For many disabled or elderly people, finding a place to live with the necessary features is difficult. The website Disaboom recently published a how-to article “Universal Design Gains Greater Acceptance” which has many practical ideas.
To achieve my wish of living alone, It took months of looking to find just the right place to live. I’d read the ads, grilled frineds and found nothing hopeful. At last, in desperation I started wheeling up and down one street after another near where I lived. A plain looking, one story group of condominiums looked about right. They were very plain light brown with red Spanish tile roofs, built only a few inches off the ground. I can actually enter any of these units without a ramp.
One had a “for-sale or rent” sign in the window I called the number and made an appointment with a neighbor who was acting on behalf of the owner. After a few years, my son bought the condo next door for me. I’ve lived in the complex for 18+ years now. To my knowledge no other dwelling downtown which would work for me.
Often I thank the heavens for my luck in finding this place. But luck came only after an exhaustive search … and a bit of pushiness on my part. My cat operates on the theory “It never hurts to ask.” So do I.
I’m not fond of most my neighbors, nor they of me, but that happens in condominium situations. Several are very nice and helpful. That’s enough.
My son bought the unit just before California began the crazy price spiral. Have no idea if we have made or lost money on it, but I have a comfortable, wheelchair-accessible place of my very own.
Bakersfield has numerous apartments which are built for people in wheelchairs. The problem lies in the fact that Bakersfield is guilty of incredible sprawl. It is a small city which takes up the space of a large city. The most modern apartment buildings are placed in the most far-flung neighborhoods. While a modern and attractive apartment with all the amenities sounds lovely, the location would make many tasks much more difficult. Worse, they would add hours to a trip to the doctor or the hospital.
After a months long search 15 years ago, I found an ideal condo (2 bedrooms, 2 baths, separate dining area, washer and dryer in the kitchen, 1290 sq. ft.) located close to downtown. Built on one level, it required a couple of days of a carpenter’s time to enlarge the doorway to the bathroom and to the second bedroom. I still can’t get into the second bathroom, but I don’;t need to. It contains the cat box and serves as the “guest bathroom.”
Entry is achieved using a small ramp located in the car port. Best of all the patio doors open to nice patio with a tree and many shrubs. Sometimes people will suggest I should have a ramp in the front. A law enforcement officer advised me against that as it would serve as notice that someone with a disability lived here.
Over the years our local post office has put in more and more “group mailboxes.” Because my place was built in the 1970s and faces the street i enjoy the luxury of mail put through the slot into my living room. On days when I am not quite up to getting dressed, this is a heaven-sent blessing.
The condo is ideally located to increase my mobility. It is located about about 20 blocks from Bakersfield’s San Joaquin Hospital, and Internist Dr. Keith Seidenstricker’s office at Highgrove Clinic. The location allows travel by power wheelchair to the doctor’s office, the hospital, dentist and other medical offices. Within blocks are a market, beauty salon, a fabric store, a couple of neighborhood restaurants, an ice cream shop and other shops nearby. During an hour-long outing I can pick up a sandwich, an ice cream, check out what is new in the fabric store, order a back brace at the nearby orthotics supplier and pick up a Los Angeles Times.
The wheelchair-equipped bus stops two blocks away and can deposit me in the heart of downtown in 12 minutes. The bus travels through my neighborhood every 45 minutes. About once a month I go downtown for a little just-for-fun shopping.
Living close to the center of town makes it easy for friends and family to drop in for lunch or a cup of freshly brewed tea. The neighbors are friendly and helpful here, but not too friendly. Best of all, son Erin is close enough to provide assistance when I get into a scrape.
My favorite pastime is reading. Government and current political affairs fascinate me. Tucking into bed early with an good book and a cup of cocoa is near to heaven. When my eyes are tired, Netflix is my next choice. I especially enjoy the BBC produced movies and TV dramas.
My youngest son, Erin, now 47, and an IT software engineer (who hosts this site at Weblogger.com as a gift to me and provides technical support for this web page) lives a few blocks away. Erin is married to Kathy and he has two children, Courtney, 18 and Tucker, 14. Close proximity helps when there is an emergency over here — as when a pillow case gets wrapped around my wheel — I can call for help without disturbing overworked fire department personnel. They also help me with larger grocery purchases and a myriad of difficult small and large tasks
Older son, Dr. Kevin Clerico lives further away, which means I see them less often. He and his family encourages and supports my efforts to live on my own. Grandson Nicholas, 20 and Brenden, 14 are a joy to be around and keep my spirits up.