There is a wide range of home improvements that can be made to make your home more accessible for an elderly or disabled individual.
Living with a disability poses a series of challenges, especially if the disability limits mobility. If you or your loved one is living with a disability that limits mobility, it is important to adapt your home.
Even if the person with the disability is a relative that visits often, having an accessible home will make their visits more comfortable and stress-free.
There are many small improvements that are inexpensive yet can make a big difference. Alternatively, you may have to remodel parts of your home, such as the kitchen, to improve accessibility and make it a comfortable and safe place to live for anyone with a disability.
If your home is on the smaller side, it may be best to add a Modular Home Extension, which includes a fully-accessible bedroom and wetroom. The wetroom can be tailored to meet the needs of those with profound disabilities that need the use of a hoist and other features.
Here are the most popular changes to make your home more accessible:
1. Install Ramps
Installing internal and external ramps is a simple way to make your home more accessible. Ramps make it easier for those with wheelchairs and walking aids to enter and exit your home. They are also convenient for seniors with low mobility.
The cost of Accessibility Ramps ranges from £100-£500. In the UK, government grants may be able to help cover the cost of home improvements to disability adaptations.
2. Add Offset Hinges To Door Frames
Adding offset hinges to doors is an inexpensive way to add a few inches to each doorway. In many cases, this extra few inches is enough to make the doorway wide enough for wheelchair users. The cost of heavy-duty offset hinges ranges from £10-£15.
If the doorway still is not wide enough for a wheelchair user to comfortably get through, you may need to widen the doorframe.
3. Think Carefully About The Furniture Layout
Something as simple as the furniture layout can make a huge difference when making your home more accessible.
Try to ensure there are wide walkways in between furniture and remove any ornaments or furniture pieces that may cause obstruction.
A wheelchair user should be able to manoeuvre from each room in the home seamlessly and without hazard. Aside from providing more space, decluttering your home and removing some of its furniture can help ease stress.
4. Consider Hardfloor Surfaces
Plush carpets feel and look great, but they don’t always make things easy for those with low mobility. Using a walking aid on a carpet can be challenging and may even increase the risk of falling.
Hardfloor surfaces, such as wooden flooring or tiles are a much better option to make your home more accessible.
5. Choose Door Handles Over Door Knobs
For people with dexterity issues, having knobs on doors, cupboards and wardrobes can prove to be tricky. Swapping door knobs for simple handles makes it much easier to open doors and cupboards. Internal door handles can be purchased from as little as £8-£20.
6. Ensure The Bathroom Is Disability-Friendly
Without an accessible bathroom, a disabled or elderly person will find it difficult to use the toilet and bathe safely and comfortably.
Depending on the needs of your or your loved one, making your bathroom more accessible may just be a case of adding grab rails and securing a bench or seat in the shower cubicle.
7. Make The Stairs More Accessible
Adding a grabrail to both sides of the staircase can make it much easier for disabled and elderly individuals to get up and down the stairs safely.
Alternatively, installing a stairlift may be a better option for those that use wheelchairs or walking aids. Again, funding may be available in the UK to fund a stairlift installation.
8. Consider Smart Home Installations
Living with a disability or mobility issues, small tasks such as opening the blinds, turning on the lights or adjusting the heating can be tricky.
Thankfully, smart home installations can make things much easier. Using an app, remote control or even voice control (ideal for those with dexterity issues), you or your loved one can easily carry out simple daily tasks.
Photos by Spacejoy on Unsplash
