DIY Clutter Questions,The Process is Up to You!

Only you can decide what stays or goes. Here are some basic questions to ask yourself as you sort through your things. Make the tough choices based on your answers.

Light Bulb Moments or Gift Giving Ideas

Light Bulb Moments

Here are a few things you can do to make your home more user friendly both now and in the future, especially if you need to make changes or do remodeling.

Locks on doors

Get deadbolt locks and lever handles that can be keyed to use the same key on all doors

Motion sensor night lights

Helps prevent falls and give a better night’s sleep than night lights that stay on all  night

Low pile carpet or smooth floors

Easier mobility with crutches, walkers, wheel chairs, or canes

Brighter lighting , consider  LED’s

Helps make hazards more visible, also helps dust shine so you can clean in more spots

Grab rails in bathroom

Replaces towel racks & helps prevent falls

Movable toilet paper stand

Can place where most accessible if you have limited arm/body movement

Toilet paper holders

Designed to slide roll on with one hand

Paper towel holders

Designed to slide roll on with one hand

Rechargeable flashlights

Plugs into wall, ready to go when needed

                  

Wired-in trouble light

Great when power goes off, no candles or flash lights needed

Whole house surge protector

Protect appliances in older homes

GFI outlets in kitchen/ bathroom

Required in wet areas or counter areas

GFI Outlets in living spaces

Electric blanket, heating pad, electric powered chair, medical equipment areas

Lighted wall switches

Safety, location

Lighter wall color

Reflects light better

A timed ceiling fan/light/heater in the ceiling of bathroom or other small space  that needs extra heat

Reduces burn risks

Glass fronted kitchen cabinets

Display or help remembering placement

Kitchen base cabinets with drawers or pull out inserts

Accessibility       
 

“D” or bar shaped handles on drawers

Accessibility

Shallow pantry shelves

Accessibility

Stationary Chair with arms that fits “just right”

A chair that fits someone who is 6’ tall will not fit  someone only 5’ tall or less in height. Leg length and seat height/depth are major factors in being able to use chairs, love seats, couches.

Small movable kitchen cart

Helps move items from place to place

Low to roll-in threshold shower

Safety while bathing

Raised toilet

Accessibility

The House Itself or Rooms, Rooms and More Rooms

No one layout or house plan will work for everyone.

This list starts with the basic belief that you will need at least the basics on one accessible floor or have the ability to transform that floor to your future needs.  Your needs may be different.

(Later sections will cover changes necessary in each area.)

One accessible barrier-free level

Living Room

Master Bedroom

Closets

Barrier-free Bathroom

         ADA Compliant or large enough to transform

Laundry Room

Kitchen

Pantry

Dining Room

2^nd Bedroom

        2^nd Bathroom

Home Office or Hobby Room

Hallways

ADA Access to 2^nd or 3^rd Floor or Basement

Home Entrances

Home Entrances

Covered Entrance

Entrance areas and doors well lit

Automatic motion sensor entrance lights

Porch/entrance areas free of obstructions 

     and in good repair

Barrier-free Ground Floor entrance

Adequate, unencumbered area beside door entrances

Landing zone both outside and inside the entrance door

Lever handles on doors

Accessible Door bell that is both audio and visual

Keyed deadbolt locks

One or more peepholes at varying heights

Reduce multiple door lock keys at entrances.

     (Only use one key for all locks.

      Buy locks that can be keyed to be the same.)

Security latch or chain on doors

Additional strobe or flashing outside light

     that can be turned on letting emergency personnel

     locate home easily

Doorways need to have at least a 32 inch clearance,

     34 to 36 inches is better.

Slip-resistant Entrance area inside home

Lawn Pathways, Lighting, Ramps, Steps, Handrails

Lawn Pathways & Lighting

Easy barrier-free, well-maintained walkway 

     (that is walker and wheel chair friendly)

     from the car to the home entrance

Automatic dawn-to-dusk lighting illuminates walk area 

     from garage or driveway to entrance of home.

