As an experienced remodeling contractor I pride myself on solving problems. Sometimes, however, a client will teach me something new. As Mrs. Goodhart remined me, there are myriad problems in the home which are perplexing. Occasionally it is not the home itself which is the issue. Here is what happened to Mrs. Goodhart and her family.
We know as we age two things happen: First, we suffer physical diminishments which make it difficult to live in our home in the independent way we are used to. Secondly, our spouse (but not I) becomes stubborn. Confronting these facts, Mrs. Goodhart’s charm and I-told-you-so carried the day.
Mrs. Goodhart’s mother, Eleanor, now in her 90’s, has been visiting her daughter’s house with little difficulty for years. The driveway, enclosed front patio and front door are all on one level, without any stairs to make getting into the house a chore. Miss Eleanor has slowed down a bit over the years, but has been in good health. It was only recently that her balance got a little shaky. Miss Eleanor’s doctor recommended she begin using a walker, which she used intermittently for a few months, leaving it aside when only a few paces were required. Trouble started when she needed to use the walker to get into Mrs. Goodhart’s first floor bath room. The bath room door was too narrow for the walker to fit through.
Enter Mr. Goodhart, a robust gentleman eight years older than Mrs. Goodhart. In the prime of health and having just remodeled the bathroom, Mr. Goodhart was having a hard time understanding that the door to the bath room was too narrow for the mother-in-law to get through. It had been perfect for months and would be an expense to change. On top of that Miss Eleanor’s doctor had recommended some strategically placed grab bars near the toilet and sink. A bit too much for the son-in-law; nothing against Miss Eleanor or her daughter, he just did not want his bathroom to look like a hospital.
Was it prayers answered, providence looking down, or just dumb luck, I am not in a position to know, but sure enough the robust Mr. Goodhart, husband, and son-in-law, sprained his ankle. A bulbous ankle wrap and two crutches later, Mr. Goodhart is back at home trying to figure out how to get into his newly renovated bathroom with the door too small for his extended leg and (darn) crutches. Ah-ha chirps Mrs. Goodhart! A wider door and some decorative hand holds (aka grab bars that look great and double as towel bars) will solve the problem.
And so it did.
The moral of the story is as we age, or at any age, our home can stop being that bastion of independent living and become a frustrating, possibly dangerous set of rooms we cannot fully use. If our front door has steps or our bathroom doors are too narrow, if the lighting is poor or the windows too hard to use it stops our family and friends from being able to visit. Often folks with increasing or even temporary diminishments are embarrassed to stop over or stay very long. Being thoughtful and proactive in making our homes accessible to all can help even a stubborn spouse be joyfully independent.
Tom Wells is a remodeling contractor with a strong background in Age in Place home retrofits. He and his team make spouses happy and safe. Tom can be reached at tom@tgw-construction.com
This article was contributed by
Thomas G. Wells
THOMAS G. WELLS CONSTRUCTION L.L.C.
105 Pennsylvania Avenue
Yardley, Pa. 19067
Tel: 215-321-4818
Fax: 215-321-2179
Cell: 215-378-4048
http://www.tgw-construction.com/
PA CONTRACTOR # #PA003219 • NJ CONTRACTOR #13VH03383400
Source:
Superior Woodcraft, Inc. Custom Cabinetry Blog
Superior Woodcraft, Inc. Website
Superior Woodcraft, located in Doylestown, Pa, handcrafts custom made cabinetry for the home.
Superior Woodcraft, Inc. - Locally handcrafted custom cabinetry for the whole home, specializing in heirloom quality with sustainable methods and materials. Cutting boards made by our cabinet makers. All cabinetry is built by hand in our shop in Doylestown Borough.
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