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	Home Modifications For Special Needs

	by Sue Fox

Creating an organized and clutter free home environment for the elderly and physically challenged is essential to their comfort and safety. For those with vision problems, finding an item where it is supposed to be is a great deal more than a nice surprise. Storage set up at the right height will prevent strains from stretching and bending. Possessions scattered all over the house could cause a fall or make an area of the house completely inaccessible. For this special population, being organized is not only helpful, it can be a lifesaver. MODIFYING the home for their specific needs will make it easier to create a highly functional environment, allowing this population to live independently. Each room in the home needs to be assessed for its CHALLENGES.

KITCHENS

The more ACCESSIBLE kitchen storage spaces are, the easier it will be to put things back where they belong, and the less likely that clutter will pile up:

adapt shelves in closets and pantries for easy REACH
lower counters for accessibility from a wheelchair
install SLIDING baskets and lazy susans in cabinets
remove cabinet doors if they impede access
use OPEN tubs and baskets for storage when possible
use racks and hanging storage to avoid stacking items
store everyday items between knee and shoulder HEIGHT
set up "centers" for each type of food preparation activity
set up a power strip for easier use of electric appliances

LIVING ROOMS AND HALLWAYS

Living rooms and hallways may require some modification to reduce the amount of furniture and other clutter that could be a MOBILITY hazard:

rearrange room to CLEAR walking areas
use low pile carpet for ease of movement
use open storage baskets near ACTIVITY areas
lower shelving to make books more accessible
use CORD wraps or guards to keep wires under control
remove furniture or storage pieces along hallway walls
install HANDRAILS along corridor walls

BATHROOMS

Bathrooms are the most challenging room in the house -- but many organizational changes are essential for ensuring SAFETY:

store extra PAPER in basket reachable from toilet
store bath products on shelf next to bath bench
remove excess CLUTTER from shower or bath area
use linen closet or shelf storage rather than under sink
store MEDICINES and emergency items within reach
set up a power strip for easier use of electric appliances
use pull-out baskets and lazy susans in DEEP storage
set up "centers" for each type of grooming activity
pill organizers eliminate the guesswork
keep a phone in the bathroom reachable from the floor

BEDROOMS

In your bedroom, the major areas where clutter collect are by the bed and in the closet. However, it' usually because the STORAGE isn't set up appropriately:

LOWER rods and shelves in closets for easy reach
use shelving instead of DRAWERS for folded items
hang hats and purses at eye-level
organize clothes by type and use for easy access
keep a small basket at bedside table for loose items
limit the items on bedside table to those used every night
keep a phone at bedside table

PAPERWORK

Staying on top of paperwork can seem like a real CHALLENGE when mobility is an issue -- but an organized system makes things a bit easier:

keep current medical, insurance and financial information
color coded filing system for easy retrieval of papers
summarized document LOCATOR, in case of emergency
place files in logical locations, making maintenance simple
use open file storage if drawers are too heavy or difficult

MAKING ADJUSTMENTS

These are small changes that can be made for minimal expense. If cost is not an issue, new innovative solutions in universal design are available. The marketplace today offers a tremendous array of products to help provide solutions to make independent living easier. These products, combined with simple adjustments in the home, can create a safe, ORGANIZED, and accessible environment for people with special needs.

Sue Fox is a professional organizer -- you may contact her at 404-313-1778 or .

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