Ramps, Steps, Handrails

Covered entrance and/or ramp [if necessary]

     [Frost, rain, freezing rain will render 

     the home owner housebound

     during bad weather if entrance 

     is not weather protected.]

Stairs/ramps meet ADA slope guidelines

Slip resistant stairs/ramps with slip resistant 

     handrails on both sides

Handrails extend beyond first/ last step 

     Makes balance easier at entrance/ground level

    

All steps should have a backer board 

     so feet cannot go through and cause injury

Stairs or ramps should have edges with color contrast

Glow-strips or step lighting 

     (will help with night time use on the stairs)

Automatic motion sensor lights 

     placed at all step and ramp locations

Vehicle Access, Curb Appeal, & the Garden

Vehicle Access & Curb Appeal

Driveway is wide enough for 2 vehicles to enter or exit

Driveway entrance and continuing surface in good repair

A garage or carport for vehicles 

     (easier frost/snow removal from vehicles)

Automatic gate or fence

Automatic garage doors

Low-maintenance home materials

Low-Maintenance Grounds Design

Low-Maintenance Plants

Windows and doors visible from the outside of the home

Garden & Lawn

(Difficulty bending, walker, wheelchair, or cane user)

Raised beds for flowers or produce

Curved beds for easier mowing

Pathways between planting beds wheelchair accessible

Easy, non- invasive, hardy plantings

Starting from the beginning: Location is everything

Starting from the beginning

General Location or Community

Located near friends or family

Public transportation in some form is available

    Taxi, bus, shuttle, disability van route, etc

Nearby shopping available for those last minute purchases

Designated NORC community?

Easy access to doctors, dentist, hospitals, etc

Sidewalks

Parks, recreation area

Safe crime rate area

Law enforcement presence

Entertainment venues available

Like minded hobby, special interest, religious group nearby

Your Home’s Location

Can you be found easily?

House number is clearly marked and is visible from both directions, during the day and night.

Driveway entrance is clearly visible from both directions from the highway. Makes it easier for emergency units, family and friends to find you.

Your Ideal Home-Introduction

Your Ideal Home

What do you consider your ideal home? Do you have a check list? You need to know what works or doesn’t work for you.  Most homes standing today weren’t built with frailties or disabilities in mind. Adapting a home can be expensive unless you can do the work yourself. 

                                                                     

So, what are the initial essential wants for a lifetime home?  Almost no home will have them all. You’ll probably need to adapt your home if it is your lifetime home.  If you are going to do some remodeling in the future, plan changes with projected future needs in mind.  

So, how about we try starting from the beginning...

Be Positive. Contemplate. Take Action

Before you start something, remember that

You are unique.

You deserve to live better.

Learning from others' experiences

can help you save time, effort, & money.

You have unique needs,expectations,& experiences.

Investing in Yourself takes both time and work.

You won't accomplish anything

if you don't "get up off that thing".

As you progress, concentrate on one task at a time:

don't let distractions slow you down.


Consistent actions repeated will accomplish much.

What one thing would you like to accomplish today?

You should not delay, take action today.

Consider--Does Your Home Fit?

Is Your Current Home Your Forever Home?

Do you want to stay in your current home for the rest of your life? What are things you need to consider if you want to remain in your current home?  Your needs may change as your circumstances change.

Your  Mindset

Do you enjoy living in your home? 

Are you willing to ask for help when needed?

Are friends and family nearby? 

Do they have the time and inclination to help you?

Are you active and socially inclined? 

Do you enjoy connecting with others?

Are you willing to help others?

Location, Location, Location

Is there access to public transportation when/if needed?

Is there a shopping center nearby?

Are health care facilities such as doctors, hospitals, rehabs, dentists, and eye care available nearby?

Is there access to a senior agency in easy reach?

Is there access to a senior center or entertainment nearby?

Is the community a safe place to live?

Is home health care available in the community if desired?  

        Can you afford to pay for it?

Is the weather moderate?

The House Itself

Is your house safe for you to live in both now and in the future?

Is it easy to get into the home from the garage or driveway?

Is the entrance to your home well lit and maintained?

