Barrier Free Architecturals
December 31, 2011

Keeping Burglars at Bay

In this season of festivities, a lot of people, especially the elderly, tend to forget essential safety precautions and tips to prevent untoward incidents. One of these is burglary prevention. When the family comes together for the holidays, keeping the house safe from burglars must be the foremost concern. Unfortunately, this is also easily forgotten. You should know better and keep these tips, especially fit for those with disabilities and the elderly, in mind.

  1. Shut all doors and windows tightly and make sure that the locks are fastened. Most burglaries are caused by an open window or door—which is practically an open invitation to rob the house.
  2. Install deadbolt locks on the doors, with at least a one-inch throw and a reinforced strike plate. Don’t forget to install window locks on your windows as this is a common way by which burglars get into houses.
  3. To keep sliding doors secure, use a rod and place it in the track. You can also use vertical bolts to prevent burglars from lifting the doors.
  4. For the elderly with an attached garage, don’t forget to lock the door that connects to the main house. The automatic garage door mechanism works fine, but it’s always helpful to double-check.
  5. Most older people have doors or flaps for dogs and cats to entry.  Make sure the little door or flap has security features, especially if you’re leaving for an extended period of time.
  6. Having a well-lit house, even when you’re away or already sleeping, is one way to keep thieves away. There’re low-cost lighting options that you can use for this.
  7. Giving the illusion that someone’s home is another way to prevent burglars from entering the house. You can do this by turning on the radio or lighting a particular room in the house.

Happy New Year from everyone at Barrier Free Architecturals!

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December 6, 2011

Holiday Fire Safety Tips for Older Adults

The holiday season is characterized by entertainment, decorating, and a whole lot of celebration. But this doesn’t mean that you can forget all about safety.  The Merrimack Fire Rescue has a number of holiday safety tips to make sure older adults have both fun and safety during the holidays.

According to the Merrimack Fire Rescue, from 2003 to 2007, around 15,300 homes caught fire because of candles. An estimated amount of $450 million worth of property was damaged. There were an average number of 1,290 civil injured and 170 civilian deaths within such period. 4 out of 10 homes that caught fire started in the kitchen, with around half of all home fires occurring in December, January and February.

With these alarming statistics, careful preparation during Christmas is indeed necessary. Here are some important safety tips during the holiday season.

1. When decorating the home, choose holiday decorations that are flame-retardant and flame-resistant.

2. Put lit candles away from things that can easily catch fire. In fact, it would be helpful to avoid candles altogether, as they are the major cause of structure fires.

3. Check the label of the Christmas lights—make sure that they’re fit for either indoor or outdoor use. This is a mistake that often leads to fires.

4. Don’t use nails when hanging the Christmas lights, to prevent the cords from being damaged. Instead use clips to fasten the cords.

5.  When cooking, stay in the kitchen and don’t do anything else.

6. Make sure that your smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors are working. Tell the guests briefly about the home fire escape plan before jumping straight into the merrymaking.

7. When choosing a Christmas tree, choose one with fresh, green needles. Make sure it doesn’t easily fall off.

8. Keep the Christmas tree away from any source of fire.

9. Put the candles in study candle holders. Avoid placing them in areas where people sleep.

10. Blow all the candles before going out or after ending the party.

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September 11, 2011

Older Adults and Salt Intake

Salt. Image Credit: Health Medical Blog.

While it’s important for people of all ages to watch what they eat, older adults have special dietary concerns that should be paid special attention to. A new study, recently published in Neurobiology of Aging, has determined that high-sodium diets combined with low physical activity can raise serious health issues for adults aged 65 and older.

A decline in cognitive function and an increased risk of developing heart disease are among the risks.

“Our results show it’s a combination of high salt intake and low physical activity which declined cognitive function,” Study lead Dr. Alexandra Flocco from Toronto’s Baycrest Hospitals’ Kunin-Lunenfeld Applied and Evaluative Research Unit told the Toronto Sun. “The message is if you’re not active, make sure you cut back on your salt intake.”

The study analyzed 1,262 healthy older adults between the ages of 67 and 84, tracking their nutritional intake (and sodium consumption) as well as their physical activity for a period of three years. The daily average intake among participants varied greatly, from 2,263 to a staggering 8,098 milligrams. Health Canada recommends people aged 14 years and older consume no more than 2,300 milligrams of salt each day. The American Heart Association recommends that people living with high blood pressure limit their intake to 1,500 miligrams per day, which is less than ¾ of a tablespoon of salt.

