Duane Hicks
The Rainy River District Social Services Administration Board had a chance to show off newly-renovated, accessibility-friendly apartments at Green Manor here last Thursday.
Local contractor Ed Kaun & Sons made two one-bedroom units more accessible, as well as converted three one-bedroom units into a pair of two-bedroom accessible ones.
“They came out pretty good. We’re quite happy,” DSSAB CAO Dan McCormick said during a tour, noting the DSSAB was able to renovate the units using 100 percent ministry-funded dollars.
Buildings such as Green Manor were designed in the 1970s, at a time when accessibility needs weren’t considered.
The DSSAB wanted to ensure it is able to serve seniors at all levels and offer them a choice to age at home.
McCormick said the revamped apartments sport many features which make them more accessible than the other units at Green Manor.
In the kitchen, for instance, the cupboards, sink, stove top, and oven are lower than usual, allowing easy access for those in a wheelchair.
The oven even has a door that opens sideways, as opposed to up and down, to make it easier to put in and remove food.
The bathroom has a walk-in/roll-in shower that’s easy to use.
And not only is the sink and countertop lower, but the bathroom mirror is tilted downward so an individual in a wheelchair easily could look into it from a lower vantage point.
As ell, the light switches and thermostats are lower on the wall to make them easy to reach for those in wheelchairs while electrical outlets and phone jacks are higher than normal so tenants don’t have to reach so low to access them.
The closets have no doors and the clothes hangar bars are lower.
The hallways are wider and the rooms are wide open so a tenant in a wheelchair can get around easily.
Some walls even sport corner guards to prevent them from being damaged by walkers or wheelchairs bumping into them, which saves on maintenance costs.
Finally, the hallway doors on the revamped units have keypads so tenants don’t have to fuss with keys; they just can enter a code and get in.
Sandra Weir, integrated services manager for the local DSSAB, said having barrier-free, accessibility-modified living spaces will make it easy for anybody who has any kind of mobility issue or concern–regardless of its severity–to get around in and live comfortably.
One of the two bedroom units already is occupied, but the remaining two-bedroom unit and the two one-bedroom apartments currently are not.
“We’re just kind of getting it out there,” Weir explained. “We weren’t exactly sure when the units would be ready.
“So this [open house] is what we’re trying to do–promote it.”
Accessibility modification also was made to the second-floor laundry room and to a one-bedroom unit over at Rose Manor.
McCormick noted if funding becomes available, the DSSAB may consider renovating more units.
But he also stressed that such a decision must be made carefully.
“We’ve got to watch,” he explained. “In this case, we actually lost an apartment–we took three and turned them into two.
“We’ve got to make sure we still have enough capacity in the district,” added McCormick, noting there is a waiting list to get into Green Manor.
Thursday’s open house drew a steady stream of people interested in seeing the renovated apartments.
“It’s very nice,” said Chris Lowe.
“It’s going to help somebody,” echoed Erma Armit.
“There’s a variety of needs in the community and there’s going to be a couple of happy people,” she added.
“It’s lovely,” agreed Anna Busch.
“Looks good. Lots of room,” said Rainy River District EMS deputy chief Chad Buist.
