How to Make Your House Wheelchair-Accessible
Home should be the most comforting place for anyone---including disabled persons who must use a wheelchair in their daily lives. While some modifications to increase a home's accessibility are expensive, others can be done with little cost. Find out if the individual qualifies for any type of financial assistance. Places to check include the Department of Veterans Affairs, vocational rehabilitation agencies, workers' compensation programs, local churches, community groups (such as Lions Clubs or Shriners Clubs) or state and federal programs. Does this Spark an idea?
Other People Are Reading
Instructions
-
-
1
Walk through the entire home and make a list of areas where accessibility is an issue. Modifications needed will depend on the individual's mobility. Some modifications can be done after a simple trip to a hardware store, while others require a contractor's help. Consider ease of entrance into the home and through doorways, size of hallways, safety and convenience within bathrooms, accessibility to upstairs areas and the ability to reach frequently used objects.
-
2
Modify home entrances by eliminating steps to the front and back doors. The best way to do this depends upon the home. In some cases, you can remove a porch or small step, then make the home entrance and ground level equal. You may need to build a wooden ramp leading to the entrance. Create a ramp with concrete if sidewalk steps lead up to the home. Assistive Technology Partners recommends an incline of no more than one inch for every foot of length of a ramp. A steep ramp could cause a wheelchair to tip.
-
-
3
Widen all interior doorways. Assistive Technology Partners suggests at least a 32-inch opening, although you may need a wider opening, depending on the angle at which the individual is coming through the doorway and the structure of the wheelchair. Some power wheelchairs may need more space. A professional builder can make doorway adjustment easily.
-
4
Install grab bars throughout the home anywhere they would make daily life easier. These are bars that a person grabs onto to pull himself up. They are particularly useful next to toilets and in bathtubs. Other areas where they may be helpful include bedrooms and kitchens.
-
5
Remodel the bathroom to accentuate safety. Have at least one larger bathroom that provides enough space for a wheelchair. Discuss with a contractor how the bathroom can be widened. Install low countertops and sinks with open space at the bottom. Install a hand-held shower head for ease of bathing and a tub seat, roll-in shower or walk-in tub.
-
6
Install a stair lift, which allows the user to ride a chair up the stairs. Place a manual chair, walker or crutches at the top of the stairs. Lifts or elevators can also be installed. Consider moving the bedroom downstairs. This makes daily life easier and is also safer in case of fire.
-
7
Consider other extra modifications. Rearrange the furniture to provide more space. Make the laundry room accessible and install lower cabinets and countertops in the kitchen. Install a keypad door lock on the front door. This is more convenient than using a key. Raise furniture so that the legs of an individual in a wheelchair can fit easily underneath tables or desks.
-
1
