Introduction:
Over 5.5 million Americans use wheelchairs, yet less than 1% of homes are designed with wheelchair accessibility in mind. This case study explores how the innovative FlexStep by LiftUp helped transform a vacation beach home in Maui, making it accessible, functional, and stylish— without the need for extensive renovations.
The client’s goal was to modify her beach house to accommodate wheelchair users as part of a scholarship program for her clients. However, the home’s existing staircase between levels posed a significant barrier to achieving full accessibility.
As an occupational therapist specializing in home modifications, I’m always trying to solve the dual dilemma of form and function. The FlexStep by LiftUp fits the bill—a versatile 2-in-1 staircase and lift solution. This case study will analyze the health, utility, aesthetic, and economic benefits of this transformative modification.
Client Background:
Our client wanted to make her Maui vacation home wheelchair accessible, offering it as a prize in her scholarship program for clients with mobility challenges.
We were tasked with making the home accessible. The solution had to be both functional and visually appealing, allowing clients to enjoy the home’s amenities without compromise.
Before
After
Solution: The FlexStep by LiftUp
Our evaluation of the home identified the staircase between the upper and lower levels as the main obstacle to accessibility. Instead of extensive renovations, the FlexStep was chosen as an ideal solution due to its dual functionality as both a staircase and a lift.
Benefits:
1. Enhanced Accessibility
1. Seamless Integration: The FlexStep’s 2-in-1 design functions as both a traditional staircase and a wheelchair lift. This allowed individuals with mobility challenges to move between levels effortlessly, without the need for separate staircases and lifts.
2. Comfort and Convenience: The FlexStep’s adaptable design ensures that both wheelchair users and able-bodied individuals can comfortably access all areas of the home. With just a button press, the stairs transform into a lift, catering to a wide variety of users’ needs.
2. Improved Quality of Life
2. Autonomy and Independence: By empowering users to navigate their home independently, the FlexStep significantly enhances their self-reliance. This improvement in mobility fosters a greater sense of freedom and independence.
3. Instant Adaptability: The ability to switch between stairs and a lift instantly allows the
home to adapt to its users’ varying needs, ensuring ease of use for everyone.
3. Economic Efficiency
5. Cost-Effective Solution: The FlexStep merges two functions into one unit, reducing the need for expensive, disruptive home modifications or the possibility of having to relocate. The space-saving design also makes it an affordable alternative to installing both stairs and a separate lift.
6. Increased Property Appeal: Making the home accessible not only benefits the client’s business by broadening its appeal to scholarship recipients but also increases the property’s long-term value. This modification enhances both the functionality and desirability of the home, making it more marketable to future buyers or renters.
4. Aesthetic Appeal
Design Versatility: The FlexStep is available in a range of designs and finishes, allowing it to blend seamlessly into the existing décor of the home. It was an aesthetically pleasing addition, which fit the client’s vision without compromising the house’s original charm.
Conclusion:
This case study highlights how the FlexStep provided an affordable, practical, and stylish solution for making a vacation home fully wheelchair accessible. The 2-in-1 design allowed the client to meet her goal of making an accessible vacation home to share with her customers.
By installing the FlexStep, the client was able to offer a space where wheelchair users could live comfortably and independently, without the need for major renovations or costly alternatives. The FlexStep not only improved the quality of life for users but also created a more versatile, appealing property for future guests and clients.
If you or someone you care for is facing accessibility challenges at home, our team of home modification experts can help you determine if the FlexStep is the right solution for you.