Are there any programs government or private out there to help me handicap acceorize my home?

Our home was built in 1985. It is a 3BR/2BA ranch in FLorida. I am trying to prepare of an eminant future. My husband is 15 years older than me. I want to prepare our home now while we are working and it is a little easier to pay for renovations required. I want to care for him in my home as long as I can. It would kill me to have to put him in a nursing home.
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Thanks,
Melanie

If you are not handicapped now, there can be no funding.

A carpenter can do most of what y ou need to do, but it will be messy and take some time.

I found that a walker or wheel chair will not go through a normal bathroom door, so you need to widen the doors in the house that will not accommodate both a walker and a wheel chair. That can involve moving electrical switches and ripping out some of the wall to fit a wider door. I did that on one bathroom in my house, but it is not for inexperienced people to do.

Your back door probably is 32" and you will need to do that unless you have a sliding glass door or French doors opening to the deck.

You will need ramps on the back and the front, if you know anything about carpentry, you can probably figure that one out - just put substantial supports under it.

Just check out wheel chairs and walkers to find out how wide they are and have a carpenter do it. +

You might have to eventually get a higher toilet seat, There you can get either a seat that adds on to the one that you have, or you can buy a new toilet and install it when you have to. Replacing a toilet is rather easy.

Try the phone book under Government, I was thinking Health Dept. at first, but if you can find a Dept. of Aging (or something similar) they might be able to point you in the right direction. I have seen assistance for people in your need- don't remember where.

One more thought....did he serve in the military??? They can probably help.


Good Luck!!