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Help with ideas for home modification.

6K views 9 replies 6 participants last post by  Birch812 
#1 ·
I have a friend who was recently severely injured in a construction accident. His pelvis was crushed and he ended up having his leg amputated just below the hip. I realize this is a hunting related forum but I don't know anyone who has a handicap who may be able to assist in answering some questions or giving insight to any ideas to overcome home-related daily routine issues. My friend is several months to a year out from coming home and in the mean time myself and a handful of others are going to be gutting his home and retrofitting it so he will be able to be self sufficient. Anyone willing to answer a few questions please pm me...nothing crazy... just looking at making things as easy as possible for him and since we are starting from scratch we have the opportunity to tackle/fix the things he may realize could have be arranged differently from the start. Any help is greatly appreciated.
 
#2 ·
Sorry to hear about your friend,tough road ahead of him. Can't help much witht the specifics but the rehab facility would have lots of info on what he may need. The local township building/code department would also be a good source of info as well as design spec issues. I have seen some handyman made handicap ramps that although well meaning are darn near impossible for a wheelchair to roll up or maneuver because they are too steep or small.He may need bathroom modifications or hand rails installed or carpets removed for smooth floors.Wider doorways for a chair or crutches would help. Sitdown shower,bigger than usual,no curb,pitched floor drain,hand rails. My dad had a stroke almost 20 years ago and it's the little stuff you do that made life easier for him. It was a do it as you go along for him and he figured out what he needed and what would help him.Good luck.
 
#3 ·
These are the kind of things I'm looking for. We are already pricing out a curb free shower and handicap toilet. Discussed putting laminate flooring throughout the house. No ramp should be necessary other than at the one entry and pitch would be minimal. Doorways/throughways will all be widened. I have seen where cabinetry/ kitchen layouts were placed lower than standard. I guess the rehab place will have some ideas like you mentioned...I know hes supposed to be going to one sometime soon as long as he continues to progress with his recovery. I'll have to see what they have to say just thought I'd be proactive and see if anyone else in a similar situation might have input as to things you or I may not think of that could make life a little easier. Thanks for the input!
 
#4 ·
I took out the tub at my Pop's house and installed a "4 pc remodeler" from these guys http://www.diamondtubshowers.com/Main/Product.aspx?ID=52 I had certain issues that I had to deal with (plumbing in concrete slab) but I got lucky the model I needed was in stock at the supply house in Bath (outside of Allentown) I added grab bars in both the stall and bathroom. I had to add blocking behind the stall + drywall also had to add a couple of studs(place was built before 16"centers LOL) Overall it came out OK for non-carpenter.
 
#5 ·
BUILDING CODE FOR RAMPS IN PENNSYLVANIA SHOULD BE 1 INCH PER A FOOT INCLINE. THERE SHOULD BE A ROOF OVER TOP OF THE RAMP.
Nothing stinks worse then trying to ride a wheel chair down a ski slope in the winter and having ice and snow to deal with.

Yes the doors and all will need to be widened, but I would check with the rehab and find out how severe his limitations are going to be. If he will not be confined to a wheel chair, putting everything at arms length for someone in a wheel chair will only mess up his rehab.
If possible, you want to get him out of the chair, not make him spend more time in the chair.

Living alone is really tough, if it is more then a one story home, it is almost impossible to get to the second floor. The bathroom, laundry, kitchen, bedroom, storage etc all needs to be on the first floor and handicap accessible.

The guy might have to move!

The State Cop that got shot up by Brockway had about $100,000.00 worth of home improvements donated towards his recovery that I know of. I had a cousin in law that worked on the project for several months..

Tpr. Wilson was just lucky that he had a girlfriend before the accident and that she was smart enough to stick around.. The State takes very good care of their own, so I am sure he is a multimillionaire today!

We all are not that lucky. Sometimes a person even falls through the cracks, both at the judicial level and the personal level and we are forced to live how ever we can manage after a life changing event, and we don't get things handed to us - just because we are disabled!

