Wednesday, December 29, 2010

Meet the most important room - The Bathroom

Enableme_shower 2 When designing for accessibility, in accordance with individual functional capabilities, no location in the home is more important than the bathroom. It is often the first or the only room to need modification. The bathroom is the common denominator for all of the members of the family since independent maintenance of personal hygiene is important to every member's sense of privacy, self- esteem and personal hygiene. Family members and guests do not need constant reminders of the client's disability. A person with a disability is not a patient, and therefore, institutional precedents are not appropriate. The appropriate goal is to provide, as unobtrusively as possible, precisely what is needed in order to function by including design considerations that provide adaptability to future circumstances.
"If we are to truly pursue the principles of Universal Design for our built environment, then we should be forward thinking in terms of how we design new homes or modifications of existing ones". Wally Dutcher, Universal Design Consultant and specialist.
Layout Considerations The choice of fixtures, locations, and architectural solutions will be influenced by such non-physical factors as family constraints, what changes landlords will allow, and the client's personal habits or preferences. Physical factors include the type of disability the client's range of motion, and the physical context of the building. The bathroom is a prime location for household accidents. The combination of water and soap can easily create conditions that are hazardous to the frail, the elderly or the wheelchair user in the midst of a transfer. All surfaces and handholds should be non-slip. Water temperature should be regulated by thermostatic controls or pressure compensation devices, and the water heater should be preset at a limit of 109°F (43°C). Provide an emergency call system and emergency hardware for the door so that if an accident does occur the occupant can summon help and the helpers can get into the room. Safety must be kept firmly in mind at all stages of the design process. Accessibility is for all, so your design should suit the needs of everyone!
Posted by Ronnie Wiskin of Barrier Free Living

Thursday, December 16, 2010

Medicare: What you don't know WILL make you sick

The most serious issue facing the home medical equipment industry right now is competitive bidding. In its current form, it will have a devastating effect on both medical equipment providers and their patients -- our parents, grandparents and other loved ones.

A study commissioned by VGM concluded that CB will have a horrible effect on rural areas, which is the opposite of what CMS has been telling lawmakers and the medical equipment industry.
This study, as well as some interviews with individuals who use HME and related services, is the basis for VGM TV’s first show, “Medicare: What You Don’t Know WILL Make You Sick."


View Part 3 of this series to learn more about the serious service access issues that could result from competitive bidding.

Medicare: What you don't know WILL make you sick Part 3

The most serious issue facing the home medical equipment industry right now is competitive bidding. In its current form, it will have a devastating effect on both medical equipment providers and their patients -- our parents, grandparents and other loved ones. A study commissioned by VGM concluded that CB will have a horrible effect on rural areas, which is the opposite of what CMS has been telling lawmakers and the medical equipment industry. This study, as well as some interviews with individuals who use HME and related services, is the basis for VGM TV's first show, "Medicare: What You Don't Know WILL Make You Sick." View Part 3 of Medicare: What you don' t know WILL make you sick to learn more about service access issues that could arise as a result of competitive bidding.

Monday, December 13, 2010

Medicare: What you don't know WILL make you sick Part 2

The most serious issue facing the home medical equipment industry right now is competitive bidding. In its current form, it will have a devastating effect on both medical equipment providers and their patients -- our parents, grandparents and other loved ones.

A study commissioned by VGM concluded that CB will have a horrible effect on rural areas, which is the opposite of what CMS has been telling lawmakers and the medical equipment industry.
This study, as well as some interviews with individuals who use HME and related services, is the basis for VGM TV’s first show, “Medicare: What You Don’t Know WILL Make You Sick."

Click here to view Part 2 and learn the potential impact Competitive Bidding could have on our rural communities.

Tuesday, December 7, 2010

Medicare: What you don't know WILL make you sick Part 1

 The most serious issue facing the home medical equipment industry right now is competitive bidding. In its current form, it will have a devastating effect on both medical equipment providers and their patients -- our parents, grandparents and other loved ones.  A study commissioned by VGM concluded that CB will have a horrible effect on rural areas, which is the opposite of what CMS has been telling lawmakers and the medical equipment  industry. This study, as well as some interviews with individuals who use HME and related services, is the basis for VGM TV's first show, "Medicare: What You Don't Know WILL Make You Sick," View part 1 of VGM TV's Medicare: What You Don't Know WILL Make You Sick.