No one expects to become seriously injured or have a long-term disability. If you or a loved one need specialist equipment, including the use of a wheelchair, then having an accessible home is crucial.
In this article, Idapt Design shares with us the benefits of adapting your home or the spaces you use regularly. They also share their advice on how to achieve a more independent, safe and fulfilling life for you and your family.
An adapted home can significantly improve the life of someone with a brain injury, spinal cord injury, limb loss or other long-term conditions. Feeling comfortable and being able to access all areas of your home is hugely important for your physical and mental wellbeing. It may be that you long to read your children a bedtime story in their room or be able to enjoy the garden without obstacles, such as uneven surfaces or steps.
Each person’s goals will be unique and it’s important to have these at the forefront of your mind when planning any adaptations. For some people the goal may be greater independence or, for others, it may be to facilitate memory or improve safety and security. Improving the areas used for rehabilitation, physiotherapy or live-in carers is also a common reason for someone to adapt their home. Well considered adaptations help separate living and rehabilitation areas and allows for family privacy whilst ensuring quality rest time for their carers.
Maz's story
Maz experienced a spinal cord injury in a road traffic collision and now relies on a wheelchair and assistive technology to retain her independence.
Creating an adapted home
Idapt Design specialise in creating accessible environments for long-term disabled people and their families. They do this by either adapting a current property or working with their clients to identify an alternative suitable property and then tailoring the renovation to that individual’s needs.
Each adaptation they undertake is unique but all have the common goal of making the whole property accessible to all the family. The steps of each renovation generally include a needs assessment, design development, cost analysis, construction and handover with ongoing support.
At each stage of the project Idapt Design places the client at the heart of the process and the team will often create a walkthrough using 3D scanning technology. This allows the client to experience the existing property when travelling to the location or certain areas of the property might be difficult. At later stages they will also use photorealistic visualisations to ensure the client feels involved and they can feed in their thoughts and personalise the renovation.
Short-term adaptations
Although Idapt Design specialise in large scale property changes, some small adaptations can help you or your family become more independent. Assistive technology is specific to each person’s needs but generally helps with things like turning on and off lights, changing the positioning of beds and chairs, opening curtains and answering the door. These simple everyday tasks are things many of us take for granted, but are obstacles for someone with a disability until technology comes into play.
Idapt Design have shared some helpful tips for anyone who is struggling to navigate their home. We advise that you speak to your own rehabilitation team before undertaking any of these adaptations to ensure they are suitable for you.
Layout adaptations
- Reassess the positioning of doorways to maximise wheelchair circulation space
- Consider the positioning of radiators to ensure safety for the whole family
- Ensure electrical switches and sockets are appropriately located to allow easy and safe use
- Utilise ramps or stair lifts to allow access to the whole of the property, including outside space
- Consider future requirements, such as if a live-in carer might be needed or if your condition is degenerative.
Superficial changes
- Consider using sliding, pocket or cassette doors where space is restricted.
- Adjust or fit lighting throughout your home to ensure it’s suitable for the space, for example, spotlights around workstations and softer lighting in the bedroom to promote rest and recovery
- Ensure the heating system provides suitable ambient air so it can cool or heat the environment – especially important when someone struggles to regulate their own body temperature following an injury
- Consider colour contrast around the home if there are visual impairments
- Utilise technology to operate windows, curtains and lights – many can now be programmed using tablets or phones
- Consider storage space for specialist equipment to prevent damage and avoiding clutter that could become a hazard.
There are many affordable pieces of technology that can improve your home-life. Google Home and Amazon’s Alexa are a few of the voice-activated devices that can dramatically improve someone’s sense of independence.
Becoming seriously injured is an unexpected life event, however there is support available from many of our charity partners to allow you to live an active, independent and fulfilling life in your home and community. Read our charity directory for details of organisations that are available to help you or a family member improve your physical and mental wellbeing.
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