A couple of years ago, our family had a loved one who had become immobile and disabled and had to rely upon a wheelchair or motorized scooter to get around. What we realized is they didn’t have a way to get into the house without somebody lifting them and carrying them, so we had to build a ramp.
Fortunately, my father in law is much better with tools than I am, and he was able to build a ramp for the front of the house and to the back of the house and it worked out great. The point is when you have somebody who’s coming home to your house or someplace that they live, it is important is to make sure you can accommodate their needs.
How Will They Get Into The House?
You may find yourself having to build a ramp. If you do, it’s important to make sure that the slope is good for them. In the Americans with Disabilities Act, it says for every one inch of slope, there needs to be 12 inches of ramp. Make sure to take a look at that before you decide you want to build a ramp. if you want to have somebody else do it, make sure they do it properly.
What Happens When They Actually Get In The House?
The biggest challenge, and we had this experience with another loved one who was in a wheelchair, is the doorways were too narrow for the wheelchair to go through. Rather than build out the door frame, which was going to be more expensive, we bought a doorway wheelchair from Amazon. It was $100, which is still expensive, but it was a lot cheaper than the construction of expanding the doorways.
How Will They Shower Or Bathe?
Obviously, the TBI victim is going to need to bathe, and if they’re in a wheelchair, roll in showers are a great option. They allow you to wheel the person in and out.
What About Doors?
It is important to consider door openers that are automatic. There are buttons and switches, and various things on the market that can help TBI victims, or those in wheelchairs, flip a switch or push a button to open and close doors automatically.
Do I Need A Ceiling Lift?
A ceiling lift is attached to the ceiling and will lift the person to help move them to another wheelchair or something that they can use to get around. While it may be the most expensive option, it does provide relief for TBI victims.
When it comes to providing accommodations to brain injury victims, it is really important to think outside of the box. Whether you’re making the changes yourself or purchasing things on Amazon, there are all kinds of items that can help.
