58 msfocusmagazine.org By Gay Falkowski Your new mobility aid will work best in a home that’s been modified to help you and your device move more safely and easily throughout. If making your entire home completely accessible costs more than your budget allows, it may help to know that equipment, and installation, required because of a disability, can be tax deductible within IRS rules and guidelines. Get a letter from your prescribing physician, and keep a copy of your prescription on file. A builder who knows about accessibility guidelines and has experience in this area can best advise you regarding the types of structural changes your home will need, such as widening doorways or hallways to accom- modate wheelchairs. You may also discuss a home safety evaluation with your doctor, to be performed by a home health occupational therapist. Occupational therapists are experts in helping people with disabilities maximize their independence by making lifestyle and environmental adaptations. However, there are many improvements you can make on your own. Here are four important areas to review as you prepare for better mobility in your home. 1) Clutter • De-cluttering and getting organized is a good first task in improving mobility in the home. • Dirty laundry piled on the floor, spills that aren’t cleaned up, shoes scattered by the doorway, stacks of old magazines ready to topple. Clutter is a hazard in any situation, but mobility aids add to the risk because the extra legs and wheels meant to help steadyyou can get destabilized by the clutter. • As you determine where things belong, it can be helpful to plan where to store your mobility aid when not in use. Canes can be especially difficult to keep up with. Having a special spot for your cane in places where you tend to settle, such as the bedroom or living room, helps you remember where to find it when you’re ready to move on. • Pets aren’t ‘clutter,’ but, like clutter, pets can get underfoot and cause falls. Adding a bell on your pet’s collar alerts you when your furry friend is nearby. 2) Lighting • All areas of the home where you’ll be navigating should be well lit. Sometimes redirecting existing light sources can achieve this, or you may need to add some new lamps or fixtures. • Those using wheelchairs or scooters should adjust directional lights or under-the-cabinet lighting that could interfere with your new, lower sightline. • In critical areas, add supplemental lighting. Nightlights by the bed and in the bathroom can assist in getting you to the bathroom safely in the middle of the night. Consider installing LED ground track lighting along Life with MS Preparing Your Home for a Mobility Aid