You might have stumbled on this page and wondered, “What is remodeling for ALS?” Honestly, we get that a lot; mainly because it isn’t something you hear about every day
» Download the ALS Home Remodeling Guide
You may know what ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis or Lou Gehrig’s Disease) is, but what most people don’t know is what it does to a person’s body. Which, will explain why the idea of home remodeling is so important. Essentially, when you have ASL, your neurons die. This causes muscles to become stiff and twitch, until finally a person loses the ability to use their muscles because they become so small. Eventually, a person with ALS will have difficulty or lose all-together the ability to speak, swallow or breath. Unfortunately, most ALS patients die within 5 years of being diagnosed.
At DeVol Design Build Remodel, we specialize in helping ALS patients and their families with ALS in the greater Cincinnati, OH area create homes that support them.
What ALS means at home
When someone is diagnosed with ALS, it typically beings to affect them physically fairly quickly. In most every instance, it means that person is already in a wheel chair, or will be in the near future. This is where remodeling comes in. Mainly, because there are a few serious issues typically in a home that impact their quality of life.
Getting into the house
First, people living with ALS in a standard home (and, by standard, we mean a home that isn’t accessible), they typically have no way into the house without someone getting them up a step or two. And, if they happen to use a power chair, it is nearly impossible to get one of those up steps. You could add a temporary portable ramp, but they are a little unsteady and can potentially cause an accident.
Of course, if you’re like many ALS caregivers, there is a lot of lifting involved in getting loved ones inside; either lifting the patient or with mobility devices. That can potentially cause harm to the caregiver.
Solutions we’re using:
Adding a ramp at the garage to house door or at the front door. Or, adding a ramp to the front door and making it look as natural as possible with landscaping.
Bathrooms
The second main issue is the bathroom. As we said before, a wheelchair is the most common mobility device for ALS patients. Traditional homes are not built to support wheelchairs … this is especially true for bathrooms. Most bathrooms can’t accommodate a wheelchair through the door, much less being able to maneuver someone into a shower or on to the toilet.
›› Learn More: Bathroom remodeling for ALS
Solutions we’re using:
We do more bathroom remodeling for ALS patients than anything. Remodeling and expanding bathrooms so a curbless shower with handheld shower head can be installed. Adding a roll-under sinks, and higher toilets surrounded by grab bars. This allows the person in the wheelchair to shower themselves or have help from a care giver.
Kitchens
Not considered essential, but many times ALS patients can cook, even if for a little while. And, just like bathrooms, kitchens aren’t typically built for someone who is using a wheelchair. There is generally no way to get to the stove, sink, or counters. Much less, items in pantries, closets, or cabinets.
Solutions we’re using:
In kitchens, we add roll-under sinks, roll under cook tops with controls on the front, and lowered microwaves.
›› Schedule an ALS consultation
Other areas
If you or a loved one has ALS, and you want to stay as independent for as long as you can, think about your daily living. What do you need to do to take care of yourself? Where do you need to go in your home? What do you need access to?
These questions will help you identify some of the areas that may be good candidates for home remodeling … to help make things easier to use, easier to get to, and much more safe and comfortable, so you can maintain your quality of life.
Solutions we’re using:
We’ve installed elevators or vertical platform lifts to get from floor to floor. And, overhead lifts help people transfer out of bed or from the bed to the bathroom on a track system that can be electric and operated by the client or caregiver.
We’re also removing carpet and putting in a hard surface like hardwood or vinyl flooring. As well as, widening doors or doorways and moving walls if necessary to make it easier to negotiate the house.
If you or a loved one has ALS, we would love to put our experience working with families affected by this terrible disease, and help make your lives a little bit easier.