Automatic door opener
Is a power door opener a luxury or a necessity? Frankly it depends upon how much effort it takes to open the door another way. I have plenty of friends and clients who use mobility equipment who might say they've gotten used to the extra steps they use to open and close doors compared to those of us who stand and walk. We don't have to think about our balance, backing up with our mobility equipment to get out of the way when we are moving the door, or having to turn our walker or wheelchair around and approach the door again in order to close it.
Two manual approaches to closing the include tying a string to the door and catching it with your hand or wheelchair as you pass through and adding an extra handle. These pictures from www.howtoadapt.com shows both. When I work with people who choose to add a handle whether it is screwed in, magnetic, or suction, I strongly suggest they take the extra time to turn around and reach forward to get hold of the handle in order to protect their shoulders, but that of course takes time.
Opening and closing a door with the push of a button seems like a really good idea to me. It could protect a person with poor balance, save a person time and aggravation, and frankly make it possible for some people to handle the task on their own. Total Home Access Solutions, installs Open Sesame Power Doors in private homes and residential communities.
This American company provides a reliable door opener that is flexible enough to work with in-swinging or out swinging, right hand or left hand doors, which allows my clients to re-use their opener if they move. We can provide a variety of switches which best meet a person's requirements. These openers don't interfere with another person's manual use of the door and charge themselves so they are always available even if the power goes out. Give us a call if you want more details about how these doors work. Is a power door opener a luxury or a necessity? If you can't open the door any other way; If the cost of remodeling to provide room around the door exceeds the cost of a power opener; if you run the risk of falling when you operate the door; or if you would like to get through the door and close it behind you with the same effort that most people expend, I think you'll be among the people who consider a power door opener a necessity for successful independent living.
Let us know what you think! BPhillips@Totalrr.com
