Which accessible van is best for you? You have options. You have a choice between a lowered floor minivan with a ramp, and a full size van with a lift. The first thing to consider is how tall you sit in your chair. Some people have called me and asked: “how much to put a ramp in the side of my van?” If only it were that simple. Consider the height inside a minivan, and then measure how tall you sit in your chair. A normal size adult will not be able to sit up in a wheelchair, inside a non modified minivan. Another thing to consider; a ramp would have to be of considerable length so it is not too steep. Once a minivan is modified, the floor is lowered by 10-14 inches. The door opening height in a lowered floor minivan is between 53 inches and 56 inches. The interior height will vary, depending on the year, make and model of the vehicle.

If you sit over 56 inches tall, you may be more comfortable in a full size van. The best way to determine this is to go to a mobility dealer. This way you can roll into the different size vans to see how you fit. We have seen situations where a customer had a van delivered from an internet dealer. The driver gave him the keys and left. The customer, excited about his new van rolled up the ramp, and saw that he could not fit. He sat up too tall, and was not able to bend his head. This is why it is very important to try different size vans. There are different options available for a full size van. You can raise the top for optimal interior height. You can also have the doors raised if needed. Sometimes this is not enough. The floor can also be lowered by 6 or 9 inches in a full size van. The lowered floor can be done in the center area only, or a full cut, which includes the front seating area. Some people choose to lower the floor without the raised roof and doors. It all depends on your individual needs. This is why it is important to try before you buy. Other options are remote entry, where the doors open with the touch of a button on your remote. Luxury interiors are also available, with 19 inch digital screens, sound systems, and other high end interiors and electronics from which to choose. There are several packages available. Having trouble deciding between full size and minivan? Send me an email. I will help best I can.

Let’s say you prefer a minivan. Your next decision is between a fold out ramp, or an in-floor ramp. Let me point out a few things. Should your vehicle lose power for any reason, the fold out ramp is easily pushed out for a quick emergency exit. For manual operation, the in-floor ramp would need to be physically pulled out from outside, or cranked out from the inside. This would be a challenge for anyone with decreased upper body strength. Another thing to consider is that you lose an inch of interior height with the in-floor ramp conversion. I am a paraplegic who drives a lowered floor minivan. My preference is the fold out ramp just because of the reasons stated above.

Next, should you choose a lowered floor minivan with a power ramp and door, or a manual ramp and door? That depends on your situation. If you are not a driver and have someone with you all the time, the manual conversion may work for you. Please consider that it takes some effort to deploy and stow the ramp manually. An older or less agile person may not be able to do this with ease. This is why the majority of lowered floor minivans sold have the automatic ramp and door.

“Aging in place” means living safely at home. Why does society call the years after retirement “golden”? If you are blessed enough to have a good retirement plan, the travel is great for awhile. However, there is nothing fun about getting older. Inside, you may still feel young at heart, but your body does not always comply. Even the simplest tasks become more difficult, and people start discussing moving in with family or a retirement home. Naturally, you want to remain as independent as possible for as long as you can; so, it is important to learn about aging in place, and living safety at home.

Home is Where the Heart Is

Maybe you have lived in the same house for most of your adult life. Your kids grew up in those rooms, and everything is just as you like it. You home is much more than 4 walls and a roof. It holds a lot of memories. You feel comfortable and secure in your own place.

Rest Assured

But, if you are going to continue aging in the place you want to be, you will first have to assure family and friends that you are doing everything possible to create an environment of living safety at home. For example, one of the major worries as you age is falling. A lot of senior citizens suffer debilitating hip fractures, and the dream of remaining at home is gone in an instant.

Living Assistive Devices

So, you will need to consider wearing a life alert device, so you can get help if needed, even if you fall and cannot get up. Next, it is important to go through every room in your home and make sure you have taken all the precautions necessary to protect your health. For example, start with the bathroom. Would a shower chair make bathing a lot safer, so you do not slip in the tub? Do you need hand rails to steady yourself and prevent falling? If you are already in a wheelchair, would a transfer board make it easier to switch from the chair to the commode?

