Everyday Life
With ALS: A
Practical Guide
If
you have ALS, or care for someone who does, this practical guide
will answer many of your questions about equipment, therapies
and accessibility that arise over the course of the disease.
Chapter 3 -
Home Modifications
ALS will also require some adaptations
to your environment, both for safety and to accommodate to new
equipment. Chapter 3 suggests how your home environment may
be modified to help you to carry on your daily life.
Making Your Home More
Accessible
Ramps
Portable or permanent … long
or short … aluminum, fiberglass, wood or steel …
wheelchair ramps are available in just about any size and type
imaginable. A ramp is usually a cost-effective way to make an
entrance to a home accessible or to eliminate the barriers created
by a step, threshold or a small flight of stairs. For safety's
sake, every home should have at least two accessible entryways/exits.
Modular aluminum ramps are a quick,
easy solution for many situations. You can use them temporarily
at your home, or take them along when visiting someone or even
for getting into a restaurant or shop. One caution: They may
have inadequate traction if the slope is greater than recommended.
Some portable ramps are built from
lightweight materials like aluminum, and others fold to the
size of a suitcase and have handles for carrying. Often, ramps
can be custom- ordered to fit your needs.
If you’re building a ramp,
the correct slope is a 1-inch rise for every 1 foot of run,
and 2-inch side curbs for safety are essential. A variety of
materials can be used for ramps, but keep in mind issues such
as a surface that can get slippery when wet outdoors, and the
considerable weight of a power wheelchair plus its occupant.
For example, you can build a ramp
from plywood, but it should be coated with a mixture of outdoor
paint and sand for traction. (Sandpaper adhesive strips won't
hold up under the weight of a power wheelchair.) Treated hardwoods
and manufactured materials like PakkaWood cost more but add
durability.
If cost is an issue, your local
MDA office, independent living center or Chamber of Commerce
may have a list of organizations or programs that can assist
with residential ramp installation and costs.
