Sometimes we don't realize how limited some people are until we become the person that is limited. I live in an apartment that is on the second floor, not a lot of stairs, but enough. It's hard to go up and down the stairs, especially when there is only one hand railing. I use the only handrailing, and one of my sons carry the walker up and down the stairs. If I use my stable based-cane, it has weight to it, but the base is a bit too wide for the stairs.
Even in my apartment, I can't use the walker because it doesn't fit in a lot of places, especially the bathroom. I can't imagine if I had to use a wheelchair. I do use the cane, and it is not always comfortable. A while ago, I fell on my right arm, inflaming all of the tendons in my arm (they called it tennis elbow, which strangely enough more people get it from something other than tennis than tennis players get it). It's something that takes time to heal, and you can't immobilize the arm, or it will freeze up, so you have to deal with the pain. Just as it started to heal, I fell again on it, and then a few days later, I fell again on it. Now, it is still painful, so I had to switch my cane to use it with my left hand, which is harder since I'm right handed, but it hurts too much on the right side. So, from falling, I got tennis elbow, at least three times.
OK, so I guess I am complaining. To be honest, I don't like where I'm living, and desperately have wanted to move for a long time. Now, it is more frustrating. It's harder to get in and out of my apartment, and the truth is, it never felt like a home. My son and I want to get our own place. We will become roommates, and be able to help each other. He is special needs, but more special than anything. One of my biggest supporters, and helpers.
So, I guess I'm saying that more places, including apartment buildings, should be accessible. Some buildings have apartments on the first floor, and can be accessible, but my apartment building doesn't really have a first floor. You come in the common area and go up or down. That's it. I'm not looking for change at my apartment, but I just want to find a "forever home" where I can live and no matter how much my dysfunction progresses, I'll be at home.
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