look for Wider halls Wider doors You never know when the walker may become wheelchair. Ideally no carpet. Carpet is difficult to run walkers and wheelchairs over. Zero entrance shower or at least one that has a very low pan edge. the easiest thing would be to look for housing that is "handicap" accessible or "universal design" If the apartment or condo is in a multi story building there should be an elevator and. (I would still probably want a first floor just in case of emergency..power goes out the elevator will not work) But there are safety risks with first floor.
Ask for handicap accessible senior housing. One level, no stairs.
It can be listed under Independent senior housing.
Usually, any apartment building must have "handicap accessible" in a certain number of apartments. You could be put on a waiting list. But it is much nicer to have Mil in a community of seniors with similar needs, skill, interests, etc.
My Mom could not use her walker to get into her bathroom at my house, she had to go in sideways. Yes, it was suggested to widen the door frame but the door was small because where it was in the room. That particular room was half underground so half the wall was concrete. The other side of the door was sheetrock but had a heater vent going thru it. It would have been a major renovation to do it and we had just expanded her bath, that had been a powder room, to accompany a shower and change around our laundry. Her living with us was not suppose to be temporary.
I would say to find Senior housing. These usually already have the safety guards in. Doors wide enough to get a wheelchair thru and no ledges to deal with. Shower has bars in the correct places. These apartments are built to be handicap accessible. The one near me has an elevator and when you go outside you just roll thru doors that automatically open. There are no steps, just a slight incline that you can easily manuver and get to ur car on the Senior bussing available.
I would recommend a European style walker that has two sides with 2 wheels each and a flexible seat, back and basket that folds up to the center. Several US brands have also adopted this design. You can pull up the handle on the seat to pull the sides slightly together to roll through narrow doorways. My mom loves hers, it folds together and stands neatly out of the way when not in use.
I use a Walker. Have used both Rollators and the Old Fashioned Aluminum kind. What I always worry about are curbs and stairs. And doors that are hard to open and get through, like a Lobby Door that you'd have to push hard awkwardly to get through. And making sure outdoor paths are wide enough the Walker doesn't slip off the sidewalk. Plus, not too far from picking up mail daily & taking out the trash. I have to walk down a steep hill for both which is not recommended.
Width of doors in apartment? Will they accommodate a wheelchair, since that might be the next step?
How far is bed from toilet? Older people often have to get up multiple times in the night to go to the bathroom.
Are there ledges at the bottom of the door between rooms? Will they catch on the walker?
Pay attention to placement of refrigerator, stove, and sink. Is it easy for her to navigate between these? While holding a cooking pan or container of milk?
thanks. it does seem to be good on these issues. not sure about door thresholds. we did search for wide enough for wheelchair and a reasonable bathroom though truly wheelchair accessible bathrooms are rare.
I would research that exact question online, such as "what environment when you use a walker" or some such. It also matters greatly how MUCH your MIL needs this walker. How she was trained on it. Ask your Mom's doc for one PT consult session you attend with her, so that you can discuss this with PT. They are the best for any discussion of this kind. For some the kind of wall to wall carpeting (no area rugs) is important. But for many it is a matter of how good they are at walker use overall. I sure wish you the best.
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Wider halls
Wider doors
You never know when the walker may become wheelchair.
Ideally no carpet. Carpet is difficult to run walkers and wheelchairs over.
Zero entrance shower or at least one that has a very low pan edge.
the easiest thing would be to look for housing that is "handicap" accessible or "universal design"
If the apartment or condo is in a multi story building there should be an elevator and. (I would still probably want a first floor just in case of emergency..power goes out the elevator will not work) But there are safety risks with first floor.
One level, no stairs.
It can be listed under Independent senior housing.
Usually, any apartment building must have "handicap accessible" in a certain number of apartments. You could be put on a waiting list. But it is much nicer to have Mil in a community of seniors with similar needs, skill, interests, etc.
There are "Artist" communities, etc.
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I would say to find Senior housing. These usually already have the safety guards in. Doors wide enough to get a wheelchair thru and no ledges to deal with. Shower has bars in the correct places. These apartments are built to be handicap accessible. The one near me has an elevator and when you go outside you just roll thru doors that automatically open. There are no steps, just a slight incline that you can easily manuver and get to ur car on the Senior bussing available.
What I always worry about are curbs and stairs. And doors that are hard to open and get through, like a Lobby Door that you'd have to push hard awkwardly to get through. And making sure outdoor paths are wide enough the Walker doesn't slip off the sidewalk. Plus, not too far from picking up mail daily & taking out the trash. I have to walk down a steep hill for both which is not recommended.
How far is bed from toilet? Older people often have to get up multiple times in the night to go to the bathroom.
Are there ledges at the bottom of the door between rooms? Will they catch on the walker?
Pay attention to placement of refrigerator, stove, and sink. Is it easy for her to navigate between these? While holding a cooking pan or container of milk?
I sure wish you the best.