Barrier Free Architecturals
May 31, 2010

Habitat for Humanity Uses Universal Design

There’s an interesting article in the Lafayette (Indiana, USA) Journal-Courier about the house that Habitat for Humanity recently built for a 30-year-old man, Brian Sholty, who has cerebral palsy. We took note of the article because, although Brian and Habitat are planning for the future (Brian may well need a wheelchair at some point in the future, but currently doesn’t), author Taya Flores, touts the ability of universal design to be helpful to everyone.

The article talks about the showcase open house that Habitat for Humanity is holding so that the public can see some of the cool features. Habitat for Humanity, North Carolina State University Design Department, and others have put together a pamphlet that talks about housing that is both affordable and accessible. It makes for interesting reading.

Features the show home boasts are:
• An entrance with no steps
• Hand bars in the shower and near the toilet
• Wide doors
• No steps between home and garage
• Wide space under the vanity
• Higher electrical outlets and lower light switches

Here is a more recent video, from the local news station, showcasing the house:

The case of Brian Sholty is interesting: he doesn’t technically need these adaptations yet, but it’s benefiting his family because his mother, who uses a cane, is able to visit. He says in the article “As far as ageing and getting older, everybody is going to do that. It’s designed universally for anybody and everybody to make it more accessible and more convenient.”

When you need to make your home more universally designed, get in touch with Barrier Free. Our entire range of products and consultative services, including accessible bathrooms, kitchens, grab bars and more can help you and your loved ones live life to the fullest!

Filed under Mobility Issues and News
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May 27, 2010

Diet and Exercise to Improve Mobility

Diet and Exercise–it seems like that is the answer to everything when it comes to being healthy. And it is to a large extent. Let’s look at strength training, cardio training and nutrition/diet to see what can be done to improve mobility and quality of life.

Strength Training

Senior Mobility Studies show that strength training is beneficial for senior men and women at all ages, even nursing home residents. In this study, seniors were asked to perform a schedule of weight-bearing exercises that targeted the major muscle groups of the body. These exercises were performed on a basic gym-type Nautilus machine. Study participants gained on average about a pound of muscle, and their general mobility level showed a noticeable increase. Participants also showed greater joint flexibility. Here is a basic exercise program for seniors specifically geared towards resistance (weight training) exercises for seniors.

Cardio Training

Cardio training, or exercise that boosts the heart rate, is a good idea for seniors and people with limited mobility. That’s because the endurance gained through cardio can slow down age-related decline, improve joint flexibility, and even improve mood! The National Institute on Aging recommends 30 minutes per day of aerobic activity. This simply means an activity that increases your heart rate. That could be a 30 minute walk, some gardening, swimming, or what have you. Here are some basic cardio fitness guidelines for seniors.
for seniors wanting to know more about cardio exercise.

Nutrition

As we age, we may well need fewer calories because we might slow down. However, getting proper nutrients is just as important. For instance, a recent nutrition study shows that people with high levels of Vitamin D have better mobility into their golden years. So a good, balanced, diet is important to living as active a life as possible. Choose a variety of healthy foods, meats, dairy, vegetables (leafy green vegetables are rich in nutrients) and so forth. Try to avoid empty calories, such as those from soda, alcohol or too many sweets and salty snacks.

Take care of yourself, and if you need any improvements to your physical space such as bathroom adaptations, or accessible kitchen resources. We’ll be happy to help.

Filed under Health and Mobility Tips
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May 11, 2010

Walk-In Bathtubs

Walk-in bathtubs are a great solution for living comfortably at home and keeping those little luxuries–like a good soak in a nice hot bath. Obviously, a traditional bathtub requires stepping over the wall of the tub, lowering yourself down into the tub, and then doing it in reverse–while wet–when it’s time to get out. This creates the opportunity for lots of slipping and sliding around, leading to dangerous falls. The walk-in bath is a safer option.

Walking into a bathtub is kind of an interesting thing. How does it hold water in? The walk-in tub is a basin, just like a regular bath. However, it has a door in it that allows you to cross over a low threshold. You can then sit in the tub and turn on the water. When the bath tub is full–it is quite deep so that you can soak while sitting on the integrated seat–the pressure of the water in the tub seals the specially designed door so that it is water tight. The seals are rigorously tested and have a lifetime warranty. When you are done in the tub, you can drain the water, open the door and step out. Using the walk-in tub is much safer, and provides the opportunity to bathe in a luxurious deep basin. You also have the option of having whirlpool jets, so you can have your own private hot tub. Water jet or air jet systems are available.

Our walk-in bath units are designed to fit into an existing standard tub or tub/shower area. This means that installation costs can be kept down. They are designed very intelligently so that they can be plumbed in an efficient and aesthetically pleasing way. For instance, the front skirt has a magnetically attached access panels to make plumbing easy. All these great design elements mean that your new tub will be great looking, and that you’ll be able to enjoy it with as little delay as possible!

Contact Barrier Free for help when your plans call for a wonderful walk-in bathtub!

Filed under bathroom safety tips and products
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May 3, 2010

Options for Independent Living: Shower Seats

shower seat with padded arms and legsWe like to talk about all the different shower seat options there are in the market. It’s great to be able to help people overcome physical barriers and live the way they want to live. Bathroom products are always a hot topic at Barrier-Free Architecturals.

A key product is shower seats or shower chairs. A shower seat is a great way to make bathing safer, and to be able to continue living safely and doing your routine independently. Anchored shower chairs are a great addition to safety in the bathroom; because they enable the bather to remain in a sitting position they make falls a lot less likely.
Shower seats can be mounted on the walls, like a shelf. This enables the floor to be clear of chair legs, etc. It can be helpful with cleaning. Others are mounted to the wall and also have two legs. This variety of designs allows us to customize recommendations to match your need, and to the shower it’s meant to go in. As an example, wall mounted shower seats without legs will hold a maximum of 250 lbs whereas our wall mounted shower seats with two legs will support double that amount. Of course there are freestanding shower chairs available on the market but it is important to note that these are not as safe as mounted / anchored chairs and are not recommended. This is why our products come in wall mounted with our without legs. For example, our basic ADA phenolic (phenolic is a very durable resin product) seats come in these two varieties. Take a look at these shower seats; they give a good idea of the structure of all shower seats.

The floor or wall-based chairs are important for another reason: many of the wall-mounted chairs can flip up to achieve a lower profile. This is a great asset when you’re sharing a bathroom with other family members who don’t need to use the chair. It can be stowed away unobtrusively when not in use. Of course, chairs with legs offer other benefits, and may be a better match to your situation.

Our shower chairs can have padding and arms, to make bathing very comfortable. Take a look at these padded chairs to get an idea of what we offer, and the kind of comfort you can enjoy when using this accessibility solution.
So you can see there are a great variety of options when considering a shower seat or any accessibility-related modifications to your shower. Please get in touch with us for the latest advice, recommendations, and assistance!

Filed under bathroom safety tips and products
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