When a family member experiences a change in mobility, a wheelchair ramp can be a great option for helping them get in and out of the house. Aluminum wheelchair ramps are simpler, more convenient, and less expensive than many other types of wheelchair ramps or alternative solutions, and they can be used by everyone regardless of mobility level. Simply do an online search for “where can I buy a wheelchair ramp,” and you’ll find that you can even have one shipped to your home within just a few days—but is this option can often be too good to be true.
If you’ve been wondering whether you’ll be able to age in place in your current home, you’ve probably realized that many homes have one obstacle in common: stairs. As we age, we naturally lose muscle strength and balance, which can make it more challenging to climb stairs. Seniors with decreased mobility may eventually begin avoiding stairs, cutting them off from key areas of their homes. Luckily, if you plan for this stage of life ahead of time, you have several better options to consider, such as making your own home more accessible with stair lifts, wheelchair ramps, and other modifications or downsizing to a single-level home.
“It’s the most wonderful time of the year!” The holiday season is officially here, bringing lots of joy and cheer to families and friends gathering for holiday events and parties
As we age, our home may not be as easy to navigate as it was years ago. Getting up and down a set of stairs may be a chore because of decline in mobility or weaker muscles. The risk of slipping and falling in the bathroom may be much higher, especially if there are no grab bars in the bathtub/shower, or near the toilet.
An option for older adults that are having a difficult time getting around at home is a senior/assisted living facility. However, these types of facilities do not offer the familiarity and comfort that a home does. A home is full of memories from holidays and gatherings with family and lifelong friends.
One common way to make a home accessible for those with disabilities or limited mobility is by overcoming the steps at the garage entrance. Steps are an accessibility barrier that are typically made of concrete or wood, and railings are not always installed. The construction of the stairs may also be low-quality in some cases, which can pose injury risks from slips and falls. Here are the top 5 solutions to help make a home’s garage safe and accessible.
Before recommending a Hoyer lift for patient/client transfers, it’s important to fully understand the challenges of using this type of equipment, and more importantly, why an overhead ceiling lift is often a better solution.
People diagnosed with cancer often require additional safety precautions to ensure that any health-related problems do not occur. Day-to-day activities that can be taken for granted will become harder. Simple things like cooking, cleaning, and even walking up the stairs may become strenuous, and even dangerous.
Independent living can be difficult to achieve if your home isn’t ready for it. A newfound lack of mobility may prevent you from doing everyday tasks as you used to. Creating systems for different parts of your home can help you remain self-sufficient. Whether it be living with a disability or aging in place, there are many ways to achieve an independent living situation.
The early signs of ALS are when muscle cramps and twitching, weakness in hands, legs or ankles or difficulty speaking or swallowing begin. Loss of movement follows, and then moving around the home becomes progressively more difficult. The help of a caregiver, whether that person be a professional or a family member, is eventually needed. Home accessibility is better when you can plan ahead and enjoy the freedom to move around your home without big obstacles.
To escape the summer heat, nothing can be more relaxing than a dip in the pool. Or when it’s cool, a dip in the hot tub can be just as rewarding. For people with a disability, or anyone bound to a wheelchair, and even older adults that have lost some coordination, balance and overall mobility, taking a dip can become challenging and sometimes dangerous. The risks are falling and drowning.
Most seniors want to age in place in their homes, well past retirement and into their golden years, and with a bit of help, they can. When circumstances change, specifically in the areas of mobility and ability, seniors may look for ways to make the rooms in their homes more easily accessible for themselves.
Due to the pandemic, more patients with complex needs are being discharged directly home, which can cause challenges for healthcare facilities and patients. Home care and home access are part of the solution to help those with limited mobility remain in their homes safely and on parallel path to help minimize readmission.
The State of Colorado has created a tax credit with the vision that individuals with an illness or disability wouldn’t be deterred from retrofitting their residence for health, welfare or safety reasons due to financial constraints. The state income tax credit which was created under the bill known as HB18-1267 gives homeowners up to $5,000 per qualified individual per year for eligible costs incurred while retrofitting a residence. This credit is available for years 2019 through 2023.
The Colorado Legislature recently passed clarifying legislation (HB19-1135) to make dependents and spouses eligible. It also allows for up to a $5,000 credit per person in the family with a disability.
Maximum tax credits per year are limited to $1,000,000.
Who Qualifies for the CO Home Modification Tax Credit?
