• Open Sesame Door

    24 Mar
    2011

    Persons in wheelchairs, when out in public buildings governed by ADA regulations, have the use of wall mounted square buttons to automatically open a door and allow passage. But what happens at home or in a small business? Does every interior door have to be removed from the widened doorways? And what about going outside to a patio or backyard?

    Open Sesame Door has attempted to address these challenges with their door mounted electronic door closer. This professional grade disabled access system unlatches a locked door , then opens, pauses, and closes it automatically. A remote control can be mounted on a wheelchair, wall pad or customized for other mountings.

  • Universal Design to Disability Readiness

    22 Mar
    2011

    In this patio home guest bath remodel, the lower cabinets were removed and false drawer fronts installed. When and if the time comes that a member of this household is confined to a wheelchair, the remodeling will be quick and inexpensive. The drawer panels will be removed and modified so that the opening in front of the sink will be wide enough to accommodate a wheelchair. The drain and other pipes will need to be wrapped or covered with a shield to prevent possible burns from a heated pipe. For now, the client has an attractive guest bath. She could even add a pleated skirt to hang down from the underneath side of the false drawers.

    Esthetics and independence can go hand in hand with a needs assessment and collaboration with a knowledgeable Certified Aging in Place Specialist (CAPS) and professional interior designer.

  • Grab Bars Get Going

    18 Mar
    2011

    Great Grabz is a grab bar company that wants to address not only safety but esthetics as well.  Three new lines fill the needs for patients with varying amounts of independence and mobility impairment.  Oftentimes complete remodeling of a bath is not necessary if the patient’s mobility is only slightly impaired.  Installation of grab bars to specifications that are tailored to the patient’s specific needs and physicality enhance safety not only in bathrooms but hallways and entries to the home. 

    Great Grabz has a basic line of devices and three new lines of decorative grab bars.   Not all of these are rated ADA compatible.  The challenge is to find a bar that is esthetically pleasing and that provides a safe, non-slip grip.  Other manufacturers of “new and improved” grab bars are Kohler and Moen plumbing fixture companies.  We’ll take a look at these in future posts.  And the safest, most secure way to attach them to walls.

    Download their catalog

  • Kohler's New Bathtub

    16 Mar
    2011

    Kohler has a new bathtub out that addresses accessible bathing. Presented as an alternative to aturn-key bathtub with a door for accessibility and a seat for patients, the product presents a model that fits the existing tub area of most bathrooms with some remodeling for esthetics and plumbing. Those with infirmities or limitations from traumatic incident will find it easy to use and an aid to independence. Though it has some limitations for those who have challenges with dizziness because the user must bend over from a seated position to operate the stopper at the bottom of the tub, the great thing is that major manufacturers are agreeing that quality of life products for those with physical limitations is good business.

    Watch the video by clicking here.

  • Tools for Medical Modifications Series: Part 3 of 3

    10 Feb
    2011

    Easy Does It, Stairway Access – Stairways and the rooms they provide access to, can be a big problem for a person who has encountered some type of mobility impairment. Often the bedrooms and bathrooms are at the top of stairs thus preventing normal use of the whole house, living areas downstairs and bedroom bathroom areas at the top.  But it can be solved inexpensively with a ‘Stair Glide’ and provide access for the mobility impaired.  Of course the configuration of the stair, stairwell and adjacent hallways at the top and bottom will dictate how extensive the device and installation must be, but practically any home can be fitted with this device by professionals. The glides can accommodate 25 degree to 50 degree slopes and access ‘L’ shaped stairway configurations. This is an alternative to elevators that are expensive and very difficult to install in existing homes.

    The most basic glide of this kind consists of a chair in which you sit, and then the chair is moved along, up or down the existing stair slope on a track until the chair is positioned at the top or bottom of the stairway and you exit. The chair remains where you exited, top or bottom, or if there is more than one user it can be summoned to the top or bottom by remote control. The stair glide devices have battery backup for emergency situations and total safety of access. The installation of the stair glide track does not impact the existing wall structure as the track is installed over the edges of the stair treads and controls and power for the device are obtained from a common wall outlet at the top or bottom.

