Sunday, March 24, 2019

Being Prepared

When I moved into this house nearly twenty years ago I took over a house that seemed to have been purpose built for retirement.  The hallways are generous, there are very few steps, three total on the front door and only one on the back entrance.  The sink in the bathroom was rather low.  I took care of my elderly father during his final six months and for a few more years I took most of the burden of caring for my mother.  Both of them died at home.  When I moved in to care for them I put grab bars in the hallway between their bedroom and the bathroom and had the rugs in kitchen and bathroom replaced with tough vinyl.  As I cared for them I realized that their limited range of motion made it difficult for them to get into the bathtub.  With these observations in mind I remodeled my own bathroom.  I replaced some cabinets with a walk in shower and installed a grab bar at the back.  I reduced the amount of counter space for the sink, which still has more than enough, and put in an apartment sized laundry combination that faces the hallway for ease of access.  In order to accommodate a wheelchair bound friend I made a ramp from a sturdy cherry wood table top that slots over my one step at the side entrance.  When my sisters wanted to donate or sell my father's walker, the kind that has a sit-down seat, I chose to keep it.  It has come in handy several times when I injured my leg or foot.  I am gradually recovering from a fall that wrenched the muscles at the top of my thigh and I am grateful that foresight has made the situation far more convenient than it would have been if I were not prepared.

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