For someone who is disabled or elderly, an adapted-home means much more than simple convenience. It means safety and most importantly, independence. While adapted-home remodeling can be expensive, using your settlement lump sum from selling structured settlements or annuities can go a long way towards building a safe, welcoming, and independent living space.
Funding Your Adapted-Home Remodel
The price of your adapted-home remodel will vary based on the level of disability you are accommodating for and how accessible you want to make the home. On average, costs for remodeling for disability accommodation will range anywhere from $4,354 to $6,468; however, costs can be as low as $200 or as high as $20,252. The best way to ensure you have the funds to cover the remodeling, speak with an RSL Funding representative about selling your structured settlement or annuity and using your settlement lump sum to fund your adapted-home remodel. When it comes to independence and peace of mind, there is no halfway.
In addition to your settlement lump sum from selling structured settlements or annuities, there are also a variety of federal and charitable sources that can help with the costs. Check out Disability.gov for a list of government and charitable organizations that can help with the cost of an adapted-home remodel. Another great resource is Expertise.com, which provides a list of federal resources available to veterans, seniors, and people with disabilities.
Meaningful Renovations
If you or someone you love requires an adapted-home remodel, here are some of the best ways you can use your settlement lump sum to make a home more accessible and easily maneuverable:
Entrances
- The most crucial remodels for entranceways are extending frames (ideally 36” wide) and installing ramps
- If you have the funds, consider adding handrails, a non-slip surface, and cover to your ramps
- If a ramp is impractical or simply impossible to install, consider installing a vertical lift
Floors
- Tile and hardwood are ideal, avoid carpet and rugs if possible as these types of flooring can make maneuvering in a wheelchair prohibitive
- To make thresholds more accommodating, install rubber ramps
Doorways
- Doorways are often forgotten in considering an adapted-home remodel, but can be difficult to navigate for someone less-abled; ensuring all doorways are wide enough for a wheelchair to maneuver through is a huge move towards safety, comfort, and independence
- To widen doorways, frames and doors can be removed or door openings can be reversed to allow for better mobility
Stairs
- To provide full accessibility to a home with stairs, a vertical platform lift or stairway lift will need to be installed at each set of stairs
- For stairs with fewer than five rungs, a ramp may be a more economical option
Doorknobs and Handles
- For a truly adapted-home, ensure all doorknobs and levers are at an accessible height
- A more functional option is to install automatic door openers throughout the home
- For areas requiring privacy, such as a bedroom or bathroom, if lowering the doorknob is not feasible, consider removing the door altogether and replacing with a privacy curtain that is easily manipulated
Kitchens and Bathrooms
- For areas such as kitchens and bathrooms, where access to appliances is key for independent living, lower sinks and countertops to an accessible level and ensure all faucets and levers are easily reached and powered by lever-handled valves or are touch-operated
- Install grab bars around areas that will require movement to and from a wheelchair, such as toilets and showers
- For a fully accessible bathroom, consider replacing showers with a tub and vacuum-sealed door or a shower that allows for walk-in entry; also, ensure all showerheads are handheld
- For a fully accessible kitchen, install shallow-basined sinks and insulate all pipes below sinks to prevent scalding
Learning to live with a disability, or a loved one who has become disabled, can be challenging, but it doesn’t have to mean an end to comfort and independence. There are many ways you can adapt your home to better suit the needs of someone with a disability in a cost-effective manner. While small changes can be made on a budget, a substantial adapted-home remodel is necessary to truly provide safety and independence.
To find out how you can sell your structured settlement or annuity and use your settlement lump sum to fund an adapted-home remodel, call RSL Funding today at web_phone or request a quote online.
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