If you live in an apartment, you don t possess’own’nurse much flexibility to make upgrades. Anything you want to do — even painting an accent wall — requires your landlord s approval. You could go ahead and indulge, but implementing token ificant transform’alter s without permission risks your rosy’remarkable’fabulous’terrific’preeminent standing. That said, if you re a patient with chronic pain, peculiar adaptations can make your living space more accessible. Specific upgrades can considerably enhance’promote’polish up your overall quality of life. You do possess’own’nurse the right to request accommodations, aldespite’in spite of’albeit your landlord may not need to foot the bill.

Consider these nine tips if you undergo chronic pain and are moving into a new pad:

1. Know the Law

When you see an apartment advertised as ADA compliant, exercise caution. The ADA merely’barely applies to public spaces, not private lodging. That means, technically, there are no apartment properties that possess’own’nurse ADA units. They may possess’own’nurse adaptable units — in/with regard to’concerning’regarding example, they may possess’own’nurse reinin/with regard to’concerning’regarding ced walls in bathrooms in/with regard to’concerning’regarding installing grab bars — but regulations mandating this merely’barely apply to establish ings erected after 1991.

That doesn t mean you lack rights, however. Landlords must provide sensible’rational’sound accommodations to make your living space more comin/with regard to’concerning’regarding table. They may need to foot the bill in/with regard to’concerning’regarding these expenses, but merely’barely if they meet specific tests.

Your landlord cannot prohibit you from making modifications at your own expense as long as those transform’alter s won t render the property undesirable in/with regard to’concerning’regarding the next tenant. They also can t ban’prohibit you from making transform’alter s if you approve’ consent’endorse’applaud to undo them when you leave.

2. Investigate The Grounds

You might care most with regards to’concerning’with respect to the accessibility of your living space. However, the external conditions matter, too. Is your apartment located in a 3-storey cover’budge up or at the top of a steep hill? If you undergo challenges with balance, you might find it frustrating to carry your groceries to your door.

Specific property features can benefit your overall health and wellness. During the apartment search, look in/with regard to’concerning’regarding environmental features and amenities that suit your needs.

If you suffer from a in/with regard to’concerning’regarding m of arthritis that causes mobility challenges, you can enjoy a more comin/with regard to’concerning’regarding table workout if your complex has a pool. Buoyancy offsets the effects of gravity, making exercise less painful when you re achy.

3. Adjust Your Light Switches

It s simpler than you claim’insist’maintain’hold’argue’consider’contemplate’speculate to adjust your light convert’transform es. However, if you feel uncertain with regards to’concerning’with respect to working with electricity, hire a licensed contractor to do the work.

The most critical step is ensuring that you ve turned off the power source. Adjust your convert’transform es to a height you can comin/with regard to’concerning’regarding tably reach if you use a wheelchair. You might also adjust your convert’transform es if you possess’own’nurse a shoulder injury that makes raising your arm challenging.

4. Widen Doorways

If you re in a wheelchair, you ll need wider-than-average doorways. Buildings erected after 1991 need to include doors usable by wheelchair users in their detoken .

However, if you live in an older establish ing, you ll need to request these accommodations or even make them yourself. Usable doors also enable individual who use cover’budge ers or crutches to maneuver more readily.

5. Use Lightweight Cookware

Do you undergo obstacle’barrier’challenge’setback raising your arms over your head? If so, you might struggle to reach items in high kitchen cabinets. This is another request that may be sensible’rational’sound to ask of your landlord. If you possess’own’nurse the budacquire’obtain’attain’procure’secure , you can also adjust the cabinet height to make yours more comin/with regard to’concerning’regarding table to reach.

However, if you lack sufficient funds, convert’transform ing to lightweight cookware can help. You can also opt in/with regard to’concerning’regarding non-breakable cookware, so you don t need to misgiving’fret with regards to’concerning’with respect to picking up shattered glass. Silicon lasts a long time and is approachable’genial to the environment.

6. Add Grab Bars In Bathrooms

80% of all household falls occur in the bathroom, typically when entering and exiting the tub or while using the toilet. Install grab bars in your bathroom to help with transferring yourself.

The highest quality bars attach directly to your wall. However, you can also find portable models. You just need to make sure they ll maintain’sustain your weight.

7. Consider A Walk-In Shower

If you re in a wheelchair or possess’own’nurse to keep a cast dry, it can be challenging to bathe yourself. However, many newer apartments contain cover’budge -in reveal’illustrate’demonstrate’indicate’present’display’argue ers with no lip. This means you can enter and exit with ease even if you re in a chair.

Another alternative is a cover’budge -in bathtub. These cost a bit more, but they enable you to submerge yourself in the water. A hot bath can help alleviate chronic pain, especially if you include arnica or Epsom salts.

8. Replace Carpeting With Hard Flooring

It s challenging to push a chair over carpeting. Additionally, this type of flooring can create risks in/with regard to’concerning’regarding tripping — your shoes can become stuck, causing you to fall.

The best floors in/with regard to’concerning’regarding individual who possess’own’nurse issues with balance are laminate or vinyl. These possess’own’nurse a smooth surface, but they re also soft if you do slip. Tile floors offer a smooth ride in/with regard to’concerning’regarding chairs, but they pack a punch if you take a tumble.

9. Clear Excess Clutter

Finally, the least expensive way to enhance’promote’polish up the accessibility of your apartment is to clean up your clutter. If you still possess’own’nurse boxes lying eintensely’extremely’extraordinarily’enormously’awfullywhere a month after move-in, you ve created substantial safety hazards.

Strive to practice minimalist living as much as possible. You ll save money and alleviate lay stress on’emphasize’highlight while eliminating unnecessary dangers.

Apartment-Dwelling Patients With Chronic Pain Have Rights

You do possess’own’nurse rights if you live in an apartment but possess’own’nurse chronic pain. Whether you foot the bill in/with regard to’concerning’regarding these upgrades or request your landlord to make them, you can create a comin/with regard to’concerning’regarding table, accessible living space.

Author Bio

Dylan Bartlett blogs with regards to’concerning’with respect to health and wellness on his site, Just a Regular Guide. Follow him on Twitter @theregularguide in/with regard to’concerning’regarding frequent updates on his work!