Accessing your Home through Modification

Sometimes, after a spinal cord injury, your home is no longer accessible and you are told that "your home will require modification". But what are the actual modifications that your home might need? 

 

One common modification, unless your home is level with the ground, is ramp installation

 

Quick Ramp 101 - Ramps must be constructed so that for every 1" of rise there are 12"of run, meaning If your door is 6 inches up, you'll need a 6 foot ramp. 

from THAGroup.org Home health tip: How to build a wheelchair ramp

Any ramp installation must be completed according to the specified code requirements as per the Nova Scotia Building Code Regulations - but the read is a bit dry. I find the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) actually explains it a bit better. 

The CMHC also have an entire section called Accessible Housing by Design, going further in depth about renovations/modifications according to different areas of your home (kitchen, bathroom, etc.), home automation, and appropriate appliance selection.

 

For even more information and ideas, linking from the CMHC, you can also visit the center for Universal Design and their online publications section. For example, from the Design Research and Methods Journal there is one article that goes over SIX different accessible stock house plans. OR you could look over a curbless shower installation guide.

While its hard to be told that your home no longer suits your needs, these sites are here to help you understand why and what your options are. The online publications have lots of articles, each filled with ideas that go beyond the basic modifications too, and that can help you narrow down what you want as well as what you need. 

Also, visit our SCIRehab YouTube channel to see how others have modified their homes, like in the example below. I like this video I have included because it goes over good items but also points out other areas that might need modification.  

Funding for Home Modification in NS

There are very few people without financial concerns. When you own a home, those concerns often weigh heavy at the best of times, let alone after a spinal cord injury. Often I've heard people say that it's when you leave the hospital that the REAL rehab even begins. I mean, how are you going to negotiate that uneven walkway at your house, and wouldn't it be easier if the bathroom on the main floor was accessible? 

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If you are not moving, there is a very good chance that your home may need modification - and the Community Services department of the Government of Nova Scotia wants to help you get those modifications completed by providing grants to eligible households.
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Whoa whoa, I know - Eligible. Always a catch.

Depending on your total household income, you *may* be eligible for one of two grants that I will review with you today.

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The grants are:

1. The Disabled Residential Rehabilitation Assistance Program for Homeowners

2. Access-A-Home Program 

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OK, so how do they work?

1. The Disabled Residential Rehabilitation Assistance Program for Homeowners is an up to $16,000 forgivable loan that is intended to help low income homeowners make needed repairs or home modifications. Ramp construction and installation, for example, would qualify. The income limit is dependent on home location and applicants household size - which means if you are part of a household with one working member, an injured spouse, and you also have to support two children, your income limit might have a greater allowance than a household with a single person with no dependants. OH, and you might also be wondering about that forgivable loan part (as was I). In this instance, if you received the grant, used the loan to renovate, then moved - you need to pay back the loan as you basically just made money off of it. However, if you use the loan and do not move for the required amount of years then it will be forgiven - will not require you to pay it back. And I believe we are talking less than 10yrs, but again each case varies. Also - currently the income limit, for HRM in 2011, is up to or less than $29 000 - but again, this limit varies considerably depending on your own personal situation.
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2. Access-A-Home Program. 

This program is a $5000 grant, and the income limit for eligibility, in the HRM in 2011, generally starts around $39,000 (again, can vary significantly, this just to provide an idea). This program is also specific to individuals who must adapt their home to facilitate wheelchair use. The way this program works, once you have completed the application, is an inspector will visit your home and provide specifications that you (the home owner) will then take to two contractors of your choice to receive quotes. And I believe the inspector will ensure that construction meets the specifications prior to releasing the funds for payment - that is why it is crucial that NO construction begins prior to having the inspector set specifications, otherwise the grant will not be provided. In a similar situation, construction that does not meet the inspector set specifications will not be funded. Again, more information is available on the website.
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Finally, a note about the paperwork. 

Applications are often lengthy processes, that take a considerable amount of time and effort. Often this process may seem both daunting and intimidating. That being said, the end product is making your home safe and accessible so you can function independently once you leave the hospital. If you need to seek help to complete these applications; your local housing office should be able to help answer questions and you may already be working with a social worker or occupational therapist who are familiar with this sort of thing.

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There are likely other funding options out there if you do not qualify for these. 

Don't be afraid to contact involved parties, ask questions and network to find out what other resources are out there.