Simple tools strategically placed can help you conserve energy and make your home work for you.

By John Canning

The author, who has a progressive form of multiple sclerosis, lives by himself in a three-story home.

You know what an “accessible home” is; you may already have one. Things like ramps, wide doorways, elevators, and stair lifts make a house accessible—easy for a person in a wheelchair to get around in. But is your home “assistive?” There is a difference, albeit a fine one. An assistive home is filled with devices that help you get through the day with as little struggle as possible, devices that can be found on the Internet from as little as a few dollars.

Any person with a physical disability is stuck in a “Catch 22”: Simple everyday tasks are a struggle; the more you struggle, the more energy you expend and the more tired you become; the more tired you are, the more you struggle; and so on. Assistive equipment can help you break out of this vicious circle.

Assistive devices are, quite simply, things that can help you complete your daily tasks. Grab bars, canes, and transfer devices are all assistive devices. But there’s so much more out there.

Where Do You Need an Assist?

The first step to making your home assistive is to assess your situation: Where are you having problems and what are they? Break down the process you go through in each problem area, step by step.

• Ask yourself, “Can this be done differently?”
• Use common sense solutions first. Think of how you can make your environment work for you, rather than how you can work for it.
• Research solutions: Talk to friends, consult an occupational therapist, look on the web for devices to help you, and think about how you might adapt them to better suit your particular situation.

Let me demonstrate what I mean with some examples.

An assistive dressing area

I identified five areas of my daily routine in which I was having problems. For example, when I was particularly weak I had difficulty transferring from my wheelchair to my bed. I would end up perched on the edge of the bed, and often I fell. I found a bed rail on the web, one that separates on one side and can swing out so it can be used in different positions. Then I had the legs of the bed shortened by two inches. Seems obvious, but I just never thought about it. Now I grab the rail and swing myself onto the bed, and because it’s shorter I always end up sitting squarely on the bed. A combination of web research and common sense.

Another problem area for me was dressing. I was transferring to a chair to get dressed, and trying to prop myself up to pull up my pants. Needless to say, it was a struggle and I sometimes fell. When I broke it down step by step, the first thing I realized was that my wheelchair was a chair (I know, duh!), and I cut out that step. I had a pull-down grab bar installed that I could lean against for a few seconds while I pulled up my pants. And since I dressed in an area just off my bedroom, I purchased a long bookcase and moved my shoes, belts, underwear, etc. from the bureau to the bookcase so they were right where I got dressed—a combination of doing a task differently, common sense, research and adapting an item for my needs.

Fighting Back

If you haven’t looked, you wouldn’t believe what’s out there to assist you! Many types of grab bars, transfer devices, lifts and so much more exist than you’re probably aware of. There are helpful devices for the bathroom, kitchen—every room of the house. There are thousands of personal aids: If you have a problem pulling up your socks, there are even devices for that!

If you can make some things a little easier throughout the day you’ll have more energy at the end of the day. And there are added benefits: you’ll face less frustration, more independence, and the knowledge that you’re actually doing something to fight this situation!

John Canning is a United Spinal member from Reston, Virginia.