Now, what about the bedroom? Is it difficult to regain a sitting position after you have been lying down? Would a bedrail make it simpler to get out of bed in the morning? Maybe you need devices to turn out the lights from bed, so you do not risk a fall in the dark.

Brutal Honesty Required

The whole idea is to go throughout your entire home. Consider all the activities you engage in, on a daily basis. Then, honestly consider the tasks that have become more difficult or even risky. You may need living assistive devices. If you want to remain independent and enjoy your home for as long as possible, you are going to have to be brutally honest with yourself.

Aging in Place

You may even need to call someone to come and help you determine how to make your house safer and more comfortable for those “golden years”. Why succumb to living in a rest home or feeling like a burden to your kids. While they love you and would be glad to make your life a little easier, you want to continue aging in place, even if it means investing in living safety at home.

The wheelchair is basically a handicapped persons second home. In most cases they spend nearly their entire day in it and it is their only means of transportation. A wheel chair accessory can make the persons coming and going easier. Here I will discuss some of the most commonly used accessories for wheelchairs.

Cushions

Each individual has a certain level of comfort when sitting. Cushions are very important to adjust the height of the seat and provide support to the back. There are several types of cushions available in the market: Gel cushions, foam cushions, air cushions, and sheepskin cushions.

Wheelchair Ramps

This is very important if there are elevations around your home. There are always reports of handicapped individuals trying to move down from an elevated place on a wheelchair which resulted in another accident. And this is the last thing that we want to happen. There are several types of ramps for different purposes: ramps for SUVs, ramps for low elevations, modular ramps, and others.

Trays and Arm Accessories

People will find it easier to eat from their wheelchair when they have much needed accessories. Some though, need the trays as to make it easier for them to store their bottles or glasses while they are on the move. It is tedious enough if they still have to find their way to the kitchen table to lay down their plates. Gloves are also of essence to help in pushing their wheels.

Foot and Leg Rest Accessories

This last one I think, is also crucial since many disabled individuals have little control over their feet. Their feet are either paralyzed or in a cast. The feet should be comfortably and securely placed on the leg rest to avoid any other accidents from happening.

Wheel chair accessories may be expensive, but always remember that these are for your loved ones.

Thousands of Americans suffer from illnesses and injuries every year that would require them to use a wheelchair. How much impact does this have on society? If you happen to be a loved one of one of those who has to use a wheelchair, you may have to perform some wheelchair accessible construction at home to make it easier for them to move around.

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requires public accommodations to meet certain standards so as not to discriminate against the handicapped, including people in wheelchairs. As a result, business owners have to make their facilities accessible for handicapped persons. Not only is it required, but it’s also good for business.

So what type of wheelchair accessible construction are you thinking of? Homes and businesses should have handrails, wheelchair ramps, grab bars, and of course, commercial washroom accessories. At home you will need something to sit on while taking a bath, so a folding tub seat or shower seat will be necessary.

For wheelchair ramps, there are many varieties to choose from. The first type is the modular wheelchair ramp which is portable but really strong and affordable. Another is the solid wheelchair ramp, a one piece unit for times when a permanent ramp is needed. A folding wheelchair ramp, on the other hand, is durable and lightweight for travel. Lastly, a threshold wheelchair ramp is specifically created for doorways.

Grab bars and handrails are considered to be two of the most important parts of the wheelchair accessible construction for home or business. They make great accessories for those individuals on wheelchairs, especially in restrooms.

Handrails and bars provide the stability and extra support for those who really need it. In fact, handrails may be used beside a ramp and would prove to be really helpful if the ramp happens to be very long. It will help the individual keep their balance and provide safety.

According to ADA, handrails must also be securely anchored and mounted between 34 and 38 inches high, projected from the wall 1 1/2 inches, and the ends rounded off for safety. On the other hand, grab bars need to be mounted securely and it involves screwing the hardware directly into wall studs or wood blocking.

One of the very important parts of making a home ready for an individual with a wheelchair is the shower or tub seating. There are actually many different types of seating including the L-shaped shower seats and folding tub seats. It is recommended to have the seats mounted on the wall as the individual wouldn’t have to place the unit in and out of the tub. Keep in mind that security and safety are the two most important things when working on wheelchair accessible construction. Always ensure that all additions are safely made and comply with the ADA standards.