Nearing the completion of the study, the participants were given an exam that measured their cognitive decline. Scored showed that participants with the lowest average daily salt intake suffered less cognitive decline and instances of heart disease than their counterparts who ingested a higher daily salt intake.
Sodium is an essential nutrient but it should not be over-consumed. Canned and pickled foods are incredibly high in sodium, as are certain salad dressings, cheeses and sauces. It’s important to check the nutritional information on food packaging before buying.

Low-sodium recipes are readily available online at Canadian Living, the Mayo Clinic and All Recipes.

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August 2, 2011

Preparing for Emergencies

American Red Cross Logo. Image Credit: American Red Cross.

John L. Beckley once said that “most people don’t plan to fail, they simply fail to plan.” This is true in many aspects of life, but especially where emergencies are concerned.  It is very important to take a proactive approach to emergency planning.  Here are a few tips you can take to prepare your home, your family and friends for potential emergencies.

The American Red Cross recommends that older adults assemble a personal support network that is comprised of several individuals who can be contacted in the event of an emergency, as well as to check in on them from time to time to provide assistance.  A support network can consist of any number of people, including: friends, roommates, family members, relatives, co-workers, health care professionals and neighbours.  The American Red cross suggests lining up a minimum of three people to act as part of their network or, one for each location where you regularly spend your time, for example; at, home at the gym, and/or at work.

Here are a few tips for emergency preparedness, courtesy of the Red Cross:

  1. Take a proactive approach to emergencies and set up emergency contacts (and back up emergency contacts).
  2. Make sure at least one person in your network has a set of your house and/or car keys and vice versa.
  3. Keep your house stocked with up-to-date emergency supplies and show the people in your support network where you keep them.
  4. Keep copies of your medical records, allergies, health card and any other important information in a safe place and provide copies to at least one person in your network.
  5. Establish a communications and back-up plan in the event that telephones are not working.
  6. Notify people in your network when you are going out of town and vice versa.
  7. Support the people in your safety network as well. Request copies of their medical information and offer to check in on them from time to time.

Click here to access a comprehensive resource on emergency planning.

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November 24, 2010

How to Make Simple Accessibility Modifications to Your Home

Wheelchair Symbol. Image Source: Wikipedia.

If you’ve decided the time is right to make your home more accessible to wheelchair users, but are worried about the cost or time involved, fear not! Here are a few simple things you can do to your home to make it more accessible to anyone with mobility problems:

-       It’s really easy to change doorknobs from round to lever-type handles, and it will make a huge difference to the overall accessibility of your home, both for wheelchair users and anyone with restricted mobility.

-       Add a piece of string to each lever door handle in your home – it will help anyone who uses a wheelchair to close the door behind them should they want or need to.

-       Look at all the floor surfaces in your house and work out if there are any ledges or uneven levels that might cause problems to a person in a wheelchair. You can easily purchase wheelchair ramps online or simply attach small wedges of wood or metal to serve the same purpose.

-       Consider getting rid of any loose carpets or loose rugs from around your home as they will cause problems for wheelchair users and may be a tripping hazard for anyone with mobility issues.

-       Move around your house and ensure there is at least an 80 centimetre path around the furniture. There should also be a 5 foot turning radius.

-       Make sure you don’t have any really low tables around the home. If you do and don’t want to get rid of furniture, you can easily attach wooden blocks to the bottom of the legs to make them an easier level for wheelchair users.

-       Check how slippery your bathroom floor is and consider installing a non-slip surface. It’s also a good idea to install some grab bars around the bathroom – you can easily get these online as well and will make a big difference in your accessible bathroom.

-       Make sure you have at least one entrance to your house that is wheelchair accessible. Because this is outside, you might need to get a professional ramp instead of the home made ones inside the house. If you do decide to install the ramp yourself, make sure you research the correct gradient first.

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September 2, 2010

Planning Your Dream Home? Think Accessibility.

Whether you’re fortunate enough to be building a new home for yourself, or you’re providing an extension or alteration to your existing home, it really pays to think through accessibility and, ideally, to talk diligently discuss the matter with your architect. Make accessibility a part of your dream home; we promise you’ll thank yourself for it.

If you’re investing in your home, chances are you want to stay there for some time longer. As you get older, the demand for increased accessibility will grow amongst your family and friends, so why not make the extra effort to plan long term? As we discussed in last week’s post, a living space will always benefit from universal design in its initial stages, rather than a more expensive retrofit.

