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Thursday, February 28, 2013

How Can You Alter A Home To Accommodate Special Needs?

There are many different reasons someone might need to alter their home, but disabilities and special needs are among the most common. When someone with special needs is going to be living in a home, that home needs to have alterations made to it so they can easily move around it. Any of these alterations will cost money, but before paying out a lot for equipment that's quite expensive, it's worth looking for any funding that's available for home alterations for those with special needs. The government offers many grants for home alterations, but these need to be applied for with the alterations in mind, meaning people must think about what is absolutely necessary.

Handrails are useful for those with a disability or condition that affects their walking. These rails can be installed along the walls leading to stairs or simply the rooms someone is most likely to use every day. By having some way to support themselves as they move around the home, a person can live a comfortable life without the need to use a wheelchair or crutches indoors.

Stairlifts are another alteration that's important for those with disabilities or conditions affecting the legs. Climbing the stairs can be very dangerous if someone is unsure of their balance or can't walk properly. These can be incredibly expensive, but are necessary if someone is to live a normal life. Some companies will offer stairlifts on a rental contract, but the government can also make a considerable contribution to the cost of these, so it's worth finding out what you can get for a home.


Adapting a home for special needs is quite a big process, but it's entirely possible and well-worth it to make someone's more comfortable in a home. The largest alteration that can be made is widening corridors and doorways to accommodate a wheelchair, should someone require one, which will make movement in any form a lot easier.

People should strive to keep those with special needs living at home instead of moving into a care home. The reason is that carers are being stretched to their very limits, resulting in care becoming a conveyor belt service that sees the needs of those in the system and deals with them as soon as possible, without meeting the needs for social interaction or noticing other symptoms of conditions manifesting in someone. Constant care notices everything, whereas short spats of care can miss a lot.


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