The following criteria determine eligibility:
Have an illness, impairment or disability that necessitates the requested home modification; and
Be an individual taxpayer with an adjusted family income at or below the income limit, which is $150,000 for the 2019 income tax year.
If the qualified individual is not the homeowner of the residence being modified, they must have the owner’s permission to modify the residence.* Please note, if a dependent is the only person with a disability in the family, then that family is not eligible to utilize this tax credit.
The residence being modified must exist before the work begins – the work may not be completed during initial construction of the residence.
The residence must be the primary residence of the qualified individual.
The residence must be located in Colorado.
Be necessary to ensure the health, welfare, and safety of a qualified individual
Increase the residence’s visitability
Enable greater accessibility and independence in the residence for a qualified individual;
Be required due to the qualified individual’s illness, impairment or disability; and
Allow a qualified individual to age in place;
Meet the Division of Housing’s Home Modification Construction Specifications; and
Be completed in the tax year for which the qualified individual will receive the tax credit.*Please note, durable medical equipment and other items that are not installed or affixed to the residence are not eligible modifications.
The process to claim this tax credit begins with evaluating the qualification criteria carefully and then determining what modifications your home needs. You will need to have a written estimate of the cost before you apply to the state for tax credit consideration.
To claim the tax credit, you will need to apply with the state of Colorado. Once your application is complete and submitted, the state will approve your application. Homeowners will need to send invoices and receipts from the project to the state, along with pictures of the project. After the work and the application are complete, you will receive a Tax Credit Certificate to file with your income taxes.
Schedule your free, in-home consultation today with one of our accessibility experts and make your Colorado home safer and more accessible. We can help with wheelchair ramps, stairlifts, ceiling lift systems, and accessible bathrooms you need to stay in your home. Find an accessibility specialist near you.
Additional ResourcesHome Modification Look BookHome Modification Construction SpecificationsHome Modification Tax Credit Program Guidelines
Dale is wheelchair bound and will soon be discharged from the hospital. He doesn’t have a lot of support at home, and because of his disability, his immediate concern was not being able to get his pants up on his own after toileting. Accompanied by his OT, Whitney of Spalding Rebah PSL, and her OTA student, they toured the Lifeway Mobility showroom in Denver and explored various bathroom accessibility solutions.
Below are 4 steps Dale & his OT followed that can help make toileting graceful and independent for older adults and those with disabilities.
1. Toileting Height
Customizing your toilet height is step one of toileting for anyone with mobility challenges. If you are standing and sitting, the height of the toilet is very important. The most common toilet height is 13 inches, but a taller toilet can make standing up and sitting down so much easier. Newer toilets are ADA height or 15-16 inches.
Also, you can add a porcelain insert called a toilevator underneath the toilet (red arrow in image above) to add 3.5 inches more or add a elevated toilet seat for 5 more inches. A bidet is another option that can added for easy cleaning, warm water, warm seat, and other luxuries. Bidets can replace the seat on any toilet. They do not need a second seat or a transfer and do not require a power outlet close to the toilet.
2. Shower Chair or ShowerBuddy
A second step to make toileting an art, is consider a bath or shower chair that rolls over the toilet. These types of products are made at the correct seat height to roll over the toilet, and eliminate the transfer to the toilet. In the seat is a cutout so that you don't have to move from the rolling chair. These chairs can also roll in to the shower for bathing and cleaning. The ShowerBuddy has the advantage of connecting to a bathtub or shower and allow the seat of the chair to slide into the tub or shower.
3. Overhead Ceiling Lift
During the visit, Dale was educated on the SureHands ceiling lift with the Body Support system. This overhead lift setup is great because it grips in just the right places when lifting: Under the thighs and under the arms. It mimics the arms placement and gentle lift provided by a caregiver. Best part is that it can be operated independently.
The OT demonstrated the use of the ceiling lift from a bed while Dale looked on.
It was then Dale’s turn to test the SureHands ceiling lift out, from his wheelchair. This required some extra hands during the initial trial run, which is common.
A sling variation was then attached to the ceiling lift. The goal was to find the best solution that would help Dale toilet independently, while remaining comfortable and painless.
4. Bedside Commode
Most health care professional will recommend a bedside commode, which is like having a plastic toilet in your bedroom. Bedside commodes are helpful but typically a last resort. A bedside commode is made of a steel or plastic frame with a bucket under the toilet seat.
