The need to carry out some disabled home extensions work to your property is often a decision that is taken in response to changes in a family members health and mobility. A member of your family may become disabled as the result of an accident or illness. Alternatively, it could be that you have an elderly relative who has been becoming infirm and less able to manage on their own.
The type of aids and adaptations will depend on the patients mobility level. It may be necessary to install hand rails around the house and add a disabled chair over the bath or in the shower. Perhaps changing the flooring in the kitchen and bathroom to make sure it is safe when water is spilt.
One of the major considerations when adapting a property for the disabled and infirm will be the costs. Insurance may cover the cost of purchasing and installing some aids and minor adaptations, but it is wise to check with your insurance adviser before you start the process. You may find that your insurer has a list of preferred suppliers and installers that you are required to use.
However, it is almost certain that most insurers will not provide funding for major extensions or alterations to your property. If you do not want to consider moving to alternative housing that meets the needs of the disabled or elderly person, you will need to use another source of funding. You can talk to your financial advisor about the best options for your circumstances. They should be able to point you in the direction of any grants or funding available. Once the work starts you will need to keep a tight control of your budget if you do not want to overspend.
The elderly and the disabled generally have a therapist or adviser on their team of medical providers who can provide expert advice on suitable aids and adaptations. They can assess your accommodation and provide you with information on what will make the property safe and user friendly. They can help you to find a reliable supply company for the items you need and to find an experienced fitter.
Major renovations or extensions to the building will require planning approval. It is advisable to employ an architect and a reputable builder to bring your project through to completion. Whenever possible, it makes sense to extend or renovate the ground floor to accommodate someone with mobility issues, negating the need for the individual to climb stairs.
It is important to assess the access to the property and the interior doors to ensure that wheelchairs users can move around the home easily. Many people reconfigure the ground floor layout to include a bedroom and perhaps a bathroom or wet room. Whenever possible providing dedicated facilities for the elderly or someone disabled allows them their privacy and lessons the potential for accidents due to things being moved or left lying around.
If expansion out the way is not an option because of a lack of ground space, you might consider expanding upwards. However, that may mean that you revise the use of your ground floor rooms, so they can accommodate the individual. Alternatively, you may have the space for disabled home extensions in the form of a chair lift on stairs or a through floor lift to allow access to upstairs accommodation.
The type of aids and adaptations will depend on the patients mobility level. It may be necessary to install hand rails around the house and add a disabled chair over the bath or in the shower. Perhaps changing the flooring in the kitchen and bathroom to make sure it is safe when water is spilt.
One of the major considerations when adapting a property for the disabled and infirm will be the costs. Insurance may cover the cost of purchasing and installing some aids and minor adaptations, but it is wise to check with your insurance adviser before you start the process. You may find that your insurer has a list of preferred suppliers and installers that you are required to use.
However, it is almost certain that most insurers will not provide funding for major extensions or alterations to your property. If you do not want to consider moving to alternative housing that meets the needs of the disabled or elderly person, you will need to use another source of funding. You can talk to your financial advisor about the best options for your circumstances. They should be able to point you in the direction of any grants or funding available. Once the work starts you will need to keep a tight control of your budget if you do not want to overspend.
The elderly and the disabled generally have a therapist or adviser on their team of medical providers who can provide expert advice on suitable aids and adaptations. They can assess your accommodation and provide you with information on what will make the property safe and user friendly. They can help you to find a reliable supply company for the items you need and to find an experienced fitter.
Major renovations or extensions to the building will require planning approval. It is advisable to employ an architect and a reputable builder to bring your project through to completion. Whenever possible, it makes sense to extend or renovate the ground floor to accommodate someone with mobility issues, negating the need for the individual to climb stairs.
It is important to assess the access to the property and the interior doors to ensure that wheelchairs users can move around the home easily. Many people reconfigure the ground floor layout to include a bedroom and perhaps a bathroom or wet room. Whenever possible providing dedicated facilities for the elderly or someone disabled allows them their privacy and lessons the potential for accidents due to things being moved or left lying around.
If expansion out the way is not an option because of a lack of ground space, you might consider expanding upwards. However, that may mean that you revise the use of your ground floor rooms, so they can accommodate the individual. Alternatively, you may have the space for disabled home extensions in the form of a chair lift on stairs or a through floor lift to allow access to upstairs accommodation.
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For more information on home extentions for the disabled, less abled, elderly and frail please visit www.oakhealthcare.ie
