According to Tim Anderson, father of Kyle Anderson, the legal term for Kyle’s status is “protected adult”.  This appears to mean that he requires 24/7 care and immediate response from police/fire fighters/medical emergency personnel.

He has brain injury.  He has limited peripheral vision, hearing aids in both ears, very limited use of right arm and leg.  He experiences pain more acutely than you or me.  He has a limited vocabulary of 25-30 words.  He has problems maintaining his balance. His needs require someone to be onsite with him 24/7. 

For all these reasons, we developed a plan that creates 3 suites in Kyle’s home.  The largest is for his father who is doing the major lifting in caring for his son.  Since moving into this home, he has camped out in the living room so he could be physically close to where Kyle was at all times.  Plus there just wasn’t any other bedroom/bath location for him.  As Kyle has progressed in his therapy, Tim can now feel comfortable moving to the lower level where we can create a true “caregiver’s suite”.  It will include bedroom, sitting/office and bath.  In the event that the father physically cannot or chooses not to care for Kyle, the space could easily fit the needs of another adult or a couple.  This suite opens into a lower level family room, which, if incorporated into the caregiver’s suite, would make an entire separate apartment possible.  The family room is also available for Kyle or Matt and their friends while still leaving private spaces for Tim.

The second suite on the main floor is for Kyle’s brother Matt.  He now shares a shower with Kyle and uses the “showerless” hall/guest bath for his personal space.  He has moved home to help with the care of Kyle but is starting his own business, which requires some office space.  By adding a door in the hall, this area becomes a small bedroom/office/bath combination.  Again, it could be used by an active or part-time caregiver in conjunction with someone living in the lower level suite.  This will give flexibility to persons caring for Kyle in his home.

The Andersons purchased the current house because the master bedroom and bath worked well enough for Kyle.  By making some changes, it works better.  Space has been reallocated to Matt’s office space.  The shower is sized so that Kyle can reach a grab bar from any position while standing under the showerhead.  We will build in a shower bench with a handheld shower so he can sit if he feels the need.  The toilet has been moved so a future grab bar could be installed on his left side if he needs it.  The closet is minimal because he has only a couple things he hangs up which include his Marine uniform.  Kyle is adamant that he retains his large dresser for his folded garments.  We are changing the passage door to bedroom and bath to 3’0” and maintaining wheelchair radius turning space within the bath should this ever become necessary.

On the exterior, Kyle has asked for two things.  One, could he have the steps off the deck moved from exiting the side of the deck to existing from the rear of the deck.  The side yard slopes to the walkout level and he has problems navigating this hillside. Two, he wanted a front porch so he could sit and watch all the ballgames that are played across the street in the park.  We are incorporating this new porch with the existing front stoup/sidewalk overhang into a new gable roof that is being added to the flat roofed garage.  We will ramp the entry sidewalk to make it easier for Kyle also.

An open floor plan has been designed to allow people important to Kyle to visit him, including friends and family.  The entry, living room, kitchen and dining room will all be part of this open plan.  The dining room will house the pool table that is popular with Kyle’s friends.  Tim continually strives to create a place where Kyle’s buddies will come to spend time with Kyle and have something to occupy them in Kyle’s home without retreating to his bedroom or having to go somewhere else to hang out.  The open floor plan will allow for pool and dart games in the dining room, poker games/eating at the kitchen island and lots of space to gather and watch football on the TV in the living room.

We are also moving the entry closet into the existing garage for a couple reasons.  It certainly opens the area up visually but also allows entry from garage into house without having to go outside. 

We will be installing hardwood flooring throughout the main level.  Having to maneuver over various floor surfaces is difficult because Kyle drags his right foot.  Due to his balance issues, he spills a lot and the flooring will be easier to keep clean than the existing carpet. 

The kitchen has some special adaptable ideas for Kyle.  Upper cabinet shelving pulls down for easier one-handed access.  The dishwasher is raised so he doesn’t have to bend over as far.  A pull out shelf is place directly below the microwave as a “drop zone” for hot items.  Drawers and rollouts will be the norm for storage.  We are looking to get a smooth cooking surface, ideally an infrared unit for safety and maintenance.  Tim has asked for a bottom freezer and an icemaker.  Kyle is not able to get ice out of a standard tray with one hand.  The island will be one level at 36” so Kyle will always have his feet firmly planted on the ground and not climbing onto a higher stool.

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