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Home Modification Solutions

Grab Bars
Grab bars can help anyone use the bathroom more safely and are helpful to many people. They can be installed to help you climb into the tub or stand in the shower and help to steady you while you reach for the shower controls, soap or wash cloth. In the toilet area, they help the person stand and sit.  Grab bars are available in different colors.

Click on the web link below to learn more about grab bars on the AARP website:

http://www.aarp.org/families/home_design/bath/a2004-03-02-b-grabbars.html

On the left of this web page, you will see a menu where “Bathrooms” is highlighted in a lighter green. If you click on that item, a page of information about other bathroom modifications will come up. This page provides information on bathtubs, hand-held showers, pocket doors, sinks, vanities, and much more that will help you make your bathroom more accessible and easier to use.

Wheelchair Ramps
People who use wheelchairs need ramps to get in and out of their home. Ramps aren't easy to build and can be expensive depending on where you live. That's why you should hire a professional to do the job right. Click on the web link below to learn more:


http://www.aarp.org/families/home_design/doors_floors/a2004-03-02-d-ramps.html

Additional information about doorways, handrails, lever door handles, and other home modifications is also available on this AARP website (above). Just click on the highlighted menu option, “Doors, Floors and Walkways” on the menu bar at the left of the page.

Ramps can be made of concrete, wood or the modular design presented in this next website (below). The Home Wheelchair Ramp Project has an instruction manual, “How to build RAMPS for home accessibility” at the following website:

http://www.wheelchairramp.org/rampman/manual/rampindx.htm

Some of the ramps are built quickly, safely and easily with the help of volunteers, informal support systems and families. The unique process makes the ramps very affordable to all. This program started as a joint project of the Metropolitan Center for Independent Living, the Minnesota Division of Rehabilitation Services, the Multiple Sclerosis Society and the United Handicapped Federation.

The Tub Cut
The Tub Cut, a modification to a bathroom tub, is both functional and attractive. It enables a person to easily get in and out of the tub, using it as a shower, without having to lift their legs up and over the normal edge of the tub. It also eliminates the need to remove a tub and install a shower if you have trouble getting over the edge of your tub.  Hand-crafted from high quality, custom-fitted components, it will exactly match any tub's contour. It can be any size desired and gives even cast iron bathtubs a seamless appearance. It is not a one-size-fits-all, plastic cap or insert.


To view a method developed in Virginia by Tub Cut, click on the following link: www.tubcut.com They have a "locate a dealer" button on the left side of their home page. There are three installers who work in the Philadelphia five-county area: www.tubncounter.com , www.bathprosinc.com , and www.tub-ez.com .

Stair Lifts

If climbing the stairs has become severely difficult, it may be time to consider installing a stair lift also called a stair glide. The stair glide carries you from one level of your home to another with ease. It allows you to maintain your independence without making any dramatic changes to your life or structural changes to your home.


If you do a web search for “Stair Glide” you will find a lot of information. One helpful site is www.stair-lifts-101.com where you can find information on indoor and outdoor stair lifts along with “how to measure” for a glide. You may also check your local paper for local chair lift companies. This is a well established concept in helping people with limited mobility get up/down stairs.

Lever Faucets
Some people have trouble using the kitchen sink, bathroom sink or tub faucets that are round (or similar shape). Today, more and more homes are built with lever faucets, either single lever for hot and cold mixed or separate lever faucets. If you have the older, rounded type and have trouble grasping the handle to turn it, consider buying lever handles at your local hardware or plumbing store. Usually, it is a simple process to remove the old handles and put on the new. If the old handles are corroded, it could be more difficult. Your local handyman or plumber could remove the whole faucet set and install a new single lever faucet that is easy to use and not very expensive.

Roll-out Shelves
Roll-out shelves make it easier to reach the items on the back of their shelves.  Roll-out shelves are created by removing the fixed shelf (nailed, screwed or glued into place), cutting it down slightly and remounting it using shelf rollers. Then, to find an item at the back of the shelf, simply pull out the roll-out shelf and all the items on the shelf are easily available.


This is one of many helpful ideas at www.aarp.org/families/home_design/kitchen on the AARP website. They have a checklist that will help you think through things you could do in your kitchen to make it easier for you to use. The site discusses cabinets and drawers, cooktops and wall ovens, countertops, dishwashers, among othe things. Check it out.

Lighting

As people grow older, lighting becomes more important. It's a good idea to

check your home's lighting from time to time. Adequate lighting, even after you go to bed, will make your home safer and easier to use. Have a look at AARP’s Safety, Lighting and Storage web page (below). You’ll also find hints about closets, electrical outlets and smoke detectors.


http://www.aarp.org/families/home_design/safety_lighting

 


 
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