTING
WIDER DOORWAYS & LEVERS
WIDER DOORWAYS & LEVERS
- Why: Bright, well-placed lighting helps prevent accidents and improves visibility, especially for those with low vision or balance.
- Tips: Use motion-sensor lights or nightlights in hallways and bathrooms. Consider adjustable lamps to direct light where needed.
WIDER DOORWAYS & LEVERS
WIDER DOORWAYS & LEVERS
WIDER DOORWAYS & LEVERS
- Why: Wider doorways allow easier access for wheelchairs, walkers, or other mobility aids. Using a lever instead of a doorknob can make it easier to open a door.
- Tips: If possible, widen door frames to 32–36 inches to accommodate mobility aids comfortably.
ACCESSIBLE STORAGE
WIDER DOORWAYS & LEVERS
ACCESSIBLE STORAGE
- Why: Easy-to-reach storage helps minimize bending, stretching, or lifting, reducing strain.
- Tips: Place frequently used items at waist height or use pull-out shelves, baskets, and drawers to make everything accessible. Consider using adhesive hooks, strips, and products.
Order
DECLUTTER
Create Zones
Create Zones
- Why: Clutter can be overwhelming and physically dangerous if mobility is an issue.
- Tips: Tackle one drawer or surface at a time; keep only what you use or love. Here are some ways to declutter and tidy a space.
Create Zones
Create Zones
Create Zones
- Why: Knowing where things belong reduces decision fatigue and movement around the house.
- Tips: Group items by activity (meds, rest, hobbies), and use trays or bins to define spaces.
Label
Create Zones
Use Easy Storage
- Why: Brain fog, memory challenges, or fatigue can make it hard to remember where things go.
- Tips: Use words, colors, or pictures on bins, drawers, and shelves. Seeing things labeled can also help bring a sense of control.
Use Easy Storage
Follow gentle routines
Use Easy Storage
- Why: Easy-to-access storage reduces physical effort.
- Tips: Use clear bins, drawer dividers, and keep everyday items at waist height. Here are some ways to organize and store items.
Follow gentle routines
Follow gentle routines
Follow gentle routines
- Why: Routinely tidying a little each day can help make decluttering and organizing more manageable.
- Tips: Link small tasks to daily moments—like organizing after resting or tidying after a meal.
Make a Calm Space
Follow gentle routines
Follow gentle routines
- Why: Having a calming area is crucial for rest, recovery, and mental clarity.
- Tips: Set up a cozy zone with soft lighting, comfort items, and low noise.
Reduce Decisions
Use Helpful Tools
Use Helpful Tools
- Why: Mental fatigue is real—simplify where you can.
- Tips: Prep clothes/meals ahead, create “go-to” choices, keep a flare-up kit ready. Learn more about Decision-Making.
Use Helpful Tools
Use Helpful Tools
Use Helpful Tools
- Why: Tools can help preserve your energy and increase independence.
- Tips: Try grabbers, pull-out shelves, voice assistants, motion lights, or even smart pill dispensers.
Ask for Support
Use Helpful Tools
Ask for Support
- Why: You don’t have to do it all alone - whether you are organizing your things or someone else's.
- Tips: Share your systems with family/caregivers and ask for help organizing and maintaining order.
Allergens
Allergen Awareness
Allergen Awareness
Allergen Awareness
- Why: Knowing your specific triggers helps prevent flare-ups and worsening of chronic symptoms or conditions.
- Tips: Work with an allergist to identify allergens through testing. Keep a symptom journal to spot patterns.
Indoor Air Quality
Allergen Awareness
Allergen Awareness
- Why: Poor air quality can aggravate respiratory issues, fatigue, and inflammation.
- Tips: Use HEPA air purifiers, keep windows closed during high pollen days, and replace filters regularly in HVAC systems.
Dust & Dust Mites
Allergen Awareness
Dust & Dust Mites
- Why: Dust mites are common indoor allergens and can worsen asthma, eczema, and sinus issues.
- Tips: Use allergen-proof covers on mattresses and pillows, wash bedding in hot water weekly, and reduce fabric-heavy items like carpets and curtains.
Mold & Moisture
Food Allergies & Intolerances
Dust & Dust Mites
- Why: Mold spores can trigger breathing problems and inflammatory responses, which can be more severe for immunocompromised individuals.