Art of Toileting Summary
In all, the show home tour, the education about the various toileting solutions, ceiling lift systems, and the actual trial runs took the group just over one hour.
The end result? Dale found his ideal body lift and transfer solution and left with a smile under his mask, and newfound reassurance that he’ll be okay on his own once he gets home from the hospital.
Layout and Design
Overhead ceiling lifts have been available for many years. Most people are not aware that such items exists. Depending on a person’s mobility, an overhead track lift could be a great solution for anyone having difficulty transferring from bed to chair. We normally recommend a lift system over the bed area. In this particular home we installed a lift that travels from the bed into the family room, through the hallway and into a bathroom. This is not a typical lift layout, but we pride ourselves in creating solutions for our clients.
Structural Modifications
This two story home has been engineered with TJI joist and multiple ceiling heights. Most new homes nowadays have such a joist. TJI Joist and overhead lifts don’t go well together, and here’s why: ceilings are made to hold the floor above, not a hoist from below. With some design work and modification to the ceiling and door ways, we were able to get this track system installed.
Types of Overhead Lifts and Alternatives
If one is considering a ShowerBuddy transfer system, it’s good to understand that in most cases this can prevent a rail from traveling throughout the home. We would normally recommend an overhead lift that starts over the bed transferring onto a TubBuddy system. This way the end user can be rolled over a toilet and slide into the tub.
There are multiple types of installations available for overhead lifts. We prefer to use a wall mounting system which would prevent modification to the ceiling. Such installations are normally quick and can be removed with very little damage to the walls. If one wishes to travel from room to room, a wall mounted system cannot be used.
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As of February 1, Colorado Medicaid can approve up to $14,000 for Medicaid Home Modification. This has been a 2 year journey and the Federal Government has finally approved this increase. The State Legislature has voted in 2014 and again in 2015 to increase the funding for this valuable program, but the Affordable Care Act required any changes in these programs had to be to be approved by the Federal Government (Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services). This is perfect for Colorado Home Modification or Denver Home Modifications.
Since the cap has not gone up in 15 years, this restores the benefit that helps CO citizens stay in their home. This will help a Colorado family who is disabled have an accessible shower and an accessible wheelchair ramp/lift. Due to inflation over the last few years, each Medicaid beneficiary was getting less and less for home modification benefit. The benefits are real.
The State of Colorado reported in 2013 that it cost $73,000 to have a Medicaid patient in an assisted living/nursing home. They also report that it was $27,000 to have the same person stay in their own home. They already want to stay in their own home and this is a big savings to the State as well. When you can modify your home, your independence goes up. When your independence goes up, you can better take responsibility for yourself and reach for a better life.
Currently, the State of Colorado Medicaid provides home modification, accessibility, and assistive equipment thru this program throughout the state and in major cities, such as Denver, CO Springs, & Loveland. This includes the following home accessibility solutions:
Accessible bathrooms and roll in showers
Wheelchair ramps and platform lifts
Stair lifts
Ceiling lifts and patient lifts
Grab bars and railings
Door widening
If you have used your Medicaid Home Modification benefit in the past, you can access the additional $4,000 for additional projects or use it for repair/service. This increase only applied to the Adult waiver programs, and doesn’t cover the Spinal Cord Injury Waiver at this time. Hopefully, the federal government will approval this additional benefit for more programs soon.
The State of Colorado has posted further details on the Home Modification Benefit Website – https://www.colorado.gov/pacific/hcpf/home-modification-benefit.
You can apply for the Medicaid Home Modification Benefits which is a part of the Medicaid Waiver Programs. There is one Single Entry Point for each County. Visit https://www.colorado.gov/hcpf/single-entry-point-agencies to see a list of Single Entry Point contacts.
You can also use the following link to help Medicaid Home Modification Funding Process:
Medicaid Home Modification Funding Guide
Lifeway Mobility is a full-service, licensed contractors for all home modifications in the state of Colorado.
Contact us today to set up a free home accessibility consultation!
At some point, due to age or disability, you or a loved one may be faced with the prospect of having to use a wheelchair to assist in your primary mobility at home. Whether it be a temporary fixture to your home or something that will be more permanent, there are a number of simple modifications that can help improve accessibility and make life easier.
If you are like most people, you live in a home that was not designed to accommodate wheelchairs. Below are some simple ideas on how to make sure that you will be able to stay in your home despite the necessity of a wheelchair.
