Home Modifications Flashcards
Anthropometrics
The study of human body dimensions such as height, weight, leg length, and body segment length as applied to living and working spaces, furniture, and equipment
-Basis for designing spaces that “fit” an individual or group in the home, workplace, or community
Steps to Use Anthropometric Measurements to Design Space
- Identify the target user population
- Identify the criteria that are important to the user (comfort, use, clearance)
- Identify important body dimensions (thigh length for a chair)
- Determine if the space is being designed for one person or a population (consider averages and extremes)
- Measure body parts or find data from antrhopometric data tables. Measure length of body segments between joints using tape measures or calipers
- Consider other factors impacting use of space (wearing heavy clothing in cold temps may impact fit, use of walkers or wheelchairs)
- Create a mock-up or virtual model that can be tested with a user
Purposes for Environmental Assessments
- Overall Independence
- Home Safety and Fall Prevention
- Aging in Place
- Community Livability
- Injury Prevention and Productivity
Livability
Addresses the structure, accessibility, services, and enhancements that promote quality of life for all community inhabitants
Visitability
The incorporation of basic featires into the homes of a persons using mobility devices to facilitate ease of entrance, exit, visit, or stay for any length of time
Home environments should be designed to improve…
Livability and visibility for home inhabitants and visitors
Basic home features that should be incorporated into all homes that enhance accessibility of visitors using wheelchairs include:
- No step entrances
- Wide doorways of 32”
- Access to first floor bathrooms
Home Environment Assessment and Modification
- Understanding the Client: Occupational Profile
- Team Approach: Including a Variety of Stakeholders
- Funding Options
- Creating the Problem List
- Process
- Entryways, Ramps, and Home Exteriors
- Exterior Stairs, Elevators and Lifts
- Stairs: Exterior and Interior
- Doors
- Lighting and Outlets
- Interior Floors, Hallways, Doorways, and Windows
- Bathrooms
- Kitchen
- Living and Dining Room
- Closets
- Home Safety AT
Home environment interventions are most effective when they consider…
The specific needs of individual clients rather than generically addressing a checklist of common home safety concerns
Entryways, Ramps, and Home Exteriors
- A 5x5 foot space (1.5x1.5 meters) both outside and inside the doorway should be present to provide an adequate turning radius for wheelchair users
- Use of appropriate lighting
- Doorbell that is lit or has vibrating device/alarm or amplification
- Keyless entry system
- Garage light and door remote (minimize safety hazards)
Thresholds into the Home (Entryways, Ramps, and Home Exteriors)
Should be flush with the floor no higher than 0.5 inches to prevent tripping
Types of Ramps (Entryways, Ramps, and Home Exteriors)
- Portable: Offer flexibility in time and installation (temp health condition)
- Permanent: For those who have condition that will not improve or will worsen overtime (OT should work with CAPS builder to accurately measure)
ADA Ramps (Entryways, Ramps, and Home Exteriors)
- Landing: 60x60 inches (1.5x1.5m)
- Slope: 1 foot (30.48cm) of rise for each 12 feet (3.65m)
- Should have handrails on each side and can be in garage if warranted
Stairs: Exterior and Interior
Must be well lit with a light switch at the top and bottom
- Flat part of steps should be 11-12 feet (~28-30cm) deep and 36 inches (~91cm) wide
- Nonslip, color contrast, and landing every 10 steps recommended
- Bilateral handrail: ~34 inches (~86cm) from the floor, ~1.5 inches (~4cm) from the wall, and extend 1-2 inches (~2-5cm) beyond the top and bottom step
Doors
Door style and hardware should be considered along with width of open door clearance, threshold height, and door weight
- Door opening should be 36 inches (~91cm)
- Keyless entry should be considered
