We need to talk about adaptations. Here’s your chance to jump in the conversation
What’s the best adaptation you’ve ever had in your home? Have you ever had something installed that surpassed your hopes and expectations and helped you remain independent in your own home? Gave you extra control over your own life?
… Or alternatively
What’s the worst adaptation you’ve ever had in your home? Have you ever had an adaptation installed that was so poorly designed or installed that it just didn’t work out like you’d hoped?
“Yes… and yes. Where are you going with this?”
I’m glad you asked. Blackwood’s Research & Innovation department is working on a project in conjunction with iHub and Construction Scotland Innovation Centre, to find out first hand from bespoken’s members what their experiences have been with adaptations. So if you identify with option 1 and have had a great adaptation, we want you to tell us:
- What was it? A ramp? Grab rail? Wet room? Something else?
- What did you like about it? The aesthetic? The design? The practicality?
- How did you discover it? Was it easy to find?
- Was it easy to install?
- How well has it lasted?
- How flexible was it for other people’s needs?
If on the other hand you can recall all too well a very bad adaption that sticks in your mind for all the wrong reasons, we want to know:
- What was it?
- Why did you not like it?
- Where did it fail to deliver?
- Was it ugly? Badly designed? Did it just not work as it should?
Please use the comments section below to have your say.
We thank you for your input!
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Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Anne Walker on
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I am lucky enough to have moved in when the big adaptations were in place.
I am extremely grateful for a fabulous wet room that I can access even on a wheelchair.
The only addition made to this after I moved in was a "BIO BIDET", this is a godsend for me with the personal problems I have, the simple act of being able to attend to your own toilet needs is a great boost to ones self esteem.
Installing this was so much easier than the Close o Mat, as it just sits on top of existing toilet bowl with no major work required, while having all the same functions of the close o mat.
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Permalink Reply by Mary Guild on
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When I took tenancy of my Blackwood home I was faced with a giant bath which short of using a step ladder I could never have climbed into and my diving skills had long since diminished!!
The solution was a wet floor shower. I'm sure like most of you I didn't want my home to look in any way 'surgical' or 'different' and didn't fancy the bog standard (no pun intended!) hospital type shower cubicles that were available. I then spent days surfing the Internet and eventually found some aesthetically pleasing shower doors that open wide and outwards allowing me to transfer from my power chair to a fixed shower chair. I've attached a couple of photos of my shower for perusal. This wet floor shower enables me to shower independently. - Attachments:
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image.jpeg, 969 KB
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Permalink Reply by Paul Richoux on
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Hi Mary,
Thanks for sharing. And I agree that the aesthetic appeal in adaptations is often treated as a side feature which is weird because of course people want their home to look nice. However I think there is a definite trend moving away from this which has become apparent in the last few years. The importance of beautiful design is rapidly being recognised by the industry. When I last went to Naidex a lot of the stands just look like ordinary homes. The adaptations are either invisible until they are in use or they are suitably designed so they don't scream surgical.
The adaptations that relate to personal hygiene (bathroom and toilet adaptations) I think, due to their nature, are a little harder to design for people who have disabilities without making them more conspicuous. Don't know what you think personally.
Paul
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Hi Paul, I've never attended Naidex as they're normally held in the South. It's reassuring to hear though that aesthetics are now as important as practicalities. I agree though about toilet adaptations not being so easy to design in an attractive way but at least company's are introducing grab rails etc in chrome, stainless steel and bright funky colours which detract from the 'hospital surgical' look that so many adaptations have.
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