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Home
Modifications
Who
is Helped by Home Modifications?
Many people living with disabilities, who are older,
or both, find it difficult or impossible to get into or around
their homes without help. There may be steps to the
front entrance and the doorways might be too narrow. Stairs
are a barrier for individuals who use wheelchairs and for
those with limited leg strength.
Bathrooms frequently
lack sufficient room for wheelchair use and have other barriers
that make them
difficult or impossible to use without help. Sinks,
stoves and light switches generally are too high. Home Modifications
allow individuals to move about their homes more easily and
enable them to choose to remain living in their own homes.
What
is a Home Modification?
A Home Modification is an adaptation to a residence that increases
ease of use, safety, comfort, security, and independence.
Major modifications include ramps, chair lifts, stair glides,
roll-in showers, and lowered countertops. Minor, and less
expensive, modifications include grab bars, widened doorways,
better lighting, hand-held showers, and lever door handles.
Why
are Home Modifications Important?
Home modifications make the home easier, safer, and more comfortable
to use for all family members and visitors, regardless of
ability or age. They also facilitate care-giving. They
can allow people to remain longer in their homes without having
to move into an institutional facility, thus losing their
independence and control over their living environment.
How
do Home Modifications Promote Independence?
Problem
to Overcome: |
Home
Modification: |
Cannot get in/out of home without help |
Install permanent or temporary ramp |
Doorways are too narrow for wheelchair |
Widen doorways or install swing-clear hinges |
Legs are too weak to climb stairs |
Install handrails on both sides of stairs |
Need to use wheelchair to get around |
Install stair-glide with chair |
Difficulty getting in and out of shower |
Install grab bars, tub-cut, and/or shower seat |
Difficulty turning doorknobs and faucet handles |
Replace with lever handles |
How
to Get Them Done
1. Most programs provide an assessment of the residence to
determine what home modifications may be needed. Programs
can be located through the State Agency on Aging, State Housing
Finance Agency, Department of Public Welfare, Department of
Community Development, or through the local Senior Center
or Independent Living Center. Go to the Resource
Chart, find the agency you think may be able to help you
and click on the link for further contact information.
2. Find what you need yourself, or get an experienced friend
or relative to help. The Pennsylvania Initiative on Assistive
Technology (PIAT) at Temple University has a lending library
of information and resources to help you. Go to http://disabilities.temple.edu
and click on “publications”. The National Resource
Center on Supportive Housing and Home Modification at www.homemods.org
has a lot of general information that may be helpful as you
think through your options.
3. If you hire a contractor, handy worker, or remodeler, try
to get recommendations from others who have had similar projects
completed.
• Hire a licensed and bonded professional.
• To verify a contractor's license, contact the state
contractors licensing agency which can be found in the blue
pages of the local telephone directory.
• Ask for a written agreement, with only a small down
payment. Make the final payment only after the project is
completed.
• Check with the local Better Business Bureau (http://lookup.bbb.org)
regarding the professional's reliability and performance record.
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