Life’s challenge’s down Mobility lane!: January 2012

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.

Alsons Push-Button Pause Hand Shower and Pin-Mount Glide Rail Unit - 1551PB

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.
American Standard 2625.014

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!
Schlage S51PD-SAT

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.

Swing Clear Hinge, Color Chrome, Pk 1