Beyond the Equipment: When to Call an Access Specialist
by Jane Hampton, CID, Access Specialist
Dear Jane,
I am an occupational therapist and have a patient I have been seeing
who has multiple sclerosis. I have been to his home and done training
with bathroom safety products for increased independence and safety
using a manual wheelchair which is his main means of mobility.
He is able to take a few steps when he transfers but his fatigue
also impacts his functioning. At what point in this process should
I refer him to an accessibility specialist to resolve access issues
that a piece of equipment can not address?
Cindy Gackle
U of MN Medical Center
Fairview Outpatient Occupational Therapy, Mpls, MN
Dear Cindy,
An accessibility specialist should be contacted at the point you
know the disability is permanent or the condition is diagnosed
as progressing towards home access needs in the future. This is
the same if they have a progressive disease such as multiple sclerosis,
or a permanent injury such as a spinal cord injury.
There
are three ways to resolve access and safety issues within a home.
The first is to teach an alternate way to work within the existing
environment (e.g., how to approach and transfer onto the toilet
in a different manner); the second is to install or add a product
to the equation (e.g., install grab bars or a plastic riser toilet
seat); and the third is to “permanently” modify
the environment (e.g., relocate the toilet and/or modify walls).
Often
times we are called by individuals who are in a “panic” trying
to make decisions because a loved one is due to be discharged or
the need for home access modifications is immediate. Although the
tendency is to wait to make arrangements the time the modification
is needed, it’s best to allow as much time as possible to enable
good decision making, eliminate unnecessary stress, foster collaboration
between therapists and designers/access specialists, and allow time
for ALL potential access solutions to be explored.
With
a simple home evaluation (1 to 2 hour walk-through), major access
issues can be addressed, decisions to renovate or relocate can
be discussed, and a course of action and timeline established .
. . essentially “fires” can be put out. The unknown
is often- times the “elephant in the room” that nobody
wants to talk about, yet is assumed bigger than what it is.
Remember, even the simplest modifications require some time to coordinate,
design, obtain contractor bids, and then select a contractor, purchase
building materials and coordinate financing. The project timeline
from evaluation to project completion can vary from a few weeks to
more than a year, depending on the involvement of modifications and
the level of planning/design. A realistic time for most bathroom
and kitchen projects is 3-6 months.
As a therapist, you are one
of the first individuals who will be able to determine if a patient
is going to need assistance with home access, whether now or in the
future. By suggesting they contact an accessibility specialist to
review their home at the same time you, the occupational therapist,
are addressing home healthcare and access products, you can help
them take the unknown out of the equation. Thus, allowing them to
be informed regarding all their options and associated costs. Often
times when trying to accept a disability, individuals are trying
to process a lot of information. Their home is just one of the many
issues they need to address, but one that can truly impact their
independence and outlook on life.
Do
you have a question for Jane and Accessibility Design? We’ll
cover all of your questions in future issues of Home Access Answers.
Please contact us: 952-925-0301, www.accessibilitydesign.com,
info@accessibilitydesign.com.
Jane Hampton, president of Accessibility Design, founded the company
in 1992 to enhance lives through design and project management. They
provide design, consultation, project management, and product recommendation
services specializing in home access for individuals with disabilities
at all stages of life.
