If you have a member of your family or a partner who lives with a permanent physical disability, you’ll want to make sure they do this as independently as possible.
One way to achieve this is to change your living environment to something that offers more accessibility, greater comfort, and increased freedom.
If you do want to move, you should take the time to research all your options to ensure you are making the right choice for you.
But what exactly should that involve?
Here are 5 tips for choosing the best accessible family accommodations for your particular needs.
When looking for accessible family accommodations, it is good to know what options you have available.
Typically, there are three main ones available. You could either choose Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA), such as that offered by Vertika, a Supported Independent Living (SIL) arrangement or a private home you purchase and modify.
All of these have different benefits. For instance, SDA and SIL can offer convenience, assistance, and a sense of community, while a private home can provide privacy and the opportunity to configure the floor plan to your exact liking, space requirements, and specifications.
Therefore, whichever one you choose should depend on your particular needs and circumstances.
If you are weighing up the best accessible family accommodation option for you, here are five tips.
1. Know what type of accommodation you are after
The first thing you will need to know is what type of living arrangement most suits your needs.
As mentioned, there are several benefits associated with SDA, SIL and private, independent living. So, you will need to do an honest assessment as to which one will provide you with the best quality of life.
Some things to take into account are the level of independence, convenience and assistance you are after. You will also need to determine your finances and the costs involved for each option.
2. Floorplan and design
When determining the best type of accessible family accommodation for you, it is important to pay attention to the overall floor plan and design of the property. In particular, you will need to make sure it is appropriate not just for the person with the disability but also for everyone else who will be living there.
Some things to take into account are the width of the hallways, how easy it is to move around the property in a wheelchair, and whether it has enough space for everyone’s lifestyle needs.
Practical aspects such as the height of toilets, taps, light switches, and countertops should also be considered.
3. Location
The location of the family accommodation is very important because it needs to suit the lifestyle of everyone who will be living in it.
Some aspects to weigh up include the suburb the property is in, what types of public transport links are there in the vicinity, how close is it to amenities, shops and services, and even things like what school catchment area is it in and what family-friendly activities are there to do.
You will also need to bear in mind resale value, particularly if you are buying a private property as your accessible family home.
4. Can you grow into the property
Something else you will need to consider is how long you will be living in the home.
If you only plan on staying in a place for a medium term, you will need to find somewhere that suits your requirements now. However, if you intend to stay in a property for a significant period of time, you should be aware of how your physical needs and ability to move around might change over the years.
Additionally, if your family grows, you will need to take into account whether the home can easily accommodate the extra individual(s).
5. Safety and Security
All properties need to offer good safety and security, but it is particularly important that family homes are accessible.
Make sure your property has a clear fire exit plan, preferably with multiple exit options. In addition, there should be smoke alarms in every bedroom and, ideally, easily accessible fire extinguishers.
You should also look for homes with video door entry systems, CCTV, motion sensor lights, and burglar alarms.
If you choose SDA and SIL accommodation, there is a good chance your accommodation will have a 24-hour medical alert alarm. This is something you might also want to install in a privately bought, accessible family home.
Here are some other home safety aspects for disabilities you should consider.
