About me

PROFILE:
I have been writing poetry and stories since I was a child, and a love of reading was instilled in me from an early age. I am passionate about writing, and hope you enjoy the books I have written. Whilst most of you sleep soundly in your beds, like many Parkinson’s patients, insomnia dictates, so during those hours that sleep eludes me, the house is tranquil and quiet, an atmosphere perfect to immerse myself in writing. My life has been a series of strange events, which have without doubt contributed to my creativity. To publish anything is to bear one’s soul to the world. It is to stand naked and let everyone see who you really are. I have poured my heart and soul out on paper and I hope to share this journey, immersing you in a story, capturing your attention and firing the imagination. Through my writing and public speaking I hope to bring greater awareness to the general public about living with chronic disease.

Thursday, January 17, 2013

Planning ahead

In answer to some of your questions regarding making a home as comfortable as possible for a disabled person, with low maintenance and safety high on the agenda; here are some of the small, yet essential things we picked up on our learning curve of designing a home based on my needs. These ideas are applicable not only for disability but also practical tips planning ahead for old age.

The biggest and most obvious feature being that all doors and corridors are large enough to allow a wheelchair or Zimmer frame to comfortably pass.

Make sure your bathroom mirror is measured and positioned at the correct height, by sitting in a wheelchair in front of the place you intend hanging the mirror. In our bathroom, the mirror has to be hung relatively low to ensure that I can see my face whilst in a wheelchair, yet it has to be high enough for my husband to see himself when standing up. Hence our bathroom mirror has to be quite large to take into consideration both heights.

The kitchen tap has been placed a little further forward than in a regular kitchen, so that I need not bend over or have to stretch to use the tap, and as I mentioned the other day, instead of having the fashionable spindle like lever, we opted for last year's fashion where the lever is far more robust and easy for those with little dexterity.

The toilet roll holder and the safety hand rails are clearly best positioned if you sit on the toilet when marking the place that is the most comfortable and effective for you.
Instead of fiddly hooks for towels, in the bathroom we have large rings that make it easier with impaired dexterity in one's fingers.

The counter top in the kitchen has a small ridge of 1/2 cm around it to stop things rolling off onto the floor.

The runners of the patio doors are sunk into the floor that open leading out into the garden, making a flat as possible surface for easy wheelchair access.

Light switches have naturally been lowered, but also extra switches added so that a corridor can be lit from either end, and likewise the light turned off, no matter which end one is standing.

These are just some of the features that make a huge difference, however small they may appear. There are many more, but if there is anything in particular that you would like to ask about - please feel free to write to me and I would be happy to answer you. 

1 comment:

  1. This subject would make a good useful and interesting book. Are you going to wright one, you could call it "Building the House of my Dream" or something like that. It sure would be a handy book. Hope you are enjoying your new home, you really deserve it.

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