Individual
needs vary greatly, so it is important to design an assessment process which
will result in individualized modifications.
The
best way to begin planning for home modifications is by defining the basic
terms used and asking some simple questions. Home modifications should improve
the following features of a home:
§ Accessibility:
Improving
accessibility means making doorways wider, clearing spaces to make sure a
wheelchair can pass through, lowering countertop heights for sinks and kitchen
cabinets, installing grab bars, and placing light switches and electrical
outlets at heights that can be reached easily.
§
Adaptability: Adaptability
features are changes that can be made quickly to accommodate the needs of
seniors or disabled individuals without having to completely redesign the home
or use different materials for essential fixtures. Examples include installing
grab bars in bathroom walls and movable cabinets under the sink so that someone
in a wheelchair can use the space.
§
Universal Design: These
features include appliances, fixtures, and floor plans that are easy for all
people to use, flexible enough so that they can be adapted for special needs,
sturdy and reliable, and functional with a minimum of effort and understanding
of the mechanisms involved.
§
Visability: Visability
features include home modifications for seniors who may want to entertain
disabled guests or who wish to plan ahead for the day when they may require
some extra help in getting around their own homes. For example, installing a
ramp to the front door of a house and remodeling the hallways and rooms to
allow wheelchair access would make a home easier to visit for disabled family
members or friends. Such changes may also give seniors a head start on home
modifications they may need later in their lives.
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