Give Up My Favorite Activities? Never!

I enjoy spending time outdoors and gardening. It is part of what makes me who I am. What would happen if I had an accident or developed a medical condition that kept me out of the yard? Would it change who I am as a person? This happens to Americans every day.

The simple, everyday things we do define who we are and impact the quality of the lives we lead. When we can’t take care of ourselves or we can’t do the things that bring us pleasure, life just doesn’t seem as good. If a person grows older or experiences a medical crisis and they can’t engage in their hobbies – does that change who they are as a person? It can.

I’ve got news! It doesn’t have to though. There are so many ways of doing things and pieces of equipment that can help us compensate and allow us to keep on doing what is important to us.

For instance, if I had arthritis and enjoyed gardening it could be harmful to the joints of my wrist and hand to use a regular hand rake and would probably be painful as well. Just changing to a rake with an angled handled protects my joints and will reduce the likelihood of pain. The important thing is that I could keep on gardening!

Here’s the point. Don’t give up on doing the things that are important to you. Find the different technique or different tool that will allow you to continue taking care of yourself, working, or engaging in the hobbies that bring you pleasure. They are out there.

Share this video, Share the news. You don’t have to give up the things that define who you are as a person. If you need help finding something or getting started, give us a call. We know it is important and we would love to help.

Here are some useful links that may provide the opportunities you are looking for to continue doing what you love, or even find a new active passion!

The Great Plains PVA: a fitness facility that provides programs targeted at both adult and children who have developmental and physical disabilities.

Fast Foward: an Omaha-based fitness company.

Special Olympics: The leader in programs based on competition and sports training for the mentally handicapped..

Tech Tots: a wonderful company who specializes in modified toys for kids with developmental and physical disabilities.

For more information, or if you have any questions, please feel free to contact us at 402.294.9514, or email us at info@homeaccesssolutions.com!

Save Money with Access That Works

There’s always more than one way to increase access or safety in your home. People who call Home Access Solutions realize that we are going to offer more than one solution. What they don’t realize is that we are often going to offer a solution that can save them Money. That’s right, the right information and the right plan can often save money while increasing independence and safety in the home.

The Truth About Access Pricing

Too many people decide that access or access equipment is too expensive before they get the real information they need. They quit before they even begin! Money is important. We know that and we respect people’s budget. Frankly we save people money because our designs which are based on a person’s goals, abilities, and medical condition really work and we have the experience and knowledge to offer a range of solutions, some of which are really inexpensive. At the very least, we can offer solutions that are less expensive than the ones people who don’t have our experience dream.

Let's Work Together to Save You Money

A great example is a couple we recently saw who were trying to decide whether to build a new home to accommodate her use of a wheelchair or remodel the existing. They really wanted to stay where they were, but they thought that it was going to require modifying a stairwell, moving a lot of plumbing or even moving a load bearing wall in order to get the room they needed in their bathroom. We were able to provide a design and resources that didn’t require moving any walls and that minimized the plumbing changes needed. The design will blend in unobtrusively in their home and has the flexibility to work now and later when her strength changes. All that and our remodel idea will cost at least 10,000 less than the remodel idea they thought they had to use. Talk about Win! Win! Win! This is a big savings, but really not that unusual for us.

Just this past week, I worked with a person living in assisted living facility . She and her family were anticipating a solution for a bathroom transfer that would have been several hundred dollars to put in and that would have had to be removed. It turned out that a simple solution costing less than $40 would work and lead to a safer transfer as well. In the place where she lives, this is a solution that saved her money right away and will help her keep her independence, but it is also going to save her money every month as she doesn’t have to pay for the extra assistance for bathing every month.

Please share the news and share this video with your friends. You don’t have to give up before you start! Great solutions can make everyday living easier and safer and save you Money too!

Planning Access Remodeling to Help, NOT Hurt Eventually Selling Your Home

When we work with clients considering accessibility remodeling we ask them to remember that they may eventually be selling their home. Access, being able to safely and efficiently use your home is critically important and is the focus of our designs, but we strive to make the designs either blend into the décor of the home or have removable components. This helps protect the overall value of our client’s homes.