    A number of considerations must be taken into account in the design of a stair glide.  The height and weight of the person using the chair will dictate the chair dimensions and height from the floor.  As indicated the device does not mount on the wall but set out from the wall about 12 to 15” with the chair folded up (most device chairs fold to free up the stairway access width). Existing total stair width should be a minimum of 38 to 40” before installation to allow a minimum passage of 24” with the chair in the folded position for access by other stair users.  The flat metal chair track is mounted about 5 to 6” from the wall resting only on the noses of the stair treads. The track bends at the top and bottom to allow the chair to get past the last stair tread and flatten out. The chairs normally swivel slightly to allow an easy access to the landing top or bottom of the stair. These stair access devices can be elaborate and go around corners but with steeply increasing expense. The stair glide devices can also have platforms for wheel chair roll-on or a carriage mechanism that engages the wheel chair and raises or lowers the occupied chair to another level eliminating the necessity to transfer to a separate chair.

    In most cities the installation of a stair glide requires a building permit, fire permit and a licensed electrician and contractor for installation. Additionally there will a yearly inspection of the stair glide and license fee.

    These stair glide inspections are simply safety measures and not burdensome when seen as an exchange for the convenience of this devise.   Access to the entire house for the mobility impaired gives a real sense of independence to an individual.

  • Tools for Medical Modifications Series: Part 2 of 3

    10 Feb
    2011

    Floor Surfaces can be treacherous – Impairment-of-mobility problems in the home should be addressed by careful attention to floor surfaces provided in the home. For instance wheel chairs and mobility devices function best on smooth, hard and even surfaces. However, some floor surfaces with these characteristics can be “slick” causing rollers or wheels to skid and preventing stopping or lack of traction to start to move. The ideal smooth floor surface should have a light granular texture called a “slip resistant” finish by tile manufacturers. For wood floors, the finish should have the same characteristics as the tile, a “slip resistant” finish. Manufactured wood products can be specified with this finish and natural wood can be finished in this manner. Carpet floor surfaces can be specified in this situation by using commercial high traffic types with flat tight weaves that will function well with mobility devices. In impairment of mobility situations, a ‘glue down’ type of carpet is preferable to using any type of pad in the installation. Pads would violate the hardness criteria and cause difficulty in movement of a mobility device. Shag or deep pile carpet is not suitable to use if mobility devices are contemplated for use in the home or on the particular floor surfaces.

    For impairment of mobility problems an additional factor of evenness of the floor surface is also important. With tile and wood floor surfaces, joints can be a problem, whether formed in manufactured products or created in the field installation. Extreme care must be taken to specify very narrow and shallow joints in floor surfaces to prevent wheels or legs from encountering the joint and moving erratically, thus causing a safety issue. Color is important for sure footedness and confidence in negotiating the path for mobility challenged person. The color of the floor surface should be light and must avoid patterns. Changes in elevations, doorways and surfaces can be indicated by variations in the color to warn the traveler of an upcoming change in floor surface. Particular care must be taken in tile floors to avoid having depressions around drains or high thresholds at changes in floor surface materials even though the surface may be slip resistant. These irregularities in floor surface can cause erratic movements of mobility devices and a safety issue for persons using them. Floor surfacing thresholds should be the ‘roll over’ type with a maximum of ½” of rise. Whatever the impairment of mobility problem in a home, adjusting the floor surface is the key to proper home modifications.

  • Tools for Medical Modifications Series: Part 1 of 3

    10 Feb
    2011

    Light to Live By – When disease or aging causes sensory losses, home modifications can be made to allow for independent living. Loss or degradation of Sight, in particular, is distressing but can be overcome or ameliorated by changing and adding to light sources in the home.

    Light sources in critical areas such as steps, stairways, entrances, exits hallways and high activity areas need to be examined carefully. Not only the amount of light (lumens) furnished and the color or “temperature” of the light is important, but also the application of the light to surfaces. Often over 100 lumens per SF is specified. For instance a common home modification is adding lights inside entries to a home, in order to offset the outside daytime glare by high lumen lights just inside the exterior home door that are operated by a sensor, to turn on when the door opens. Depending on the individual sight loss problem warmer or redder spectrum lights are more desirable. Surfaces that do not reflect light and therefore cause glare can provide more contrast for a person who has trouble distinguishing objects at a distance. Likewise solid medium intensity color can help provide contrast also. Patterns in wall or floor coverings even with intense lighting can be confusing.

    Natural sky lighting is a method used in home modifications to provide good background lighting for the home. This can be supplemented by special lighting in high activity areas or task lighting. Tube type skylights can be inexpensive and easily installed between the roof or ceiling rafters in single story homes.

    Lighting can be added in most any location in an existing home by locating the added light above or near an ordinary wall outlet.  The wiring can be fished up the wall to the new fixture.  Home modifications should always use a qualified Electrician who can check the capacity of the wall outlet circuit to be sure power to handle the new lighting is available.