Things You Can Do to Make Your House Handicap Friendly

Making a house handicap-friendly doesn’t have to be an overwhelming task. There are some relatively simple things you can do to make your home more accessible for those with mobility issues. In this post, we’ll outline a few of them for you.

Keep in mind that making a house handicap-friendly is an ongoing process, so don’t feel like you have to do everything at once! More than this, it also depends on the individual in question, which is why this list is relatively broad. If you take it one step at a time, you’ll get there eventually. Thanks for reading!

Use Stairlifts

If you are living with someone that has limited mobility, one of the biggest challenges is stairs. Whether the person you are living with is bound to a wheelchair or they have suffered an accident that has left irreparable damage to the hips or knees, stairs can be an impossible challenge.

There are several small changes you can make that will have a big impact. One of the most important things you can do is to install an outdoor stair chair lift. This will give your loved ones the independence they need to get in and out of the house without assistance. 

Step-In Showers

Another challenge for many people who have limited mobility is normal showers. This is because normal showers usually have a relatively large step before you can climb inside.

If the person you are living with is suffering from mobility issues, then a great way to make the shower more accessible is to get rid of that step and make it a step-in shower. More than this, you can even add a bench inside the shower to make it more comfortable.

Rearrange Kitchen

One of the most challenging rooms in any household for someone who is handicapped is the kitchen. Most kitchens will have the sink on one end with the refrigerator on another, islands in the middle, and cabinets of varying heights. For someone who is handicapped, this can be quite the challenge.

Consider someone who has mobility issues needing to move around the entire kitchen just to make a sandwich. One thing that you can do to make your home more handicap friendly is to rearrange the kitchen in such a way that all of the appliances are in one area, and the cabinets are lower.

Add Ramps

One of the easiest things that you can do to make your home more handicap friendly is by adding ramps at all of the entrances and exits.

Stairs are, as mentioned above, an impossible challenge, especially for someone who is bound to a wheelchair. More than this, you should take a look around your home to find any areas that might be inaccessible for someone in a wheelchair. Adding ramps can make the biggest difference in the world. 

Have Your Doorways Widened

Another challenge that someone who is in a wheelchair might face in your home would be getting through your doorways.

Unfortunately, most houses were not built with someone using a wheelchair in mind and, as such, are relatively narrow. Because they are relatively narrow, most wheelchairs are unable to pass through them. If you are looking for a relatively simple way to make your house more handicap friendly, you could consider widening your doorways to allow access to rooms for someone who is in a wheelchair.

Grab Bars are Essential

Not only is walking a big challenge for someone who is suffering from mobility issues but keeping balance is also a major challenge when walking around a home.

One thing that you can do to make your house more handicap friendly is to add grab bars in areas where they are most likely going to be needed. These areas could include staircases in the bathroom, outside and inside the shower, and more.

Wooden Floor

Finally, the last tip on this list to make your house more handicap-friendly would be to consider the flooring that you are using. If you have never used a wheelchair before, then you might not know that some flooring, such as carpets, is not the greatest for someone in a wheelchair.

More often than not, the wheels get stuck, or it requires great strength to get the wheelchair moving. This means that if you want to make your home more handicap friendly, you should consider installing wooden flooring.