Contact the Homes Foundation, Mike can give you some good suggestions as to the possibilities of being able to help this person with the funds you have available.

The most important things are keeping the utility bills paid, keeping the taxes paid, keeping some heat inside of the house during the winter months and keeping this mans spirit up while he recovers. Anything else will be icing on the cake!

Now would be the time to try to line up some additional help for housekeeping in the future. Things like scrubbing the floors, sweeping / shoveling the snow in the winter, home repairs / improvements. Things that a normal person takes for granted, or doesn't even think about like cooking, bathing and washing the dishes is a big event for someone that is disabled.

You need to have an oven and a stove top that will not burn that persons hands and arms each time they reach for something. You need to have a refrigerator / freezer that the person can open the door - even in a wheel chair and can reach anything on the shelves.

Taking out the garbage can also be stressful when you are disabled. So having garbage facilities within arms reach is also important. How will the person get the bags out to the curb?

Sometimes having a garage that they can drive into and get out of the vehicle and into their chair and be able to go straight into their home, all on one level is a good thing to have.

Having a deck where they can sit and look at nature is another bonus.

Having a hobby is also a nice thing, things like woodworking, metal working, fishing - fly tying, amateur radio etc is a good way to keep their mind off their troubles. Maybe you could build them some kind of island that he could drive his wheel chair directly into the work bench area and do things, putter around, will do more to make him feel useful then anything else!

Just because you loose a leg doesn't mean that his life is going to stop.
He will probably learn how to walk with some type of prosthetic or a crutch and won't even need the wheel chair all of the time.
 
#6 ·
Thanks for the input....his cousin has been keeping up with all the bills and paperwork. He actually just met with workers compensation people at the home and there are, surprisingly to me, talks of demolishing the house and starting new. I'm not sure where it will go from here I was just trying to get a game plan together figuring we would be doing all the work and remodeling. Now it sounds as though there is a possibility of worker comp paying for a local contractor to do the job. I guess we'll see.......thanks!
 
#8 ·
His rehab is going well he's been able to stand with assistance. Still has quite a ways to go of course but he seems to be focused on getting home and back to life and out of the hospitals and other places. As far as the home I haven't heard an update from his cousin yet. He was supposed to meet with a local contractor to discuss everything. We were all gung ho to get something underway but now that workers comp is involved it seems he may end up with a better situation than we would have been able to do with his current home. I'll be sure to update when I hear back... Thanks for asking!
 
#9 ·
There are plenty of resources out there. Google ADA Compliant Ramps, Restrooms, etc. Ramps must be around 48 inches wide, no steeper than 1" per foot slope, have at least 5' square turning areas. There should be a 5' diameter turning circle in the bathrooms. Doors should be 36" wide and there should be at least 12 inches lateral clearance from the latch side of the door to the nearest obstruction. There's much more, but that's some of what I can remember.
 
#10 ·
Toilet seats should be no higher than 19 inches, and bars for grabbing and lifting should be no higher than 36 inches both behind and next to the toilet. Sink rims should not exceed 34 inches high, and again, a closed fist should have no trouble turning the faucet on or off. Bathroom, and for that matter, ALL mirrors should be hung with the bottom edge at no higher than 40 inches. Bathrooms and halls must have a minimum of 36 inches width, free from all obstructions, and should include a circle, or “T” that is 5 feet in diameter to that the individual in the wheelchair is able to make a 180-degree turn. Hardwood floors are ideal but if there is carpet, it should be a low pile, tight-weave type.

Light switches and other wall-mounted controls should be no higher than 54 inches for a sideways reach; if accessed by a forward reach, controls should not exceed 48 inches in height. Table and counter tops should be between 28 and 34 inches in height. The area for knee placement should be a minimum of 27 inches in height, at least 30 inches in width, and a depth of 19 inches.

Thing to consider is totally converting 100% an existing home for HP/wheelchair accessible will be expensive to convert and will cost you again when the time comes for resale. In some cases it actually is cheaper to build new,
Good Luck
 
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