Adapting your home to meet accessibility needs can seem like a daunting task. However, making these changes can drastically improve your quality of life. Though it might need a bit of planning, accessibility adaptations don’t need to be excessively complicated, despite what you might think. So, here are 5 simple ways you can improve the accessibility of your home.
- Bedroom
Firstly, consider the placement of the bed in the room. There needs to be enough space along the side of the bed for easy access via wheelchair or walker. You also need to leave room for a turning circle.
If there is not enough space in your room for these needs to be met, consider moving the bedroom to another room in the house, or look into potentially adding an extension. This will ensure that you have enough space to allow you to be independent.
- Bathroom
For people that have mobility issues, what for many can be a tranquil space can instead be a rather stressful environment. Not only does the room itself need to be accessible, but more major adaptations may need to be made.
In terms of the bathing situation, the best option for many is a wet room, which eliminates the need to climb or be lifted over any uneven surfaces. Whether you opt for an accessible bath or a wet room, you should install grab bars on the walls for additional support.
Your bathroom must also be adjusted for going to the toilet. There should be enough room in your bathroom for a turning circle, allowing the chair or walker to be pulled up beside the toilet, and grab bars available for aid transferring. In case of an emergency, consider using the services of accessible WC alarm installers X to implement a cord pull alarm in case of any slips or falls.
- Kitchen
To adapt your kitchen, the key consideration is height. Those who are in a wheelchair will need to be able to access everything in the kitchen from their chair. This means lowering your counters and adding in knee spaces so that the chair can be pulled up to the surfaces.
You should also ensure that the key utilities, such as the sink and cooker, are suitable for your accessibility needs. Sinks may need to be lowered, and operate via a lever rather than a twisting knob; cookers may need to be single storey, and use induction hobs to reduce the risk of injury in the case of an accident.
- Access
Doorways and hallways need to be wide enough to comfortably fit a wheelchair through. The width should be calculated based on the width of the chair, plus enough room for manual wheelchair users to move their wheels without banging their elbows.
Level out any steps around the house, replacing them with level surfaces and ramps wherever necessary.
- Declutter
And finally, make sure that your home is free from clutter! Any clutter on the floor is just another hazard or obstacle that you will have to navigate, so make sure to put everything away after use.
When you are making the changes, the steps you take should be tailored to meet your personal requirements. However, with these ideas in mind, you will be better able to understand the ways in which you may begin.
