By Dr. Jessica Monteleone, PT PhD
We were married 36 years ago. He worked as a third generation, shoe repairman owning two shops in Fort Walton Beach. I was employed as a physical therapist at our local hospital. We were both in good physical shape enjoying our active lives here on the Emerald Coast.
It was six weeks following our wedding that David leaned over to pick up a hose and couldn’t straighten back up to an upright position. Unfortunately, physical therapy could not fix his physical challenges that became progressively worse over the years.
When we bought our previous country home many years ago, it had a certain charm. A two-story, old farm house built in 1943 on an acre and a half, fenced-in lot was delightful. The 20×40’ built-in pool was a great place to unwind after a long day. The home was surrounded with mature Magnolia, Sycamore, Oak and Crepe Myrtle trees to shade our expansive property. I thought that it was perfect. However, we found that the pool and yard became too much of a workload on my husband’s unresolved back issues. Our upstairs bedroom flight of stairs troublesome. The narrow doorways to the bathroom did not allow a walker to safely enter it. Our tub-shower combo was too high for him to climb over.
Needless to say, I wasn’t thinking like a therapist when we bought the house. I thought that the challenges presented to him would keep him active and strong. Instead, he felt defeated and worthless to provide upkeep in that house.
When moving back to Freeport last year, I house shopped with new vision. I needed a home that would be handicap able to my husband and the guests who would frequent our home. When I leave the house, I need to be assured that he is safe and mobile.
It’s important to plan ahead. Whether you are renting a home or condo, having aging or debilitated guests in your home or planning for your storms in the future, modifications are so important to meet the needs of others. It can be a selling point in a market like today.
• Have clear pathways that can accommodate a walker or wheelchair, removing scatter rugs and electric cords from walking paths.
• A heavy chair with 19-21” seat height and adequate chair arms to assist them from sitting to standing is important. I like a Queen Anne style chair. (My post-cardiac patient had no seating in her condo that she could transfer from. Her husband was forced to rent a chair for their continued vacation.)
• Walk-in showers with a sturdy seat and at least two attached hand rails are a must. Install anti-slip shower flooring.
• Install at least one tall bathroom toilet with rails on one or both sides. (My 6’2” patient recently rented a condo on the beach. The toilet was so low, he could not get off of the seat—not good.)
• Night lights in the bathroom and hallways are a must for evening use.
• If you have a sunken living room or steps leading to another room, announce it to your guests before they get to that area.
• Stairs leading to the home need to be accessible with a sturdy handrail.
• Beds need to be a height that allows easy access for transferability.
There may be other modifications that are important for your home to ensure the safety of those with mobility deficits. A physical therapist has been trained to evaluate accommodations and make safety recommendations for those people.
Is there an elective orthopedic surgery scheduled in your home this fall? Most of those post-op patients are discharged the same day. Are you prepared for the upcoming possible storms at your home or rental? I hope so. If not, we can help. Please call 850-974-0970 or visit WholisticTherapyatHome.com.
