Article - Home Accessibility; Home for Life

Life's journey takes us through many different stages; the birth of children, the visit of an elderly relative, an accident that is temporarily or permanently disabling, a health condition that changes how we handle our daily needs. How well is your home prepared to adapt to your changing needs?

Dynamic Living has created Home Assessment Surveys to help you identify current problems or think through future issues. There are hundreds of questions in the survey, some more detailed than others. The beauty of it is that when you are ready you can use just a portion of the survey to uncover areas of improvement that you will get value out of, both physically and financially.

Once you've completed the survey, review your results for projects that could resolve the problems areas. You don't have to tackle everything at once. By starting before there is a crisis, you can pace your effort and your budget.

If you are considering a room remodel, review the surveys to get ideas on what you could include in the remodel. Even if it's 30 years to retirement, now's the time to consider changes that would make everything easier to live with, regardless of changes in your circumstances.

Projects can run from grand, like a complete kitchen or bath remodel, to weekend do-it-yourself projects, like these low-cost ideas:

• Lever handles are considerably easier to use than round knobs. If you can't afford to change all of the knobs in your home, there are adaptive devices that can be installed over the current knob. One inexpensive solution is the Great Grips cover, a soft rubber-like aid with a small protrusion that enables you to turn knobs or faucets with less effort. Another alternative is a Door Knob Adapter that converts a round knob into a levered handle.

• Whether you use a wheelchair or are of short stature, Light Switch Extenders are terrific if you need the wall switch to be accessible at a lower height.

• If arthritic hands make turning small knobs difficult, try a Universal Turner, a tool that covers the knob and uses the leverage of a long handle to make it easy to turn.

If you are planning a remodel, or a new home, you'll want to make sure that the design will stand the test of time. It used to be that only a few people used mobility devices. Now we see ads on tv for scooters all the time. And there are wheel chairs, rollators, canes and crutches to consider. Lot's more people are using these aids! What does that mean?

• Plan for smoother transitions from one room to the next. If you can't change the entrance, perhaps a threshold ramp will smooth the way.

• Consider wider doorways so that knuckles aren't scraped. If you cannot widen the doorway through carpentry, Offset Hinges use the same screws and holes as the existing hinge. The elongated shape of the hinge allows the door to open wider, creating greater access for wheelchairs or walkers.

• Leave room by the toilet and the bed for transfers from a wheelchair. You can fill the void with a shelf, a magazine rack or other decorative items that can be stored if you need the space to transfer.

• Consider kitchen shelving that can be pulled out or lowered, making it easier to reach.

• Change the closet rod to a more reachable height and build or add shelves to have more accessible storage.

The ideas are endless. There is no "right" way to approach the planning and designing for your future. Some professionals in our field refer to this topic as Home Modification, while others use terms like Universal Design. Even the generic term Home Improvement can touch upon some of the changes you might be considering.

Whatever you call it, the time to start planning is now!

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