Those with rental properties may, at some point, rent to tenants with chronic pain. Learning how to serve this group is vitally important for your business and the longevity of your tenants’ stays, comfort, and relationships.
But how can renters consider providing quality service to this group of people? What can be done to enhance chronic pain patients’ comfort, safety, and satisfaction? Enhancing comfort for tenants with chronic pain is worthy of a renter’s time and consideration. Therefore, I would like to discuss some different ways that this is made possible.
How can apartments/homes be made more comfortable for chronic pain sufferers?
- Bedrooms—Bedrooms are a vitally important element of making a home more comfortable for chronic pain sufferers. Depending on the type of pain a tenant is suffering from, carpeting in these rooms could be a good idea.
Including room-darkening shades or blinds may also be necessary, as chronic pain sufferers tend to find sleep more complex than most. Making a bedroom dark to promote sleep is closely connected to making a room appear neat and clean for the sake of comfort. Creating a comfortable, inviting bedroom can help those suffering from chronic pain get a good night’s rest.
- Making things easy – Some renters require tenants to pay for their rent in person. Requiring someone with chronic pain to do such a thing may constitute an exception to this rule. Allowing such people to pay online or through the mail would surely lead to an increase in comfort. As a landlord, you could consider going to the tenant instead of having them come to you to collect rent. Even if such a scenario may not apply to you, perhaps there are other ways you can make life easier for your tenants, as seen in the previous example.
- Scenery – A well-lit home, carefully chosen paint, and beautiful, clean windows could also lead to a more comfortable setting for chronic pain sufferers. Experiencing pain throughout the day can be nothing short of torturous. It is important to think of ways to make life easier and more enjoyable for tenants with chronic pain.
Choosing paint wisely can help lift spirits. Being in a bright home rather than a dark one can also help to aid in happiness and comfort. The ability to look out of windows and see the world can also assist chronic pain sufferers in getting their minds off the pain and onto more uplifting things. If your rental has a patio or deck, you may want to think of additional ways to make it comfortable, such as railings, carpeting, roofs, etc.
What types of aides do chronic pain sufferers need in their homes?
- Exercise—One of the most beneficial activities for people suffering from chronic pain is exercise. If you own an apartment complex, including a place to exercise, serving this group of people could be a good idea. If you own rental homes, you may want to consider ways to include an area for exercise in your home. For instance, if your home has a basement, putting a treadmill or stationary bike in it might be a good idea.
- Handrails – Chronic pain patients often struggle to walk or maintain their balance well. Not only that, if someone suffering from chronic pain were to fall, the results are usually worse than if someone with good health were to fall. As a result, handrails need to be installed to accommodate chronic pain sufferers. Handrails for stairs, both inside and outside the home, are a necessary aid.
- Ramp installation – Making doorways easily accessible is also important to consider when renting to those who may have disabilities related to their chronic pain. Indeed, if someone is in a wheelchair, installing a ramp would be necessary to rent to such a person. However, ramps go well beyond serving people who are in wheelchairs. Ramps are also more accessible to walk on for those suffering from chronic pain and could be a wise choice to construct outside your rental’s entrance if the doorway is not easily accessible.
Authored By Brittany Cotton
Published by International Pain Foundation, iPain Blog, Team iPain