First things first, talk to an expert. If you’re building a whole new home, your architect is the best point to start at because he or she is aware of the latest requirements: these will offer inspiration for what comes next… for example, the kitchen is often overlooked as a shared living space. In fact, it’s the most important shared space in a house (Kitchen Is King).  Accessible shelves, worktops and equipment are simple features you can seamlessly integrate into your new space to make it a place for anyone to comfortably contribute to the longevity of the household.

If you’re pursuing a DIY project and, for example, find yourself re-tiling the bathroom, take a moment to consider how easy it would be to increase the accessibility of the space a hundredfold. Grab bars are a terrific, and increasingly appreciated option for those on a low budget, and, if you’re feeling more adventurous, why not invest in an accessible shower?  Again, we guarantee that you’ll thank yourself down the road, if not also immediately.

[If this post has caught your imagination, here are a few places you can do some more research online:

Creating Accessible Homes - Cooperative Extension Service, Kansas State University (PDF File).

Fair Housing Act Design Module - provides clear guidance about ways to design and construct housing that complies with the Fair Housing Act.

Centre for Inclusive Design and Environmental Access - The IDeA Center practices human-centered design through research, development, service, dissemination and educational activities.]

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August 29, 2010

Alzheimer’s and Barrier Free Dwelling

We’ve got good news for those millions of people (roughly 5.3 million) suffering from Alzheimer’s Disease.  A recent article at Networx provides insight into a number of home modifications that make living with Alzheimer’s more manageable.

Depth-perception is something most of us take for granted, but much of our daily actions involve this function; a function that people with Alzheimer’s notably lack.  This lack makes many commonplace activities a serious challenge for those with Alzheimer’s disease.  According to Rosemary Bakker, MS, a Research Associate in Gerontologic Design in Medicine at Weill Cornell Medical College, being devoid of depth-perception is problematic for those with Alzheimer’s in that they “may not notice a glass door and try to walk right through it.  If there’s a low cocktail table, particularly if it’s glass, they may not even see it and walk right into it.  Climbing stairs can be a really big issue because if the riser and the tread are the same color, the person may not know how high to lift one’s feet, and therefore falls can occur and can be terrifying to try to walk the stairs.”  Fortunately, home-changes can be made to help.

Where people with Alzheimer’s cannot distinguish between obstacles on the basis of different depths, Bakker recommends highlighting the change in platform in other ways.  For example, contrasting colors can be used for the tread and riser of your stairs.  This simple modification not only makes stair-climbing safe again for everyone, this previously boring event becomes pleasantly colorful.

In addition to helpful color contrasting schemes, proper lighting arrangements can make living with Alzheimer’s less difficult.  Since glare and sharp changes in light levels are big problems for those living with Alzheimer’s, a home sensitive to these conditions will be furnished with consistent lighting levels and matte-finished furniture (especially large tables, which tend to be shiny).  Bakker indentifies polished floors as particularly troublesome: first its shininess disorients those with Alzheimer’s, and coupled with its slipperiness, the polished floor poses a double-threat.

Another important, and relatively easy home modification concerns bathrooms. Bakker said, “Bathing is really a big issue.  If you’re planning on renovating your house, or you’re planning on renovating a bathroom, why don’t you think about taking out a nearby closet and getting two or three feet of space from the adjacent room and put in a walk-in, wheel-in shower.  It will make a huge difference later on, and it’s also helpful for everyone.”

At Barrier Free, we’ve made possible numerous bathroom accessibility projects, and in addition to walk-in bathtubs, we’ve noticed that the presence of shower seats is central to the accessible bathroom.  While Bakker importantly points out the helpfulness of handrails for those with Alzheimer’s, we would add that the installation grab bars is perhaps the simplest high-benefit addition one can make to their home.  Of particular benefit to people with Alzheimer’s our Design Line Grab Bars come in a variety of vibrant colors, allowing for bold contrast against every wall in your (increasingly) accessible home.

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July 29, 2010

Is Your Yard Accessible Enough?

Your yard is as much a part of your home as all the rooms inside, and with the warmer weather of summer, the last thing you want is to have limited access to your yard due to mobility issues. Spending time outdoors is something that most people enjoy, and with exterior rooms becoming more and more popular, there are a number of ways you can make your yard a lot more accessible. Whether you are an avid gardener or simply enjoy entertaining family and friends in the garden, the following should help open up your yard for everyone to enjoy.

