A home is a place that can be full of joy, energy, and life. But when it comes to living with limited mobility, a home can feel like a prison. If you or someone you love has limited mobility and moves around in a wheelchair, on crutches, or with other forms of assistance, it’s time to start thinking about what you can do to make your home more accessible. Many people with mobility issues have a hard time enjoying their homes. Here are some creative ways to make your home more accessible for a person who uses a wheelchair.
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1. Install Custom Double Barn Doors
If you want to make a home office or playroom more accessible, installing custom double barn doors is an excellent way to do it. Instead of squeezing into the room or using a small door that makes it hard to move around, you can install a wider entryway into the room that is handicap accessible.
There are many styles available from different manufacturers, and you should be able to find something in your price range to fit the style of your home. The wider opening will make it easier for wheelchairs to get through, plus the larger size is a great way to make a statement about how you want your home to look and feel.
2. Replace Stairs With Handicap Accessible Ramps
If you have stairs in your home, you can make it easier for a person who uses a wheelchair to move about the house and enjoy their space. You may need to do a little construction, but at the very least, consider installing an outdoor ramp from the driveway to the patio or porch. A ramp is not just for outdoor use. It can also be used indoors if there’s an entrance with stairs that are hard to get up.
Sometimes it will be necessary to go up or down more than one step if the doorways aren’t level. Wheelchair users might not be able to go up or down large steps one at a time, which is why installing a handicap ladder can also be very important.
3. Install Grab Bars in the Bathroom
No matter what bathroom you’re trying to remodel, installing grab bars in the right spots makes it much more accessible for people who use wheelchairs. If you’re planning on making any renovations in the future, this is a good time to install them, so they are ready when it comes time for a bathroom remodel.
Grab bars are typically installed inside the shower or at the top of the toilet. You may have to replace or reposition your toilet seat when installing grab bars, but they should be easy to install, and you can find smooth and stable handles, so they don’t cause accidents.
4. Place Handrails in Key Areas
Achieving a level and safe surface is important for people with mobility issues. That’s why adding handrails to staircases, ramps, and curbs is a great way to make it easier for someone to move around. Handrails are also great for added stability while standing or sitting on stairs or in other areas where they need extra support.
There are several styles of handrails that can be installed, from metal bars to curved metal railing bars. Again, you may want to take measurements of the home before choosing what type of railing you want to go with so it fits in your home and isn’t too heavy or expensive.
5. Install a Stair Lifter Lift
Installing a stair lift is a great way to make it easy and safe for someone to climb the stairs. It’s perfect if you have stairs in the house that are hard or impossible to climb when using crutches or a wheelchair. The stair lifter will provide an easy, safe way for someone to get from one floor to another.
There are many ways you can upgrade your home so that it is more accessible for people who use wheelchairs. Implementing these five tips will help make your home much more enjoyable and welcoming for everyone in the family. Whether you want to remodel a bathroom, install electric doors or install an elevator, there are many things you can do to make your home more modern and accessible for everyone who lives there.
