April 2005 - Advice for others

Last month we got Oliver and Jamie's thoughts about the adaptation to their home.

Now it's the turn of their parents - Debby and Ben. Since the planning started in September 2004, the Baskarans have learnt a huge amount about the time, effort and detail of planning a home adaptation. This month Debby and Ben talk about the advice they would give to others about to embark on an adaptation.

(If you want a recap, visit the Adaptations Diary front page and read the previous instalments.)

Adaptations advice

• It's easy to trust the experts - and they are excellent - but remember they won't see the whole extension/adaptation from your point of view. We wanted our extension to blend in with our house, and to look as though it has always been there so we realised it was important to specify at the beginning, for example, what bricks should be used and not just to take what is offered.


• Money is an issue - again specify at the beginning what you want so that there are no nasty financial surprises later on down the line.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  We were categorically told that we would like latticed windows in the extension, again so they match the house, but plain ones arrived. We had to pay extra for lattice windows to be installed instead.


• What seems initially like minor detail can take on greater importance. The plug sockets in the boys' rooms have been positioned too high so that the cables from the electric beds are dangling. It's also important that the sockets aren't too low either as the cables may not reach.


• When light fittings are attached to the ceiling, remember that hoist tracking will also have to be fitted.
In Jamie's room, there is only just enough room to instal the hoist tracking alongside the light fitting.


• Keep your occupational therapist up to date and involved with the process. They will help you plan where best to put equipment, such as a bed so that there is maximum room for a wheelchair alongside it. They can also liase with the technician who fits the hoist tracking.


• Do check the specifications and plans thoroughly before any building work has started. It is a daunting process and so the more familiar you are with what you're going to get, the less likely things are to go wrong.


• If you have an extension included in your adaptation, think about where ramps will go, and ask whether they are included in the costings. The architect and occupational therapist should be able to provide good advice here.


• The most valuable piece of advice we can give is go and talk to someone who has had an adaptation done. The chance to change things - small things - has now passed and they are things we would have known about if we could have talked to another family in the same situation. Advice is crucial.

The next instalment

The next instalment of the diary will be written in November 2005. We'll catch up with the family when they've had time to get used to the adaptation, and see how it has changed their home life.

If you would like to respond to any of the advice the Baskarans have given, or you have general queries you'd like to ask them, please email website@muscular-dystrophy.org

Return to the Adaptations diary front page.