I can not agree with the McAfee praise I had horrible problems with it. Kaspersky is an excellent pay for AV program. I would never allow anyone on my pc to have admin rights especially kids they should all have very limited accounts and no access to the admin account that would stop a lot of the problems. I do all my bill paying online through my bank, I do it on my linux computer. I have not had any problems. Choosing strong passwords is essential also for any important sites and changing them from time to time is a good practice. Many banks are now considering offering free linux live cd's to their customers to do their online banking, when you put the linux live cd into the computer and boot from it you have access to firefox browser and can go online and do your banking while on the cd so that when you are done and you eject the cd and reboot to your regular windows all traces of what you did are gone. Very much like sandboxing. Here are some recent articles about this. I really urge people to pick up a linux live cd to have on hand they can be used for a lot of stuff, most all linux magazines you find in bookstores will have a free cd of some flavor of linux in it and you can of course burn one free online or order them for free. Can Ubuntu save online banking? Avoid Windows Malware: Bank on a Live CD E-Banking on a Locked Down (Non-Microsoft) PC

Rusty, no problem. I thought the survey would be more inclusive re: the disability factor, and not just about cookware. This might be tl;dr! If so, disregard! I consider my height to be a disability (not enough of it), but as I said, I designed my kitchen around that. I have a couple of lowered counters that makes chopping, rolling and seeing into a pot or bowl easier for me because of that. One chopping block pulls out from the counter, so I can sit and chop from a chair if I need to be off my feet. My kitchen and dining room chairs all roll, so I can move them around more easily. We took the 2-inch base off my range so it would be lower, which allowed me to finally see into my pots. The controls under the cooktop are on the front of of the range. My wall oven opens from the side, so I can access the back of it, making it easier for me to take things out of a hot oven, or clean up a mess inside. That particular oven is mounted at counter height, which is easier to get into without bending over, yet low enough for me to see into and access easily. The oven on my range (below the cooktop) has a shallow door, which make it easier for me to get into, and no window to clean. The light switches and plug outlets are all about waist high so they're easy to use, or incorporated into the back splash next to the counter. The sink closest to my range is on the corner, and open on two sides so it can be accessed from the island, or the cooktop. Tapmaster allows me to use two hands at the sinks (handsfree) so I can get a grip. Because the stove is low, I'm short and my husband is tall, we put more cfm's in the hood than is normally recommended so it would draw better because of the distance between the cooktop and the vent. It all seems pretty basic, but when you start looking at all the different equipment available, the differences are huge. Regarding cookware, because of arthritis I do have some very thin, lightweight stainless lined copper pans (vintage pieces), which allow me to toss the items together (without the need to stir.) I was fortunate to find some thinner, lighter vintage cast iron pieces which I also like, as the pan heats more quickly and at lower temperatures. As I mentioned though, I don't think it really makes any difference for the general population who doesn't really cook. Of course helper handles make total sense, as do lids and pots with cool touch handles, but that seems like a no-brainer to me.

I wanted to mention that if you are no longer able to use a stool to reach your cupboards, keeping open shelves clean and tidy is going to be an excercise in futility. I am thinking of my grandmother who was 5'0 and hampered as a result of polio. Her counters were *covered* in everything that would usually be in the upper cabinets and her open display shelves were always thick with dust. It bugged my mom but she was never rude about it, but after my grandma died my mom was talking to her sisters-in-law and they suddenly clued in: Grandma just couldn't reach those uppers cabs! Me having never realized their true attitude about it and being a teenager thought "yeah, no crap. That didn't take a genius to figure out" but I kept that in lol.

I am a CAPS Designer, and I have some concerns about your home plan. The first concern is translating a stock plan to a non stock site. The approach to the home, both the front door and the garage entrance, need to be assessed for elevation changes. That is a BIG issue when a home is not designed for the site on which it is built. This is where your architect or home designer needs the site plan showing the elevation changes, and then shows you how that will be handled regarding entry into the home. Ramps take up a lot of space because of the required rise and run. 1” per 1’. If there is 14” of elevation difference between your garage floor and interior surface, that needs a 17’x 9’ section just by itself, for the needed ramps, switchback platforms, and landings. That takes up an entire garage bay, and that is if it’s a traditional two steps into the home. There are platform lifts that take up less space, but they also need to be space planned into the home’s electrical etc. Getting into your own home, out of the weather, and with zero to minimal assistance is what creating a home that fosters independent living is all about. Your home should also accommodate visits from any friends and family who may also have mobility issues that could be more restrictive. That means assessing the front entrance as well. For the master bath, tall vanities are contra indicated. You need one at which you can be seated, with knee space, and scald protection. Since you are not seated full time, a split vanity with a taller one for your standing height, and the shorter one for a seated position are probably your best bet for varied abilities. The current plan with the toilet area has no room for a caregiver to assist. The shower is less than ideal as well. The entire master needs to be reworked. Definitely plan for a bidet toilet seat, plus room for an aide if needed. That clearance can overlap your shower area, and the clearance to turn with a chair as well. Combining needed clearances is how to keep the bath from becoming overly large, and still appear spacious and comfortable. Your closet should utilize the pull down double hung hardware available from many sources. I like Hafele. You need the 5x5 turning space in the middle as well, and a proper tall height mirror for seeing yourself standing and seated. Plan for blocking in all of your walls now, for potential grab bars if they are needed at a later time. Wet areas should have them now. They need not be unattractive and institutional. Many are available that look like towel bars and serve as that function. I’ve used them on ends of islands for those who may be just a bit unsteady, and they make great spots for kitchen towels. There are many ways to plan an accessible kitchen, depending on how you use your kitchen. If you cook, rather than your caregiver cooking, there are significant changes that need to be made to accommodate that activity, and I’d be happy to gone to more detail if you need. If you do not cook, and don’t plan to try, then a few smaller changes will allow you to be comfortably in the kitchen with the cook and your family. Widening the hallways has the unfortunate ramifications of taking space away from the already small rooms. I would suggest using the second floor space for the caretaker, as that would be much more private for them, and allow for better space distribution of the downstairs space to family space only. You could have less cramped rooms, and a better plan for everyone. I also have concerns about the designer that you are working with, and the obvious lack of experience in creating accessible space. I would suggest that they obtain the free Home Fit Guides packet from the AARP, as it is one of the best free resources on the market about creating an accessible home. https://www.aarp.org/livable-communities/info-2014/home-fit-resources-worksheets.html  I’m concerned that your project may be moving faster than your design. That is a precarious and expensive issue, because it results in change orders. I’d suggest that you involve better and more local assets in the design process. There should be CAPS individuals there, and your Occupational Therapist should absolutely be on your design team. Good luck, and thank you for your service. Slow down to go fast. Get it right the first time.