Helping A Disabled Loved One: How To Make Things More Convenient For Them
Do you have a disabled loved one who relies on a wheelchair to get around? If so, you may want to do what you can to make life more convenient for them. It is often hard to get around in a wheelchair because not everything is wheelchair accessible. However, making a few changes could easily improve your loved one's way of life.
Consider Trading in Your Vehicle For a Wheelchair Van
It may be hard for your loved one to get into the vehicle you are currently driving. In fact, someone may have to carry him or her into the vehicle so that they can sit down. What if there was a way to help your loved one get in the vehicle with ease? You may want to take advantage of the opportunity to trade in your current vehicle for a wheelchair van, such as from Lone Star Handicap Vans. The wheelchair van typically comes equipped with a ramp that slides out when the doors open. Instead of getting out of the wheelchair and needing someone to carry him or her into the car, your loved one could ride right up the van and get situated inside of the vehicle.
Install a Ramp Outside the Home
If you have several steps leading into the home, it may be a struggle to even get the wheelchair out of the door and down those steps. Instead of sticking with the steps, consider installing a ramp outside the home that covers the steps and allows your loved one to easily get up and down so that he or she can come and go as they please instead of waiting on others to help them. Before building a ramp, find out if you will need to get a permit to have one added to your home. If you are unable to build it yourself, you can always hire contractors to build it for you.
If you are trying to save money, you may even want to invest in a portable ramp that your loved one could use on the steps when he or she has to leave the home. The portable ramp is something you can fold up and store out of the way somewhere in the home when it is not being used.
Replace Your Current Bathtub With a Walk-In Tub
Does your loved one have trouble with bathing? Replacing the bathtub with a walk-in tub would likely be far more convenient. These tubs have non-slip grips and are ideal for those who are in wheelchairs because they would be able to sit comfortably while bathing. It is yet another thing to consider when you are trying to improve your loved one's way of life now that he or she is confined to a wheelchair.
If someone you love is disabled, you may want to do anything you can possibly do to help. These are just a few of the things you might want to think about when trying to make your loved one feel more comfortable.