Home Modification Resources

A Consumer's Guide to Home Adaptation

Introduction

The Consumer's Guide to Home Adaptation is a workbook designed to help you make your home safer and more comfortable. Usually, we adapt ourselves to the physical environment by trying to work around existing obstacles. When we can't reach a shelf or twist a door knob, we often accept the problem as our own personal limitation. With this guide, you can take a fresh look at correcting the problems in your home by adapting the environment to suit your needs.

Many changes in your home can be made easily by you or by your friends and family. You can eliminate frustrations by replacing something unusable or difficult with something convenient. Simple projects such as installing light switch adaptors or a hand held shower can make significant improvements in your home. The changes may be small but essential to your independence and you can use the book to plan for yourself, your child, or your parent. The book can also be used as a pleasure at home.

You can use the book to plan for yourself, your child, or your parent. The book can also be used as an interview tool by a contractor, designer, or social service worker who is trying to understand the needs of a client. No matter who holds the book in her hand, it is the person whose living space is being reconsidered who should determine what works best.

When to adapt your environment: Whenever you feel frustration with your home, when your mobility changes, or when you anticipate a change in your mobility -- consider making some adaptations. When you are remodeling or choosing a new home, you have an opportunity to incorporate flexible features which will accommodate your changing needs. Thoughtful decisions, such as putting a grab bar in the bath tub, can ensure that your home will suit you for a lifetime. If your mobility varies with illness or injury, the grab bar may be the key to maintaining your independence. It could also save any member or your family from a serious accident.

How to Use This Book: This book is made to be written on and marked up thoroughly. It's a workbook that you can refer to throughout the home adaptation process.

Evaluating Your Needs and Your Home will help you see what needs to be done. Using the worksheets, you can identify the activities that you want to be able to do and the obstacles you encounter in each area of your home.
The Planning Worksheet will help you set priorities and identify the next step in removing the obstacles.
The Construction section provides advice on working with a contractor, and general information on some common projects. Reviewing the cost estimates and construction details will help you communicate with a contractor.
The Resources section provides information on finding products, financial assistance, outside help with planning, or useful books and catalogs.