How to Make Your Home Accessible for Wheelchairs

Whether through age, illness, or disability, becoming reliant on a wheelchair paves the way for considerable changes to your way of life.  The same four walls you’ve live in all your life can become a prison. Something as simple as getting from your driveway to your front door can become a challenge if you’re in a wheelchair.

Making your home wheelchair accessible is extremely important. You want to feel happy and safe at home if you are choosing not to move into a assisted living or a nursing home, and improving the access doesn’t have to be difficult.

Here, we’re going to share some of the ways you can improve the disability access of your home:

External accessibility

Gravel driveways might look attractive, but they’re just not practical for wheelchair accessibility. Instead, invest in a paved pathway that is wide enough for your chair. Make sure it is firm, level, and has edging to prevent plants from growing across the path. You should also consider moving your mailbox to a more accessible point; you don’t want to make the simplest task a real challenge.

Carpets, rugs, and non-slip floors

Maneuvering around your house in a wheelchair is much more complicated if you have loose carpeting and rugs. Wheels can get stuck which can be dangerous for everyone involved. To combat this, make sure all your carpets are fitted securely and all rugs are removed. For bathrooms and kitchens, install a non-slip floor. Wet flooring is a real hazard, and this type of flooring will help prevent your wheelchair from slipping.

Clear doors and hallways

Wheelchair accessible homes need wider doors and hallways to ensure safe movement. There are a number of laws and recommendations in place referring to the size of door openings and hallways, so make sure your property complies. You should also make sure that your rooms are designed so that you can get in and out of rooms easily.

Re-evaluate your bathroom

There are a number of simple but necessary changes you should make to your bathroom to make it wheelchair accessible. For example, you should first think about installing automatic sink fixtures. These operate on a sensor system, turning on when your hands are under the sensor, and turning off when they’re removed. You should also think about installing hand rails and nozzle-style showers for added accessibility.

Install ramps

Wheelchair users will need accessible wheelchair ramp systems installed in and around their homes to gain full access. Make sure you purchase a professional model – and have it fitted correctly – so you know it is safe and secure. If you have an external ramp installed, make sure that it is protected from the elements. Wet or slippery ramps are a health hazard for both the wheelchair user and anyone else in the house. Consider purchasing non slip treads for your ramp.

Simple Changes for Accessible Homes

These are some simple changes that won’t affect the appearance of your property, but will make it much more wheelchair-friendly. Finding yourself reliant on a wheelchair is a big and often upsetting change. By making these changes, you can make the transition as smooth as possible.

 Many thanks to our guest blogger for the helpful tips.  Do you have any tips to add? Please enter them in the comments below.

For more information on accessible wheelchair ramps and other related items like grab bars contact us at Handi-Ramp at 800-876-RAMP (7267).