How to Adapt Homes for Disabled Veterans

Adapting homes for disabled veterans helps them lead a more independent life. Contractormag.com reports that programs such as Homes For Our Troops arranges free or subsidized labor to assist disabled veterans with home renovations. Modifying a home relates directly to the disability, so planning is the most important part of the process of adapting a home for a disabled veteran. Not all disabilities are equal, so there is no point, for example, in building a ramp for a visually impaired veteran with good caning skills. The Kitchen Specialist Finder website cautions that when adapting a home for a disabled veteran, it is important to realize that the adaptations won't solve all the problems.

Instructions

- 1
  Assess the needs and abilities of a disabled veteran. If, for instance, the veteran is in a wheelchair, he will require different adaptations than if he is hearing-impaired.
- 2
  Discuss the adaptations -- and the related costs -- with the veteran. Try to be accurate and complete in this regard so that the veteran will know exactly how much money is involved in the renovations.
- 3
  Check with the United States Department of Veterans Affairs to see if any grants or subsidies are available. In some instances, your state may be willing to cover some of the costs of adapting a home so that veterans can live on their own.
- 4
  Work from the assessment and the discussion to modify the home as required. A wheelchair user may require a ramp and wider doors, while a veteran who is visually impaired may prefer an open-space plan to make navigation easier.
- 5
  Develop a work plan and set a completion date. Rather than leaving the adaptations until you get around to them, make them a priority and stick to promises you make. The veteran is dependent on others to do her work so that she can live as independently as possible.
- 6
  Concentrate on the kitchen. No matter what type of disability the veteran has, adapt the kitchen so that it is user-friendly. This includes modifications such as having a concentrated work space that is accessible and at wheelchair height, if required. Other considerations include having essential equipment close at hand.
- 7
  Incorporate details. Build a spice rack and arrange the spices in alphabetical order for the visually impaired veteran. Build a wheelchair height kitchen counter that pulls out when required, but slides back when an able-bodied person is using the kitchen. Rather than a doorbell, install a flashing light for a hearing-impaired veteran.

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