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
| 
