Home & House
My first tip is 'Do not rush into changes'. There are all sorts of aids and modifications that you can get, but if you wait a while you will find out what offers real value and not bother with the rest. Your skills level and dexterity will improve and you may find that you can manage without major alterations, which is good if you share your home with able bodied people who will have to use the same facilities.
I have had some changes made to the home mainly to accommodate the wheelchair, but what we have tried to do is retain the house as normal as possible. Fortunately, Cedric is very good at handy work, and because he is currently employed we were told by Social Services that we would have to pay the first £10,200 for any work we had done, including the provision of a stair lift, so we have done virtually all of it ourselves.
Ramp to the back door
- The initial ramp was provided by social services, and this consists of a wooden platform and ramp covered in rubber matting. Unfortunately it only did half a job, giving a ramp and platform that was barely big enough to turn the wheelchair into the back door. Cedric made an extension using ordinary decking from a DIY store. The framework was bolted to the existing platform and the decking planks were placed with the smooth side up and then covered with rubber matting that was obtained from 'The Derby Rubber Company'. The total cost was about £220. This meets up with the back pathway and provides a level entrance from the pavement.
Kitchen
- We lowered one of the worktops by about 4" to enable me to work from a wheelchair. Also Cedric lowered the wall storage cupboard by 6" to make it possible for me to reach things in there without having to use steps (should have done this before as I am only 5' something). I have also re-arranged where things live to make life easier for myself.
Downstairs Toilet
- We are fortunate to have a downstairs toilet. The only problem here was the doorway which was 27" wide, whereas all the other doors from room-to-room are 30". We took out the frame, opened it up to 30" and fitted a new frame with the door opening outwards into the hall, which allows me to get into the closet complete with wheelchair. A pull-cord is attached to the door that hangs from an eye in the ceiling so that I can pull the door shut behind me. The only other addition here was two hand-rails to assist in getting up from the toilet. We did have a commode over the toilet initially to give extra height to the toilet seat, but this has now gone. Cost of door approx £30 and the handrails were a gift (normally approx £16 each)
Bathroom
The
bathroom door was opened up from 27" to 30" and made to slide
rather than open out onto the landing. Over the bath we have fitted a Swivel
Shower Chair which means I can safely take a shower. I did have a commode
over the toilet initially, but no longer require it, so just use a normal
seat. New door, frame and sliding gear cost approx £65. Shower Seat £97
Stair Lift
- The stair lift is from Acorn. Stannah came in to do the quote for the
Social Services and started by adding hinged bottom rail and power swivel
which took their quote up to £3100. When it became apparent that we would
be paying for this ourselves I gave them an opportunity to re-quote, but
they chose to stick where they were. Acorn quoted £2400 without the
additions and then offered a ex-show model that had been on a demo stand for
two days for £2100. The complete unit was delivered in two days from
purchase and took about two hours to fit. There are two remote control units
so that it can be called back if a second person needs to use the chair.
- We bought a second wheelchair for upstairs rather than wait until Social Services to get around to meeting my needs for personal mobility. (approx £198)
Door Closing
Closing
doors behind you while in a wheelchair can be difficult. I fitted loops to
the door handle so that I could pull the door to behind me. These are the
same as the curtain retaining straps, so you may be able to buy something
similar.