- Tips: Keep humidity below 50%, fix leaks promptly, and use a dehumidifier in damp areas like basements and bathrooms.
Food Allergies & Intolerances
Food Allergies & Intolerances
Food Allergies & Intolerances
- Why: Reactions can trigger immune responses or worsen GI and systemic symptoms in people with chronic conditions like IBS, autoimmune diseases, or MCAS.
- Tips: Read labels carefully, keep antihistamines or EpiPens nearby if needed, and try an allergy elimination diet.
Chemical Sensitivities
Food Allergies & Intolerances
Food Allergies & Intolerances
- Why: Many with chronic conditions (e.g., fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue, MCAS) are sensitive to synthetic scents and cleaning agents.
- Tips: Choose fragrance-free, non-toxic cleaning and personal care products. Ventilate when using new items or paints.
Seasonal Allergies
Medication-Related Allergies
Seasonal Allergies
- Why: Can cause fatigue, brain fog, and worsen conditions like asthma or migraines.
- Tips: Check pollen counts daily, shower after being outside, keep shoes and outdoor clothes separate from indoor living areas.
Pet Dander
Medication-Related Allergies
Seasonal Allergies
- Why: Pet allergens can linger and trigger respiratory and skin flare-ups, especially in sensitive individuals.
- Tips: Keep pets out of bedrooms, use HEPA vacuums, and bathe pets regularly (or at least wipe them down).
Medication-Related Allergies
Medication-Related Allergies
Medication-Related Allergies
- Why: Chronic conditions can often require multiple medications—knowing which ones you’re allergic to is essential for safety.
- Tips: Wear a medical alert bracelet if needed and keep a detailed list of allergies in your wallet or phone to share with healthcare providers.
Nature
Fresh Air & Natural Light
Fresh Air & Natural Light
Fresh Air & Natural Light
- Why: Exposure to daylight helps regulate sleep, mood, and energy—important for managing fatigue and inflammation.
- Tips: Sit by a window, open the blinds, or spend a few minutes outside each day, even just on a balcony or porch.
Indoor Plants
Fresh Air & Natural Light
Fresh Air & Natural Light
- Why: Plants purify air and boost mood and concentration. They also provide a gentle routine and sense of calm.
- Tips: Choose low-maintenance options like pothos, snake plants, or peace lilies. Watering them can also be a calming practice.
Nature Sounds
Fresh Air & Natural Light
Natural Textures & Materials
- Why: Live or recorded nature sounds like birds, rainfall, or ocean waves have been shown to reduce stress and lower heart rates.
- Tips: Get outside, open a window, or use a nature sound playlist to create a peaceful background.
Natural Textures & Materials
Natural Textures & Materials
Natural Textures & Materials
- Why: Touching wood, stone, or natural fibers can help soothe the nervous system and create a grounding sensory experience.
- Tips: Incorporate items like wooden trays, cotton throws, linen bedding, or stone coasters into your space.
Outdoor Time
Natural Textures & Materials
Views of Nature
- Why: Even short, low-effort time outdoors supports circulation, vitamin D, and mental clarity.
- Tips: Try sitting under a tree, walking on grass barefoot, or taking a few deep breaths outside your door. Go at your pace.
Views of Nature
Natural Textures & Materials
Views of Nature
- Why: Simply looking at greenery or water has been shown to reduce stress and pain perception.
- Tips: Position a chair by a window with a view of trees or sky, or use nature artwork indoors.
Gardening (Big or Small)
Gardening (Big or Small)
Gardening (Big or Small)
- Why: Gardening encourages gentle movement, purpose, and sensory engagement. It's therapeutic and can be adapted for energy levels.
- Tips: Try container gardening, a small herb garden, or even tending to one or two indoor plants. Here is how to start a garden while navigating a chronic condition.
Natural Scents
Gardening (Big or Small)
Gardening (Big or Small)
- Why: Scents like lavender, pine, or citrus can calm the nervous system or gently energize the mind.
- Tips: Use essential oils, dried herbs, or naturally scented candles. Skip artificial fragrances if you're sensitive or allergic to those.
Nature-Inspired Calming
Gardening (Big or Small)
Nature-Inspired Calming
- Why: Taking time to observe nature can lower cortisol and increase feelings of centeredness and peace.
- Tips: Watching clouds, listening to birds, or even holding a stone or leaf in your hand can be calming.