How to Do it Yourself Wheelchair Modifications for the Home
Accommodating a wheelchair-bound person often requires the modification of a living environment designed for able bodied people. Common home features such as bathrooms, doors and beds will need to be modified. Thankfully, many of the modifications can be done on one's own without having to implement expensive remodeling. This allows the handicapped person to use the home with relative ease, despite his inability to walk or stand, instead of having to move to an assisted living facility. Does this Spark an idea?
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Instructions
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Doors
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1
Check that the doors of your home are at least 32 inches wide, as the standard wheelchair is about 27 inches wide. If not, widen the doorway.
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2
Cut through any paint and caulk along the edge of where the door casing meets the wall with a utility knife.
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3
Use a wide putty knife and curved pry bar to loosen the trim.
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4
Measure how much you want to widen the door, and mark the edge of width on the wall with a pencil.
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5
Put a hole in the part of the wall you want to remove, and check for wires.
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6
Cut out the door frame with a saw on the side you want to enlarge, and knock out the part of the wallboard that needs to be removed. If the doorway has a door, remove it.
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7
Screw in a new door frame and wall board. If you want to add a door, add a wider length door to the existing door hinge.
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8
Paint the wall board and door frame if necessary.
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9
Install a ramp if the door leads to the outside of the house.
Bathroom
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10
Check if the toilet in the home's bathroom is small enough that a person on a wheelchair could use it without leaving his chair. If it is not, replace the unit with a specially sized toilet.
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11
Add handrails to the bathtub so that the person can transfer himself in and out of the tub to his wheelchair. If this is too difficult for the person, see if a roll-in shower can be installed with a hose nozzle.
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12
Check if the bathroom sink is low enough that the handicapped person can access it without leaving the wheelchair. If not, remove the existing sink and install one with a lower height.
Kitchen
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13
Check if the counters are too high to be reached by someone in a wheelchair.
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14
Check if all the sections of the refrigerator can be reached from a wheelchair. If not, a unit with a smaller height may be more convenient for the handicapped person.
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Install counter base cabinets so the handicapped person can easily reach them.
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Tips & Warnings
Doors of all types are difficult to open and close for people in wheelchairs, so consider having the minimum number possible in the house.
References
- Photo Credit wheelchair access sign image by Gina Smith from Fotolia.com
