If you or someone who lives in your home needs a wheelchair, it can prove challenging for them navigating the house without making adjustments. However, by making a few changes here and there, everyone living in your home can benefit.
The first step is to make your home wheelchair accessible. The entrance to the home can be tricky to work with, as the space available may be limited. The most convenient option would be to build a ramp for each entrance to the house. It’s important to consider the size of the ramp and size of the pathways that are needed; you should also consider adding non-slip surfaces and handrails. If a ramp is not an available option then you could alternatively install a vertical platform lift.
Another area that you may need to adjust to make your home wheelchair friendly is the stairs. Stairs can be one of the most challenging aspects of navigating the home in a wheelchair; luckily there are several options to make all floors accessible to everybody. Install a vertical platform or stairway lift at staircases around the house which can help grant the wheelchair bound individual a strong sense of independence.
You should also consider adjusting Doorways and Doorknobs. Doorways can be very challenging and not at all wheelchair friendly; this however can be countered by widening the doorways in your home. By taking the doors off, removing frames, or reversing how a door opens, you can turn the doorways into a safe and much more pleasant area to pass through for you and your family.
Door knobs can be altered to ensure all parts of your home are accessible, by simply lowering the doorknobs in your home you can make it easy to move through your house for wheelchair users. You could also consider installing some automatic door openers.
Another area of the home to consider is the kitchen; again there are many ways to make your kitchen more wheelchair friendly. You could lower the kitchen worktops, install appliances that are easier to reach, implement roll out storage units, you could also install a sink that has the space for the person to roll his/her wheelchair underneath it. Finally an adjustment of all power/ switches to more a convenient location provides a huge improvement.
The Bathroom, much like the rest of the home will require a wider door fitted. Lowering the curb of the shower or making the bathroom a wet room will also really help wheelchair users. Keeping the position of the toilet in mind should also be a priority, has it got enough space around it for wheelchair access? Like with the kitchen is there space for the wheelchair to fit under the sink?
Making your home wheelchair friendly can be beneficial to everyone who lives with you, and can also help make a wheelchair bound person more independent. Allowing everyone in your home to have a safe and pleasurable environment to live in. There are grants available for installing Disabled Facilities in your home, please contact us for more information.