Paths

If you have a larger yard, you may want to add paths so that everyone is able to visit all areas of it. Grass and uneven ground can make walking difficult and near impossible for those using mobility devices such as walkers and wheelchairs. The path itself should be firm and level, and provide traction for walkers, etc.  Also, twisting and turning should be kept to a minimum, and the routes to the different areas should be direct. Fine gravel is good for wheelchairs, but not for those on crutches, while cement paving stones are a bit more expensive, but should provide access for everyone. It is important to make the path wide enough for users to turn around.

Accessible Gardening

As we get older, the bending and kneeling associated with gardening are harder and harder to do, and anyone in a wheelchair is highly unlikely to do any gardening at all. This doesn’t have to be the case. There are a number of ways to enjoy gardening in an accessible manner. Instead of planting plants directly into the ground, pots and baskets can be used. The height of these pots can be varied to allow ease of use. Hanging baskets can also be installed at a level that allows them to be easily reached and safely maneuvered around. Finally, raised beds can be built in areas of the yard where flower or vegetable gardens want to be added. When installing raised beds, it’s important to ensure that you can reach all areas of the bed, so they should not be too large.

Fencing, Gates and Doorways

Of course, there is no point creating an accessible yard if the person that is mobility challenged cannot reach it. For wheelchair users, all entrances to the yard must be wide enough to allow the wheelchair to pass through easily. Sliding gates and doors are easier to use than those that swing, or you may want to install automatic door openers. Finally, ramps may need to be installed if there is a large difference from leaving the house to reaching the level of the yard.

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July 2, 2010

Bathroom Accessibility: What to look for in a handicap shower

There are a lot of factors to consider when updating a bathroom for accessibility purposes. And there are even more decisions to be made that have to be constrained by budget, time, personal taste and so forth. If you’ve already made the decision to do a shower and not a bathtub, here are some things to consider.

Accessible showers are nothing new, but ageing populations as well as an emphasis on universal design have made them much more common nowadays.

It’s easier building a new home with a handicapped shower rather than having to do a remodel, but it’s still a perfectly reasonable undertaking. You will need to contact one of our contractors, or any top quality remodeling contractor with an awesome tile setter should be up to it. The biggest problem most people face is finding room–you need a roomy area to turn a wheelchair–54 inches is a minimum, and 60” square is better.

The tile showers typically have a cement mortar base just beneath the tile. It slopes to allow water to travel down to the drain, and the floor slope required is only 1/8 inch per foot. The rest of the bathroom should have a slight tilt back towards the shower stall so that the water spray will go back to the drain as well.

We also have all-in one shower pans that take some of the complicated planning out of this, but the slopes still have to be seen to before the liner goes in.

Some other things to be aware of when undertaking a shower remodel–soap dishes and accessories need to be at a comfortable height for the user. The shower faucet needs to be positioned at an appropriate height, as well as the controls for it. A handheld device is essential.

Also, without doors, water on the floor is more of a concern. Try installing two shower curtains, with weighted corners. The first shower curtain should be well within the shower area–another reason why more room is better.

Feel free to contact us for advice or assistance when planning your handicap bathroom. We’re happy to assist.

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June 30, 2010

Resources for Home Safety and Accessibility

Since our work revolves around making the home a safer, more usable place for all its occupants, we thought a roundup of folks working toward those same goals would be appropriate. Here are some sites you might want to visit when looking for ideas on how to achieve the most user-friendly spaces possible:

The Home Safety Council. The Home Safety Council, based in Washington DC, is an organization dedicated to making the home a safer place. They target, senior safety, fire safety, and safety for babies and kids. Their site is packed with resources on all these topics. It’s a go-to resource if you’re wondering what the best way to tackle some of these issues is. Also, June being home safety month is one of their programs. One of the coolest things on their site is this checklist generator that asks you a few questions and then points you to the things you need to double-check in your home.

Easter Seals. Easter Seals does a lot of work with disability-related issues. Their “easy access housing for easier living” program offers a succinct yet comprehensive checklist of things to look into when updating your house for accessibility. Check out their link roundup for go-to resources. Very handy.

Fall Prevention Center of Excellence. These folks offer complete courses and a certificate in upgrading homes for the needs of the disabled. They also offer a great FAQ resource, although it is largely US-specific.

The University of Iowa offers this tremendous booklet on evaluating home needs. It’s here in a PDF form.

For lots of reading on the state of the art, check out the University of North Carolina’s Center for Universal Design.

The National Association of Home Builders (Washington, DC) offers specialized education and certifications for those working in the industry.

Access Guide Canada. This is a tremendous list of resources for accessible places in Canada. Sign in to get full access to the directory.

And of course, we’re here to help with any home modifications or adaptations that you might require. Call any time for a consultation!

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