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We first met the Xs (obviously not their name) when Mr. X was in rehab and couldn’t return home as Mrs. X had no way to get him and his wheelchair into the house. They’d called someone about a ramp, but there was no room for it. It would have taken all the space in the garage and then some. They called us, and we took a look at the situation. We ended up suggesting a vertical platform lift. It would take less effort for both of them to use, it fit better in the garage, and it would still be helpful if he was able to regain the ability to use a walker or cane. We also provided Mrs. X with some tips for a friend of theirs who was widening their doors. The special hinges saved them several hundred dollars a door. Better yet, Mr. X was able to return home!After living with the wheelchair for about a year, they called us to help figure out whether they should make modifications to their current house, try to find one that was more accessible already, or if they should start building from the ground up. The process for this consultation is to listen carefully not only to what people can do in order to determine what environmental modifications will increase independence and safety, but also to how they want to live and what is important to them. The bathrooms, and Mr. X’s need for Mrs. X’s help to transfer had been the worst trouble. The stress was starting to take a toll. Despite that, they didn’t want to leave this house behind. They loved the neighborhood, their yard, and had invested much time in making their house their home. With that in mind, we recommended changing the house for accessibility. They were pleased to have options available that would make living easier in the home they loved. We worked together designing exactly how we’d increase his independence around the home.
Since the entrance to the home had already been addressed right after his stay in Rehab, the major changes were modifying the bathroom and providing an independent transfer method. We found a solution which solved both problems in combination. We installed a SureHands ceiling track with a body support. Mr. X can transfer independently, and can move between the bathroom and the bedroom at will. Furthermore, we didn’t have to rob any other rooms or closets for space which, was important for Mrs. X.We used a Best Bath shower with a threshold in the bathroom to obtain maximum useable space and water control within the existing shower pocket and bathroom. We ordered a custom width and depth seat and placed grab bars strategically to assist with sitting balance when Mr. X uses the ceiling lift to enter the shower. We replaced the traditional sink with a roll under sink after calculating that Mr. X would have just enough room to swing his legs under it once the door was widened. The toilet is accessed by a rolling shower commode chair, a solution customized for Mr. X . If a person needed access to the toilet on a more regular basis, we could have used a track splitter in the bathroom to help him transfer there. He didn’t feel he needed it, however, and picked an option that was simpler and more economical to him.
Once the lift system and the bathroom was remodeled, there were just a few smaller jobs we did which at first seem minor, but often small things have a big impact. Mr. X has two dogs, which he loves dearly. However, dogs being dogs, they love to go outside and come back in frequently. Having to get the door constantly for those two was a major physical effort. So, he planned an elegant little solution to that problem: We installed a doggie door to the fenced yard which gives them boosted accessibility too! If you watch the video closely you can see one of them coming and going through the door since we weren’t including it in the conversation. The second job was a specialized doorbell. It has a built in camera, speaker, and microphone that allow Mr. X to see who’s at the door and let them know he’s on the way without having to yell across the house.So, at the end of over a year and a half on and off of working with us, their house has undergone both major and minor changes and transformed from a place filled with barriers to a place that is easy for them to live in.
