Home AccessibilityHome Accessibility

Home Modifications for Independent Living, Aging in

Place, and Long-term Home Care

Problems and Solutions in Homes

Second Floor Wheelchair Access with Outside Chairlift Before After

What do we find in the field and how can homes be made more accessible

Common Disabilities and Barriers

• Difficulties of stair climbing and tripping from age, injury, stroke, arthritis, etc.

• Wheelchair limitations from stroke, amputations (often from diabetes)

• Loss of sight or hearing

• Reaching and gripping from aging, arthritis, milder stroke, etc.

• Breathing problems from asthma, heart condition, etc.

Typical Solutions to Common Barriers for Disabilities

• Sound handrails and wide tread/low rise steps, vinyl floor surfaces, ramps only if walkers are not needed, modified bathrooms, improved lighting, first floor baths & laundry

• Ramps, vinyl flooring, wider doorways, bathroom and kitchen modifications, mechanical lifts, first floor baths and laundry

• Removal of tripping hazards, grab bars/hand rails, strobe alarms

• Paddle door handles and faucets, rocker light switches, anti-scald & slide bar showers with shower seats

• New heating, cleaning ducts, windows for ventilation, hot air e-static cleaners

Common Problems in Implementing Home Modifications

Structural Limitations

• Position of walls • Location of plumbing/electric • Room size & window locations• Height of outside porches and

steps for determining ramp length and location

• Structural implications for widening/relocating doorways

• Mobile homes – doorways, room size, hallways

Zoning, Building Codes, and Family Interests

• Limitations on ramps re: set-backs, conversion of non-living space (porches) to baths or bedrooms

• Code requirements for baths and bedrooms (ADA doesn’t apply to single family homes)

• Concerns and self-interests of family members apart from client

• Mobile home mechanic cert.

Common Benefit of Adaptability Modifications in the Home

• Self sufficiency of health care and day-to-day living needs for individuals

• Greater effectiveness and efficiency of home care service delivery

• Safer and more effective family care

• Capability for individuals and health care providers to create viable long-term home care environments

• Delay or eliminate the need for nursing home placement

• Reduction or elimination of public & private home care services

• Accident prevention

• Preferred satisfaction with quality of life for individuals and families

Typical Barriers and Safety Problems Found in Homes

Entrance and Egress Basement Stairs

Steps and Handrails

Typical Barriers and Safety Problems Found in Homes

Bathroom Uses – Tubs and Toilets

Tripping Hazards from Bad Flooring

Case Study - Non-senior living alone and confined to a wheelchair

Initially, access and egress to/from the home must be made secure with the introduction of a ramp.

In this case, a previously constructed ramp was subject to seasonal heaving from excessive groundwater; a (diamond tread) steel plate was attached to the Ramp end and left free to flex on the concrete base.

Inside the home, kitchens can allow forsink for wheelchair access; dishwashers and refrigerators are useable “as is”; rangetops for wheelchair and low mounted range;note a swivel down counter alongside the range.

Wheelchair Modified Kitchen - $20,065

This was an exceptional case with the newness of the home for matching cabinets

and positions of existing counters

Wheelchair accessible kitchens have versatile cabinet choices for:

Drawer that auto close Base cabinets with swivel shelves

Hinged counters Pull out shelf pantries

Car Accident Victim

Track System

Track System

Senior couple had new home built using all of personal money, husband had a stroke attime of move in – Modifications of Ramp and Basic Bath Safety - $4,222

Senior living alone, severe arthritis, still working - $4,784

Difficulty gettingon and off

toilet

Unable to stepin and out of bathtub, wasshowering atson’s home

Non-senior lives alone, severe disc injury and surgeries resulted in minimal ability to stand ,lift legs, and maintain balance – Unable to access and egress home and enter/exit bedroom and bath

Ramp addition, widened doorways (bedroom & bath) and bath modifications - $7,800

Non-senior lives alone, severe disc injury and surgeries resulted in minimal ability to stand ,lift legs, and maintain balance – Unable to access and egress home and enter/exit bedroom and bath

Ramp addition, widened doorways (bedroom & bath) and bath modifications - $7,800

Easy and inexpensive way that modular ramps can be made to fit differing situations

Right Angle Straight Run

Exceptional Height - 90” Rise (90’ Incline) 45 Degree Turn

More examples of simple changes

FlooringStackable W/D on 1st Floor

Grab bars, Slide bar and Anti-scald showerheads

Lighting

Smoke and CO Detectors

Active and working non-senior born with spina bifida and confined to a wheelchair. Dependent on mother or girlfriend to leave home down a

steep portable ramp.

Now enjoys the freedom a vertical lift provides