Making A Home Accessible Can Make All The Difference As We Age

By David Nickle
This article originally appeared on Inside Toronto.
Sandra and Dan Sexton are doing the kind of work on their North York home that usually comes much later in life.
Although they are only in their 40s, an ALS diagnosis for Dan means the home will have to become entirely accessible, as he transitions from using a walker to eventually an electric wheelchair. The Sextons are planning to offer housing to Dan's 82-year-old father as well, which will feature a new lower-floor bath with wide doors, a roll-in shower and a widened side entrance to accommodate the wheelchair.
"You have to plan longer term," Sandra said. 
The couple are working with Ronny Wiskin, a specialist in home renovation for accessibility, through the Toronto-based Med+ Home Health Care Company.
The company assists homeowners to modify their environment using what are known as universal design principles — a seven-point checklist that balances esthetics and comfort with accessibility for people who might be confined to a wheelchair, or have other mobility issues.

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