I am an occupational therapist who has focused on planning accessible home environments for 30 years. If my client’s existing home cannot be modified appropriately, I often need to find another home that is a better starting point for renovations, e.g., a condo, or a bungalow with wider hallways and space for an accessible bathroom. The cost of these options is always an issue, especially if outside funding may be available.
When considering a new home, I consistently speak with Jeff Kerr about my client’s needs – to seek his advice, and often arrange a real estate search and documentation of listings and costs. Jeff knows the market very well, and what to look for in a property that will be further customized.
Jeff’s book “Barrier-Free Real Estate – Achieving Freedom at Home (2nd Edition)” is a brain dump of what he has learned about home accessibility over his 22 years in the field, along with extensive research done during the COVID-19 lockdown in the spring of 2020. I’m impressed by the depth of his knowledge, and his sensitivity to disability-related needs and issues. Jeff’s unabashed endorsement of people and products is helpful for sure, and can be used as the basis for your own discussions, research and analysis.
Although having a personal copy is ideal, “Barrier-Free Real Estate – Achieving Freedom at Home (2nd Edition)” is recommended to community occupational therapists (for reference and to loan to clients), seniors centres and public libraries in every community. If you already have a copy of the 1st Edition, I can tell you that the new version is worth buying too. There is new material in every chapter, and several completely new chapters (including accessible kitchens, home offices and gardening!), excellent colour photos, and an international initiative worth considering here.