Mobility answers that will help you to keeponlivingathome?
What is a barrier?
Steps,
Narrow doorways, knob hardware
Small bathrooms, with a bathtub only
Knob hardware on Kitchen and bathroom
fixtures
Plush thick carpet,
Lighting (lack of it or old florescent lighting)
etc..
Think about what are some barriers you
might have in yours or a loved ones home! Drop me a note, if you have questions.
What can we do to pre-plan
for the future?
In your homes;
Level entry to home from parking or garage
Wider hallways, doorways, Lever hardware
with return
Out swing bathroom door, this allows access into the
bathroom if you should fall down while in there.
Clear space getting in & out of rooms
(for turning walker or
wheel chairs)
Roll in or transfer shower & bathroom on main level
Kitchen facility on main level
Lever hardware on faucets and shower valve.
Hand held shower with slide rail
18” high toilets
Front or side controls for range
Side by side refrigerator
Contrasting colors for grabbars from wall colors
Grabbars and hand rails or at least install backing
Use grabbars instead of towel bars, towels can be hung on grabbars but the bar wont pull out if needed in an emergency
Evaluate the
need:
As you take on the
task to help yourself or loved one to keeponlivingathome, try to look at this
task through 2 Year windows. In order for you to begin to truly meet your mobility
goals, you will need to ask yourself or your loved one, brutally honest
questions!
There are 3-basic questions
that will begin to help to determine and try to resolve the short/long term mobility
goals.
1.
What was your/their mobility
like 2 years ago?
2. What is your/their mobility like today?
You will definitely
need to seek true deep honesty for this last question. Until a person can face
the reality of the disease, the disability or the loss of mobility that is
leaving them slowly, we are only kidding ourselves. This part is tough on all
parties but, when that reality is reached then the goal, service and a product can
be better understood and focused on.
And, last question,
3.
With your mobility issues
today, where do you think your mobility issues will be in 2 years?
Now, try to remove
purchase from the conversation but attempt to search out the central and most
difficult obstacles that are causing the most mobility difficulties.
Once you determine
a couple of idea for a mobility solution that will best fit your need, then you
can start to plan for it.
What will work today
and keep working tomorrow. Try not to purchase a product for a short term but
think on down the road.
Upper and lower body strength, grasp, vision
dexterity
Your awareness of the
items above will definitely help you in your planning.
What will work with
the amount of room and money existing?
Money (funded or personal, what do you have
to work with?
What are
your needs, today, and tomorrow?
Some Solutions
Pressure balance bath/shower volume & temp control valve
The installation of this kind of Valve allows for your
maximum Protection. This valve is designed to maintain constant temperature
in response to any changes in your hot or cold water supply pressure. One of the greatest features of this kind of valve is the Adjustable hot
limit safety. This adjustment limits the amount of hot water that is allowed to
mix with the cold water. This feature reduces the risk of accidental scalding.
Hand held shower with slide rail.
This option below is just one of many different handhelds out there.The real key here is for you to just get something that will easily allow you to have access to the flow and control of the water on your body. You also want to try and get it so that it does not cause you to twist or turn a handle to move the shower head to your level.
I would also warn you that one of the biggest thing to remeber is,
if you install a handheld shower, and if it mounts to the wall and kind of looks like a grabbar, But,YOU MUST remember, IT IS NOT A GRABBAR!!!!
The real problem is, if you slip in the shower and are quickly reaching for SOMETHING TO HOLD ON TO, a handheld or its bar are only installed with a couple of small screws, this will not handly you. False security!!! If you do install a pretty hand held shower Install a grabbar close to it!
Remove glass shower doors and replace with shower
a curtain
If you should have an accidental fall in your tub or shower, the glass could get broken and then we have complicated the situation
Also if the fire dept responds to your home for an emergency in the bath, a glass could slow down your rescue.
18” hight toilet.
This is a
very useful so that your aiming mechanism, can easier find the target and you’re
bending and stooping is less effort.
Lever hardware on doors
Try to get that little return at the end of the handle, that is a safety feature so that your sleave will not get stuck on it if you should be just walking by it!
Lever hardware allows you to use it, even with a closed fist.
Lever hardware on faucets
Swing clear or offset door hinges
Hinges that when installed on your current door will allow the hinge now to be completly out of the way and give your door opening a full width of your doorway.
Ramps Threshold and exterior
Rubber threshold ramp
Ceiling Lifts
Stairchairs Curved rail, almost any configuration!
Stairchairs, Straight run
Platform lifts
Elevators
Dumbwaiters
Please drop me a note if I can offer you help with your accessibility needs!
Duane Bishop
Re-Ability
Enterprises LLC
P O Box 1643
Gig Harbor, WA 98335
253.514.9722 Office/Cell
253.851.5844 Fax
Veteran
owned Business