Crohn’s affects every area of your life. Crohn’s disease is even a consideration when renting an apartment. When a Crohn’s patient or the family of a Crohn’s patient is looking for an apartment to rent there are several factors that must be taken into consideration. It is important to keep these things in mind when renting an apartment.
Apartments are usually not long term housing, but whether you are renting an apartment for six months or a few years it is important to know what to look for in an apartment complex that will accommodate needs that are a result of Crohn’s disease.
Crohn’s and Renting an Apartment: What to Look for – 1st Floor Apartment
Realistically, the best apartment for an individual with Crohn’s is in a first floor apartment. There are too many mad dashes from the car to the bathroom to have to climb stairs.
Crohn’s patients are also subject to fatigue from their autoimmune disease and/or their medications. On bad days, climbing stairs may be tantamount to climbing a mountain.
Look for a first floor apartment. Use your handicap parking sticker to park close to your apartment entrance. If the complex offers handicap enhanced apartments look at those. You may find that access ramps, open doorways, open floor plans, and close proximity to parking make a handicapped apartment ideal for you.
Your doctor can provide you with the information you need to acquire handicap access parking licenses and handicap access cards.
Crohn’s and Renting an Apartment: What to Look for – Location of Apartment Complex
One of your first considerations when renting apartment is the location of the apartment complex. This is especially important for anyone with Crohn’s. Crohn’s is unpredictable and can incapacitate you with pain or bowel irritation suddenly. For this reason, it is important to look for an apartment that is located near your place of business, school, and other conveniences.
For a Crohn’s patient, this goes beyond a matter of convenience. It is important that anyone with Crohn’s be within a reasonably “safe” distance of their home at work, school, shopping for groceries, or purchasing gas. Crohn’s patients need to be able to seek refuge in their apartment on short notice.
A “safe” distance can only be determined by you, the Crohn’s patient. How quickly you experience the onset of symptoms, the frequency of flare-ups, and the severity of their flare-ups will dictate what you consider safe.
In addition to close proximity to your job or school make sure that you look for a hotel near groceries, shopping, restaurants, entertainment venues, doctors, and hospitals. The important thing to remember when shopping to rent an apartment is how well you, as a Crohn’s patient, can live and function in the environment surrounding your apartment complex.
Crohn’s and Renting an Apartment: What to Look for – Apartment Gates
Not only is the location important, but accessibility to an apartment complex is important. Does the complex have a place to stop and punch in a code? Will you end up in line behind people trying to get in when you are in a hurry to get to your apartment?
Look for a quick access entrance for apartment renters. There should be a remote controlled gate or bar which responds quickly and easily allowing you quick entrance. Crohn’s patients need to be able to by-pass a line of commuters taking their time punching in numbers and making calls from a phone box.
This may sound like a small thing, but it can make the difference between making it home to the bathroom in time and having an accident which may embarrass you as you dash from your car to your apartment.
Crohn’s and Renting an Apartment: What to Look for – Bathrooms in Apartment
When you have Crohn’s it is important to look at the number of bathrooms relative to the number of people living in an apartment.
A single bedroom apartment will have one bathroom. When looking at apartments look for a floor plan with a bathroom near the front of the apartment. You don’t need too far to go once you enter the apartment. The bathroom should also be easily accessible from anywhere in the apartment. If you have to navigate a grand maze to get to the bathroom, pass on the apartment.
Roommate floor plans usually have two bedrooms and two bathrooms on opposite sides of the living and dining rooms. This is an ideal plan if you, as a Crohn’s patient, will be sharing an apartment. It will give you the privacy you need and also ensures that there is always a bathroom available in the event of an emergency.
Crohn’s and Renting an Apartment: What to Look for – Accommodation of Amenities for Crohn’s
Renting an apartment usually has a few perks, like a gym, laundry facility onsite, pool, playgrounds, tennis courts, or volleyball courts. Crohn’s patients need to check out the amenities they are interested in using before signing a lease agreement.
Look for easy access to clean bathroom from the pool, gym, or laundry. Find out if the clubhouse or leasing office is usually unlocked and whether they have easily accessible restroom facilities.
As a Crohn’s patient you cannot afford to look at external perks and amenities alone. You must find out if the amenities meet your needs.
Crohn’s and Real Estate: What to Consider When Buying a New House – Find an Apartment You can Call Home
There are many things to consider when you, as a Crohn’s patient, are looking at renting an apartment. Don’t forget your need for peace and tranquility. Ask questions about the community environment of any apartment. You may enjoy kids and families, or need a quiet place. Getting into an apartment that does not make you comfortable, meet your needs, and suit your lifestyle will ultimately add stress.
You know stress can, and usually does, cause a Crohn’s flare up. Look for an apartment in which you will encounter the least stress. Find an apartment in which your needs will be met and you can be happy living and making friends in your community.