If you are new to life in a wheelchair or have a loved one either moving in or adapting with a handicap, making your home mobility accessible is going to be high up on your list of home projects.
There are over two million wheelchair users living in private residences in the United States.
Having a home that you and your loved ones feel comfortable, safe and at ease in is really important! If you’re transitioning your home to become handicap accessible, hopefully this guide will be of help.
Doorways
- The standard house’s doorway is going to be anywhere from 24 to 27 inches wide. With a wheelchair, 32” doorways will allow for more comfortable passage. In tighter areas where you may need to turn your wheelchair, 36” will be a safer bet.
- Look into purchasing portable metal ramps. This can help when a step is required to enter or exit a doorway. Check out Lowes.
- Automatic door openers, while costly, can also be a great idea. Try Stanley Access.
- Installing door handles in the place of doorknobs can make opening doors much easier.
- Installing swing away or offset door hinges to make sure the door opens wider than 90 degrees may also be helpful.
The kitchen area
- Your kitchen sink can be modified to be shallow, and room for a wheelchair can be incorporated. Installing a single lever control can be helpful as well.
- Countertops can be lowered to 30”. (The standard height is 36”.) Installing countertops that are half a foot lower will make your way around the kitchen much easier.
- Purchase a stove with the knobs towards the front, rather than the back.
- Keeping your microwave on the countertop as opposed to back in the cabinets will make it much more accessible.
- Installing a Lazy Susan is easy and is a great place to store important cooking items in an easily accessible area.
The bathroom areas
- Cabinets below your sink can be removed to allow your wheelchair to tuck nicely underneath it.
- Installing bathtub and shower grab bars, as well as tub transfer seats that allow people to sit while in the shower or bathtub, are so important for safety reasons. This is a must! Roll-in showers can also be installed in order to allow you to get clean in your waterproof wheelchair.
General accessibility
- Re-arrange your furniture in order to have minimal obstruction and open up more space.
- If you live in a two-story building, replacing your stairs with concrete or aluminum ramps is a long-lasting, durable and cost-effective way to make your home’s entrance wheelchair accessible. Installing a vertical platform or stairway lift to access each level of your home may also be helpful.
Research, research, research!
Doing your homework on making your home as mobility accessible as possible will help make this process less overwhelming. Any home renovation or remodel can be stressful and expensive, especially when you’re making necessary changes to improve the quality of life for you or a loved one.
Below are some great resources to check out:
adaptiveaccess.com/home_changes.php
blog.caregiverpartnership.com/2012/06/8-tips-to-make-your-home-wheelchair.html
home.howstuffworks.com/home-improvement/remodeling/how-to-make-your-home-handicap-accessible.htm
Are you in search of a handicap accessible van?
Classic Vans offers a huge selection of high-quality new and used wheelchair vans. We are committed to locating the perfect van for you or your loved one living with a disability. Check out our website at www.ClassicVans.com, or call 866-370-8222. We have been family-owned and operated for 30 years in the San Francisco Bay area.
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