The average home is not designed or built for a person with limited mobility.
Ergo, when someone who uses a wheelchair, or is older and has arthritis, needs to adapt their home, it can be a bit of a challenge for them. Of course, each case is different, and while all home adaptations should be based on need, for many people, there are some key areas to makeover to ensure accessibility.
So, what are those areas? Read on to find out!
Lifts
Residential lifts are not as unusual as they once were, and depending on where you live, you may be able to get financial help with installing one.
These lifts vary from being standard lifts to wheelchair lifts, which can make it simple to get from the top of the home to the bottom without assistance, helping a person to maintain their independence. If you are aiming to have a lift installed that can hold a wheelchair, you will need to check the weight of the chair and the limits of the lift, which can impact the price.
Ramps
It is easy to assume that a ramp in a home has to be a permanent feature, but this is not the case. There are many ramps which can be moved around to help with mobility as and when needed, or, if you are someone who uses a walker, a wheelchair, or has severe arthritis, it is worth looking into a permanent ramp outside your home, and around any internal steps.
Of course, these don’t have to look ugly or clinical! There are many ramp builders that can offer effective ramps that will match your home décor.
Wider Doorways
Slim doorways and hallways are a proverbial pain for people who use wheelchairs, and, while it may seem like an enormous deal to have to widen the space, it is not as complicated as you may think. For daily use, a doorway and a hallway in the home for a wheelchair user need to be 800mm, and anything under this can feel very cramped and can limit mobility and access to items.
Open Plan
The last thing you want in your home when you have mobility issues is clutter. So, when making over your home to accommodate accessibility, get rid of as much clutter as possible. Try to make the space open plan, remove any items on the floor that may be a slip hazard (think small mats, books, magazines), and ensure that there is enough space to move around without needing to contort or twist the body.
Grab Rails
Last but not least, grab rails are a core feature of any home that is aimed at those with limited or restricted mobility. Usually, they are confined to the bathroom and the toilets, but it can be worth installing them on stairwells, along with outside spaces, as you never know when someone may slip.
In short, you need to tailor the home to the person or people, but it never hurts to have a list to start from.