Strong Voices

Gary Williams says the hallway in his old house was too narrow for him to move and turn his wheelchair easily. This made it hard for him to get to the lounge and, as often is the case in homes that are not purpose-built, led to some wear and tear on the walls.

There are no halls in Gary’s new home in Christchurch, which means it’s no problem to get to the lounge anymore.

Gary was part of the concept planning team for the IDEA Services property, which was specifically designed for people with high physical needs.

Kerry Long, who also lives in the six-bedroom home, is just as pleased and says the extra space makes it much easier for him to get around, so he doesn’t need as much staff support.

Service Manager Udeep Regmi agrees. “It’s really increased the independence of the four residents who use wheelchairs.”

The features that make life easier for both residents and support staff include wide doorways with mechanised opening and closing, level access, a large kitchen and tracks for ceiling hoists. They also mean residents will be able to stay in their homes as they get older and their needs increase.

Area Manager Michelle Hickey says the privacy and dignity of residents have been respected in the design. Extra storage for the equipment needed to support residents is tucked away, helping to maintain the homely feel.

The location of the house, in busy Wigram, is proving to be a bonus too.

“One of our residents, Sam, loves the service station and all the cars he can see from his room. And the noise isn’t a problem because of the double glazing and extra insulation,” says Michelle.

Accessible Properties Asset Manager Alex Urwin was in charge of the 18-month design process, and managing the project from concept to completion.

“Wherever possible we build to universal design standards, and this building has a Lifemark-5 rating, meaning it meets accessibility, safety and adaptability standards for people with limited mobility.

“It’s satisfying to see a project like this come to fruition and to see how comfortable and happy the residents are.”

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Caption 1: Gary Williams and Kerry Long outside their home.

Caption 2: Gary in his new room.