Home Modifications Address this Family's Unique Needs 

By, Erin Lauridsen

Home is usually a place we think of as a haven from the rest of the world. Inside our homes, we can customize things to meet our needs, and to express our individual personalities. But for Robert Meyer, home was not a place that met his needs. His home was dangerous, and a barrier to independence.

Robert Meyer is a husband and father who lives in Battleground, Washington. Because of Robert’s toxic brain injury, due to exposure to chemical toxins in solvents, he has seizures that sometimes cause him to fall. The layout of his home increased the danger involved in these falls.  Counters and cabinet corners had the potential to cause serious injury if Robert landed on them during a seizure.  Then one day, Robert’s worst fears became a reality.  He had a seizure, fell in his bath tub, and sustained serious injuries. Because of the type of seizures he has, Robert's body became very rigid and was unable to be moved by his wife until the seizure subsided.  She stayed with Robert, helplessly trying to keep him warm, while Robert laid with his injured neck on the rim of the bathtub, and his feet up the side of the shower stall until the seizure subsided.    It was clear that things had to change.  Otherwise, Robert could not safely shower or use the bathroom alone.

Robert’s wife Monica works educating parents and teachers about autism – a topic she is passionate about for both professional and personal reasons since the Meyers’ teenage son was diagnosed with autism as a toddler.   When she found one of WATF’s brochures at a conference, she brought it home.  Robert and Monica reviewed the information and decided to apply. 

WATF approved their application and the Meyers’ home is undergoing the modifications needed to make it a safer and more usable place for Robert and his family.  Their loan is financing the remodeling of two bathrooms. The first will have a roll in shower so that Robert won’t have to worry about falling while standing in the tub.  Counters and cabinets with sharp corners will be replaced by ones with rounded edges. The second bathroom will be redesigned to meet the needs of their son, for whom the sensory experience of a shower is a problem, and taking a bath is soothing on days when his anxiety is high.  Lighting and window coverings will be added to make the bathroom a quiet and restful place. 

Outside changes to the home include ramps and sidewalks allowing easy access to all entrances.  These changes will allow Robert to be safe and independent at home and to address the unique needs presented by his son’s autism.

Robert has only good things to say about his experience with WATF. Everything ran very smoothly for him during the application process, and he is excited to have the modifications finished. He says that these modifications won’t have to be adjusted. They should work for a “lifetime” for both Robert and his son.
Now, the Meyer home won’t be a place that is hazardous and limiting to Robert’s independence. It will be, as homes should be, a safe and comfortable place for all members of the Meyer family.