Two major things happening this week. One is huge in the big scheme of things: Tom is taking part in a clinical trial. Tomorrow he has his first appointment since being recruited. The whole issue of taking part in a clinical trial will be the subject of a number of forthcoming posts. Today I want to focus on the second thing happening this week, which is possibly lesser in the big scheme of things, but very preoccupying right now: next Monday all hell breaks loose as the builders arrive to adapt our kitchen to be wheelchair accessible.
In this post I'll outline the key things we took into account when planning the kitchen, and the support we're getting from the council.
In a future post I'll write about the much bigger adaptation we have already done, to put in a downstairs bedroom and bathroom. I'll also publish the talk I was asked to give to our local team of Occupational Therapists, on a parents' perspective on Occupational Therapy. This focused primarily on adaptations in the home.
First a quick diary update. Still haven't rebooked Tom's appointment with the neuromuscular consultant. The school meeting went well - things not completely sorted but better than they were. The negotiations with Tom about pants reached a compromise: Tom is in long johns. I think he is finding it more difficult to manage when he goes to the toilet. He doesn't want anyone to go with him. Long johns are easier to manage than pants. All part of Tom quietly getting his head around decreasing mobility (he is ten and a quarter).
The kitchen:
The deal with the kitchen is that Tom needs to be able to prepare, or help prepare, simple meals, and generally be able to access the kitchen and its appliances.
Therefore we need enough space for the wheelchair to get in and out of, and around, the kitchen. 1500mm will give enough space to back and manouevre the wheelchair. 1700mm would be a full wheelchair turning circle.
We need worktops, a hob, and a sink unit with space underneath, so a wheelchair user can use the worktop. Ideally we need an L-shaped worktop, so Tom's arms can rest on each side. We need an oven at a height Tom can see into, with a pull-out shelf below.
At this point in time, when Tom is still ambulant but in danger of falling, we need a super-non-slip floor.
Accessible wall units we just gave up on. Tom won't have the arm strength to utilise these in the future.
To get the wheelchair space we are taking out one kitchen cabinet, and replacing it with a 300mm wide shelf.
The worktops, hob, and sink unit we are getting from Howden's, who have branches around the country. The oven also comes from Howden's.
We've thought long and hard about whether to get a height adjustable sink and hob, and have decided yes. It's essential so that both Tom and his dad, B, who doesn't use a wheelchair and is around 5'10", can both use the kitchen. However, it'll add about £2000+ onto the bill.
The floor is from the Altro range. We also looked at the Tarkett range (formerly known as Marley I believe). Both do very non-slip floors. The colour I want is called 'Tree Frog'. B said it looked like frog vomit. I said that was fine, as when he looked at it and threw up, the vomit wouldn't show. We left it there. (B did say he would stop noticing it after a while.) I've ordered Tree Frog.
The local council is paying for anything that Tom needs for access and to use the kitchen to prepare or help prepare simple meals. So they are paying for some doors to be widened, for the worktops (but not the rise and fall mechanism, or the hob as Tom is still a child), and for the flooring. They are also paying for the cabinet to be taken out, and for the washing machine to be moved to another room.
I think it helps that we are doing this work right at the end of the financial year. For some reason, incredible to me in this time of austerity, it seems the council have money they need to spend before the end of the financial year.
The key player in the kitchen adaptations is our Occupational Therapist. She has advised us throughout and also advised the council.
Two very useful resources are the Muscular Dystrophy Campaign's house adaptation manual, and also Portsmouth City Council Occupational Therapy service, who have produced a very useful guide. Google 'portsmouth.gov.uk design guide for wheelchair accessible housing'.
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