15 Best Ways to Make Your Home Accessible for Handicapped People

More than 56 million individuals in the United States have some form of physical handicap. Here are 15 methods to make your home accessible for handicapped people, whether someone requires home assistance in the kitchen and bathroom or extra space to push a wheelchair about the house.

Your or your loved one’s disability-related conditions and circumstances will determine the kind of changes you can make around your house. Modifying your home may not always be the best or only choice for you. Perhaps you could consider moving to a different house that better meets your needs.

This article will tell you about 15 different ways to make your home accessible for handicapped people.

Top 15 Methods to Create a Safe Handicap Accessible Home

Here are some creative ways to make your home accessible for handicapped people:

Maintain a minimum turning radius of 5 feet

In most cases, a minimum turn radius of 5 feet is required. In certain circumstances, Rosemarie added, a 6-foot radius may be required for larger wheelchairs, although eventually, you’ll want to be able to spin 360 degrees.

Make your doorways widen

Many wheelchairs and walkers are too large to fit through entrances. Widening doors can be an expensive project (up to $1,000 in certain situations), but you can add a few inches of the room by using offset hinges to assist swing the door clear of the opening.

Make a Ramp

Building a ramp to a doorway will benefit everyone with mobility issues, not just those in wheelchairs. You’ll probably need a permit to build a ramp, so check your local building regulations before starting.

Add Grab Bars

With grab bars in the bathroom, particularly around the toilet and shower, you will have more stability. Almost everyone’s grip works with a bar with a diameter of 1-1/2 inches.

Set up a Riser

A toilet riser can help individuals who have difficulty bending down, standing up still, and simply sitting. Risers are available in many pharmacy stores for less than $50.

Add steps to your showers

Bathtubs with high sides might be difficult for individuals with mobility impairments. Consider turning the room into a step-in shower instead. Build a shower bench to provide additional support.

A shower chair or shower bench installation

A shower chair or seat is also plainly required for disability showers. Many individuals love the folding benches and chairs installed on the wall. It is easier to put up and offers plenty of space. If you cannot make permanent physical improvements to your property, this is an excellent method to build a handicap-accessible flat.

Reconsider your flooring options

Rugs and thick carpets may be challenging, not just for individuals in wheelchairs and walkers. However, rugs and carpets can also increase the danger of tripping for everyone. Instead, you can reconstruct your floor with hardwood, vinyl, or ceramic tile flooring.

Use a stair chair lift

Houses with more than one floor might be difficult to climb for individuals with restricted mobility. A stair chair lift allows a mobility-impaired person to go between levels rather than being restricted to living on a single floor. This improvement is a bit pricy. Nonetheless, it goes a great way toward enabling a disabled person to live at home and stay independent.

Make your kitchen more accessible

Those wishing to make their houses handicap accessible may need to make some alterations to their kitchen. Organize items close to the sink area and countertops to make activities easy to do. Place frequently used goods in lower cabinets for easy access.

Bring down your closet rods

It may be easier to reach clothing if closet rods are lowered. In addition, those in wheelchairs will benefit from about 2 feet above the floor.

Change the knob handles

Doorknobs and faucets that need turning to be opened or turned on can be difficult for individuals with poor dexterity and hand coordination. Therefore, lever handles should be used instead of circular doorknobs and faucet handles.

Reconsider furniture positioning

Make a pathway of at least 32 inches between furniture items to allow easy mobility. It may also be necessary to lift furniture to enable specific individuals to sit comfortably. This can be accomplished using furniture coasters or little pieces of wood fastened to the legs of the table.

Consider buying a side-by-side refrigerator and freezer

Think of buying a side-by-side refrigerator if you need to replace yours. Then, you can get to everything in that fridge and freezer more easily. A fridge or freezer is accessible to at least half of amputees, although some shelves may be inaccessible.

Allow for knee space behind sinks and countertops

Rosemarie had to consider the space her legs and chair would take up as she rolled up to her sinks and worktops to utilize them. Even a lowered counter is useless if there is no room beneath it. Remember this in your home’s kitchen, bathroom, laundry, and office.

Conclusion

When a person’s mobility is limited, the capability to move in and out of their house becomes a handicap and a significant component in their quality of life. If it is challenging, they may become prisoners in their own homes. On the other hand, if it is simple and convenient, people will be more receptive to new methods to keep active and ensure a safe and healthy social life. Along with making your home handicap accessible, you need to think about making it safe to enter and depart. For safety, building rules often mandate two points of egress.