Explore Part 4 of the Future Cost of Care Report, focusing on housing considerations and expenses. Learn how housing needs impact long-term care planning

Living with a disability or physical limitations is a daily struggle . The challenges are magnified if the design of their home restricts accessibility and mobility. In some houses, condo/apartments, every door, hallway or bathroom, may contain obstructions that can make the living space dangerous or uninhabitable.

By Joseph Caprara of CBLAW posted in Rehabilitation on Thursday, July 4, 2013.

Living with a disability or physical limitations is a daily struggle . The challenges are magnified if the design of their home restricts accessibility and mobility. In some houses, condo/apartments, every door, hallway or bathroom, may contain obstructions that can make the living space dangerous or uninhabitable.

Deciding to renovate your living environment or buying and renovating a new home, requires significant insight and cost considerations. Often the choices are not easy without understanding an individual’s daily needs and requirements. Here are some points to consider:

Renovations
Making a wider path of travel, or lining up doors so that it makes it easy to go through rooms without zigzagging, is one way of improving the living space for individuals that require wheel assisted mobility or personal assistance to get around their home.
Another common accessibility improvement is putting a full bathroom on the first floor and installing grab bars in the bathroom, to ensure you have something to grab onto if you think you are going to lose your balance.

The kitchen is another renovation consideration. Lowering counters, sinks and the cooking area so that you can safely utilize the kitchen and counter space .

Utility spaces, laundry rooms, storage areas, mudroom and closets are areas for consideration as well.

Many people with a disability will have a guard dog or guide dog, so making an accessible space for pet care is important.

When considering the costs of a renovation project, with the cost of buying a new home and renovating it, where necessary, a well thought-out plan will ease the road and make the decision process simpler.
In personal injury cases, we hire experts to assist and investigate the needs and options for each of our deserving clients.

Consideration
• renovate existing home, buy new home and renovate, build new home, or move to an assisted living environment.

Witnesses/experts
• Rehab expert, specialist in home renovation for people with disabilities, architect, builder, physician (re: need for certain renovation i.e. indoor pool)

Documentation/demonstrative evidence

Plans and drawings of renovation
model of renovation/new home

• Animated video of person moving through proposed home

Operational costs
Consideration

extra ordinary cost of home: hydro, gas, water, insurance etc.

• services required: house cleaning, grass cutting, snow shoveling, window cleaning, etc.

Witnesses/experts
• regarding the need for service you will require medical evidence to prove that the disability prevents the person from performing the tasks; cost of service; (rehab worker) local contractor.

Documentation/demonstrative evidence

Same as the house
estimates from local authorities re: increased cost of hydro, gas, etc.
quote from insurance broker re: insurance cost; and from contractors re: cost of services

• receipts for services already utilized to forecast future costs

The Trauma Lawyers at CAPRARA BARRISTERS work with appropriately qualified experts who identify the needs of injured victims that suffer from severe brain injury, burns, spinal cord injury, chronic pain, mental and/or behavioral challenges, and furnish us with reports required to engage the co-operation and agreement of insurance companies or defence counsel to secure funding that will adequately meet the person’s lifetime needs.

Having the right medical, rehabilitation and legal team, will help reduce anxiety and smooth the road to recovery. If you have been involved in an accident you may be eligible to receive compensation to cover the cost of your future needs. The Trauma Lawyers at CBLAW take numerous lawsuits to trial and have helped many persons suffering from personal injuries. If you would like to learn more, feel free to call us and speak to a member of our team.

Joseph G. Caprara