Most bath tubs are not made for the elderly. The high step over sides,
narrow bottoms with curved edges cause them to loose their balance and fall. Try
a roll-in shower, it does not have to be gigantic just enough to roll in a wheel
chair. When I took care of my little brother the bath rooms in his house were
the worst place to try to help him and still let him maintain his dignity. The
toilets were not accessible nor were the baths. If you are building a home for
you or the elderly, you should remember we never know when we will not be able
to move about as we do now. Illness and accidents do not make appointments. I
have an uncle that had Polio and has to avoid floors that have slick tile,
I thought that was a good item for both bath and kitchen floors before I talked
to him.
I do not know what kind of intercom you can use that will be accessible to
a person that has fallen in the shower but if they carry the remote as was
previously mentioned, that will cover most of the time.
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Sunday, November 25, 2001 10:09
PM
Subject: [GBlist] Small Cabin Suggestions
for Elderly
Since you plan on making the home/space detached, you should
definitely consider
an intercom, signaling system some other type of
communication system between the two
separate buildings.that can be heard
in your home from the other "home". Some communication
systems use a
remote that the person can carry with them in their pocket and can produce an
audible
noise and or light to the receiver which you might place in your
residence.
My elderly grandfather slipped in the tub and that was the last time he
called for help.
It happens all the time and it is a very important thing
to incorporate.
Additionally, you may want to have walkway lights between the two detached
buildings
for an occasional walk between them or use in an emergency
situation.
From working at Steven WInter Associates, I know that
Mary Jo Peterson
wrote some good books on Universal Design.
See www.swinter.com and go to
Publications.
~Debra Lombard
dlombard@earthlink.net
http://home.earthlink.net/~dlombard
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