A terrific example of this approach is the addition of a Mother in law suite to a client’s existing home. No matter how accessible it is for a person using a wheelchair or a walker, with the right planning it can become an area of interest and use for anyone at the time the home is sold. It could be a private master bedroom retreat, a space for older teens to call their own, a possible rental area, or a wonderful family room. We take care to plan the extra access features such as roll in showers so that thresholds can be added, grab bars removed and walls repaired, and personal equipment touches like bidets or bed room safety equipment can be removed.

A good prescriptive access design works for the person it is done for because the environment is matched to their goals and abilities. A great design also looks good, feels good, and enhances the value of the home.

The "In-Law Suite"

When elderly loved ones can no longer take care of themselves, it is usually necessary for them to enter an assisted living or retirement community. Sometimes, however, it is financially and physically easier to have that person close to home. At the home featured in this video, located in Papillion, there is a perfect in-law set-up in the basement. This extra living space provides value and opportunity to the owner in various ways.

While it is commonly referred to as an “in-law suite,” this basement apartment also goes by the name of “granny flat,” but it is not limited only to the elderly. This accessory apartment comes in all types of sizes, and can house renters, hired house staff, guests and other relatives. There are various uses, advantages and features of an in-law suite that may convince everyone to consider this kind of basement remodel.

Uses

The large amount of space in a suite like this is very versatile in terms of purpose. The kitchen area is perfect for a movie night where drinks and snacks are steps away, but it can also provide extra income if you were to rent it out as an apartment. Furthermore, everyone knows that when the in-laws come to visit, it is nice to tuck them quietly into the basement where they are out of sight, yet only a floor away from hanging out with the family.

When elderly relatives are not ready for a nursing home environment, an in-law suite creates a great alternative that is more personal and comfortable for older persons. In-law suites can also be altered and planned around individual needs and preferences, which is sure to make even the most stubborn grandparent at ease.

Advantages

As BevVan describes, the in-law suite is extremely accessible for its dwellers. With a ground-level entrance, it can easily accommodate wheelchairs and walkers. In terms of cost, and basement suite is much more affordable than most nursing homes these days. In fact, the cost of one year in a nursing home is usually more expensive than a remodeling of the house to create the suite. You pay less and definitely get more for your loved ones out of an arrangement such as this.

When considering an accessory apartment, family and unity both come to mind. An in-law suite may not be the best choice if you do not wish to connect and be a part of that person’s last years, but for those who desire peace of mind and family togetherness, it should be a serious consideration. This may also provide an extraordinary experience for families to enrich their relationships, especially between children and grandparents. It is usually difficult to gather everyone up and visit grandma or grandpa at the nursing home, but under one roof, children are seconds away from hearing stories and spending time with elderly family members while they still can.

Features

As illustrated in the tour of this house, there is a multitude of features that make it easy for older folks to get around on their own, despite physical impedances. Firstly, there is a full kitchen that allows for accessible food, drinks and cooking. This is also an important feature if a home owner would like to rent out this space as an apartment. It is like another house in the basement.

Secondly, the elderly-friendly bathroom is an important feature to take into consideration. High toilets, shower handrails and a wheelchair accessible shower and bath are just a few features in this particular suite that help to eliminate hazards. It is also possible, however, to omit these features and make the bathroom area just like any other – except with a larger-than-normal shower space and lots of walking room. Again, an in-law suite can be designed with anyone in mind, so the size and number of bedrooms can be altered to accommodate.

The bottom line is that an auxiliary apartment, or “granny-flat,” is flexible in terms of model, and makes it possible for families to stay together for longer than they thought possible. Even if you do not have an elderly family member looking to settle in with the family, an in-law suite provides much value in its amount of extra living space and various features.

So keep a suite like this in mind when you are looking over the brochure of "Sunnybrook Nursing Home" or some other generic elderly care facility, and remember the importance of cohesiveness and peacefulness that comes with sharing time, and space, with family.