Ankle Detour -Accessibility

First, the ankle:  good news.  No surgery, no cast, just six weeks moon boot and doc said I can start weight-bearing to tolerance.  A knee-scooter Roller-Aid is a superb alternative to regular crutches, saved my hip, neck, and shoulders.  At Day 11, the swelling/sprain/bruising limits me to just a few steps with cuff crutches, but enough that I can put the roller-aid in the trunk and crutch to the door of the car.  Tylenol is doing a good job on the pain.  


The two things I've missed most:  being able to walk to the hot tub, and over to the lakehouse.  It's sunny today, and I'm crafting a plan how to get over there.  Obstacles to address:  gravel driveway, 60 feet of uneven ground wet grass, and three steps.  Hmm, I've already figured out how to do steps, and it dawns on me I could take the golf cart up to within the last 15 feet, bypassing all that uneven ground.  Hmmm!  We have a plan!  (I used to scoff at my dad for rambling around the properties on an old golf cart instead of walking, but now I'm grateful it's here.)


One big reason to go over:  I want to test out the space for accessibility.  I've designed this house with aging-in-place ideas:  door widths, outlet height, flow of floorplan.  Now that I'm on the tryke, it's a perfect chance to see how well it works.  


Oh!  And grab bars!  I've become a big fan of grab bars.  I had planned to at least include the blocking in the walls to put them in later, but now they're going right as I build.  Being able to use your arms to get up and down to the toilet is KEY when you're on one leg.  They come in cool styles now, so I'll match them to the faucets and they'll simply be part of the room design.  


I'll let you know how the house tour goes.  
Eager to be back on both feet, 
Kimberly
PS:  Addendum:  accessibility is great!  Love the new floorplan!

Facing another detour: broken ankle

Dang nabbit!  The project had momentum again, I was getting things done, enjoying being over at the house, and then broke my ankle.  I mean, really??  All I did was roll my ankle off a 3/4 inch difference in flooring.  I heard a pop and it dropped me to the floor.  I yelled a lot for the next several minutes, and hauled out choice swear words I haven't heard in a while.  Haven't met with the orthopedist yet, don't know what I'm in for, but I choose to believe it will heal swiftly and well.  I'm baffled though:  how did I attract this?  


so:  remodel lesson:  if you cut away a portion of flooring, drop back in a scrap of wood to keep the floor level even.  Before we framed the utilibath wall, I cut out a swath of vinyl flooring and the subfloor sheathing underneath to expose the car-decking foundation floor.   In the doorway section of that wall, there's a 3/4 inch drop from flooring to car-decking, and I just rolled into it.


I was unpacking my new toilet!  So happy it arrived!  As soon as I can set it on the drain and bolt it down, I can have a working toilet in that house for the first time since March!  


This is just a brief detour ... this is just a brief detour ... this is just a brief detour ...