Home Accessibility Assessment

FAQ

• I am deaf and cannot hear my doorbell when it rings. How can you help me?

  Assistive technology can be purchased to assist individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing. One option is a vibrating mechanism that connects to a phone so that when someone rings the doorbell, the phone vibrates to signal that there is someone at the door.

• I don't feel safe when the doorbell rings. I don't know who it is, or I get anxious about it. How can we improve this?

  To provide a better sense of security and peace of mind, we would consider installing video cameras or a video camera doorbell.

  This can show you who is outside and record all activity taking place at your doorstep.

• When I enter my home, I find it difficult to find the light switch. How can you help me?

  The right approach to help patients find the light switch will depend on their specific condition.

  For individuals who are legally blind, we would consider adding tactile dots on each light switch. For those who are otherwise visually impaired, adding stickers with bright colors around the switch could be the right solution.

• It’s difficult for me to find the right key on my set of keys, and I feel that I don’t have the hand strength or dexterity to properly use them. Are there any alternatives?

  In these circumstances, assistive technology is available in the form of a key turner, which is an extension that’s added onto a key to assist with opening the door.

  The extension also allows any one key to be more easily identified on a key ring.

• I find it difficult to navigate the stairs in my home. I’m afraid I will fall, and I can’t see the steps very well. What options do I have?

  One option is to add a non-slip base on the stairs or non-slip strips on the edges.

  This can help with traction as you ascend or descend. High-visibility strips can be added so that you’re able to see the steps more easily.

  Lights can also be installed on floors in a way that doesn’t impact accessibility.

• I'm having difficulty putting my wheelchair or walker in my car. My garage just isn’t very accessible. What are my options?

  If you’re having difficulty accessing your garage, a home assessment would need to be completed to better understand the circumstances. If a wheelchair has just been prescribed, for example, a wider door may be needed to access the garage or other parts of the home.

  It’s recommended that doorways be approximately 850 millimeters wide for a wheelchair user. However, that’s not always possible due to the specific structure or layout of the house. In those instances, we could look at the wheelchair itself and see if there is a better option to improve accessibility within the home.

• I find my door heavy to use, what options are there?

  There are multiple ways that doorway access can be altered for wheelchair use or other mobility needs.

  We may recommend modifying the structure of the door or something as simple as changing the door handles. We may consider changing the type of door. For example, a hinged door can be swapped to a sliding cavity door instead to allow for more room through the doorway.

  Automation can also be installed to allow for remote control door access.

• Will Total Healthy Physio examine all areas of my home?

  During our initial assessment, we will discuss the areas in your level of care that you have difficulties with.

  Once we understand your condition, the OT will review the home environment with a special emphasis on the bathroom areas and any accessibility concerns such as internal steps.

  If you have any concerns yourself that you would like us to examine, we’re happy to review those as well.