How to Prepare a Home for Seniors or Disabled

As our population ages, more people than ever are making sure their homes can easily be adapted to their future needs. In fact, a new market is evolving for those people who are preparing to downsize from their homes to condominiums or rental apartments that takes this inevitability into account. Whether you are choosing to modify your existing home or not, here are some ways to prepare a home for seniors or the disabled.

Instructions

1. Make sure that every doorway is accessible by wheelchair. Most doorways into a home are designed to be 32 inches wide, while most internal doorways can be much narrower, making it impossible to go from one room to another by wheelchairs, which average 32 inches in width. The Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) calls for doors in public places to be at least 34 inches wide. Since you will undoubtedly be using a contractor, it is recommended that the opening be 3 feet wide, which will make the doorways easily accessible by wheelchair. Incidentally, while you are having the doorways widened, replace the door knobs with L-shaped handles as required by the ADA.

2. Install grasp bars in the bathroom that are designed specifically for the disabled or seniors. They should be 34 to 36 inches in height and be geared to make both the shower/tub and the commode easier to use. In addition, consider installing a pedestal sink that makes it more usable by people with special needs.

3. If possible, plan for at least one larger bathroom, preferably at least 6 feet square. Someone bound to a wheelchair will find it so much easier to use than one that is smaller.

4. Install appropriate flooring to ease the senior's or disabled person's ability to freely go about the house. Nonskid tile is preferable to carpeting because it is safer and much easier to use by a person in a wheelchair.

5. Reduce the height of the countertops in the kitchen to make them easier for the senior or disabled person to use. In many cases, this is easier said than done because such changes might include alteration of plumbing and backsplashes. In those cases, it might be advisable to build a service island in the middle of the kitchen and have it contain a sink and counter space that is no higher than 34 inches per the ADA requirement. Once again, don't forget to replace the handles in the kitchen to facilitate entry by the disabled person or senior.

6. Set aside one room in the house where all the shelves and cabinets can be accessed easily by the senior or the disabled person, thus extending that person's comfort and independence.