Can emergency workers find your house easily?

Is the house more than one story or level?

Are the master bedroom, bath, living room kitchen and laundry on the ground floor?

Is the house well lit inside and outside?

Can you get in and out of the house easily in case of emergency?

Do you have a landing zone on both the outside and inside of your main entrance?

Are thresholds flush at doorways?  Are the doors wide enough for wheelchairs?

Do all interior doors open and close properly?

Are hallways wide enough for wheelchairs?

Are floor surfaces slippery or hard to navigate?

Are the bathrooms ADA or universal design?

Are the cabinets and counters in the kitchen accessible from a wheelchair or walker?

Do all the appliances in the kitchen work properly?

Are there safety hazards in the home such as cords, rugs, knick-knacks, and clutter?

Does furniture style and spacing need to be addressed?

Is the outside and inside of you home easy to maintain?

Does the plumbing work properly in all bathrooms and the kitchen: sinks toilets, tubs, drainage and water supply?

Are there any electrical needs that need to be corrected?

Does it look like you are moving in or out due to the number of boxes or possessions?

Can a wheelchair or walker move easily through all rooms of your house?

Are there clear turn around floor areas  in each room?

Do you trip over junk in the floor, boxes or pets, loose rugs?

Can you find your phone, light switches?

Do you have motion detector night lights, trouble lights in case of loss of power?

Is your bedroom a haven or a dumping ground?

Can any room in your home be referred to as the junk or storage room? 

       How much stuff is there in it? Can it be used as is?

You & Your Loved Ones Safety

Do you keep your pets well fed, cages clean and loved and petted? Vaccinated?

Can someone not related to you find emergency medical information and contacts about those in your household?

Do you have a friend or family member who checks that you are all right once a day?

Introduction-Define Adaptive Organization

What is Adaptive Organization?

You have a unique behavioral pattern of organization.

You have your own acceptable clutter level tolerance.

Stress is created when 2 or more people have 

differing  organizational styles 

and differing clutter level tolerances.

As you live, changes will occur in your circumstances.

You will need to adapt your physical space  

to accommodate your personal needs and wants.

The way you organize your space should change 

as circumstances in your life changes. 

You will need to be adaptable.

Adaptive Organization is making those 

environmental physical changes 

to accommodate your personal wants and needs. 

What changes do you need to make? Do you know?

Getting to Know Each Other

Who Am I? Who are You?

I'm a daughter, mother, grandmother, wife, sister, and aunt 
(45+  nieces and nephews--if you count greats and steps) with loads of practical experience in Adaptive Organization for the way you are currently living. 

I believe you deserve to live the best you can in your home. 

Both my parents were disabled as I was growing up. Over the years I've helped reorganize their home as their needs/disabilities became more limiting. ​We did those adaptations "on a dime" since money was always tight or almost nonexistent.

I have experience in wearing a lot of hats or doing lots of things.

As dad's oldest child, I helped roof a house and add on a room.
I  helped dig an outhouse, fill it in and move the structure. I've helped cut trees  and stacked logs, carried coal and cleaned out the ashes. Dad had all his children work in the family garden and feed the animals, so yes, we did chores and learned responsibility working beside him.

As mom's oldest girl, I learned how to cook, clean, sew, mend, wash clothes, etc.

In the job market, I've held jobs that include cafeteria worker, school bus driver, grocery cashier, lab tech, cake decorator,  produce manager, retail cashier, stock person, and display builder. In specialty retail the titles include head clerk, computer tech,  assistant manager, convenience store shift lead, convenience store clerk, office manager,  store manager, and retail banker.

I retired at the end of November 2018.

So, now that I've introduced myself...won't you please introduce yourself.

You too have worn a lot of "hats" in your lifetime. No matter what you've done in your life to earn a living, you've developed skills. Skill sets that are transferable into your home environment.  Skills that you can share with others. Often we don't realize work, hobby, or education skills can be used to make our everyday lives better.

So what special skills do you have? Are you open to sharing them with others? Give some feedback. Follow the blog. Share!

Here's the spot to BRAG!