When living with a disability or someone who frequently uses a wheelchair, there are many additional factors to consider in your everyday life. Purchasing a reliable, handicap accessible vehicle is one such item that can make day-to-day living incredibly more comfortable.
When thinking about an even more serious purchase, such as a wheelchair-friendly home, the decision process is even more intense! Below is a list of items to consider when looking for a wheelchair friendly home:
Look for a good floor plan!
While all houses can be remodeled or renovated for wheelchair use, these changes can often be quite expensive. Finding a home with a floor plan that will require as little change as possible can save you some serious cash and aggravation.
When searching for houses, try to be aware of what a “naturally accessible home” would look like. Consider questions like:
- Is the floor plan an open concept? Open concept floor plans usually have more spacious main rooms such as living rooms and kitchens. Many have wider hallways and fewer tight corridors that make it difficult for wheelchair users to navigate. Open concept floor plans are really trendy these days. If you are looking for homes in newer communities, you are likely to find this type of layout.
- Are the doorways widened? A widened doorway is at least 32” wide or more. This will make it much easier for wheelchair to fit through.
- How many levels does the home have? Ranch style, one story houses tend to be easier for people with disabilities to reach every room in the house. Unless you find a home with an elevator or plan on having one installed, two-stories and split-level homes can be difficult.
Check out the kitchens and bathrooms!
The kitchen area and bathrooms are some of the most commonly used rooms in a house. Making sure these areas are extremely accessible will go a long way. If at all possible, look for a kitchen with cabinets that aren’t too high above the countertops. Using a kitchen and bathroom with low countertops will be more ideal.
Remember: Renovations and remodels are likely to be necessary in any home you find. Don’t get overwhelmed!
There are many ways you can modify your home to be more wheelchair accessible. The chance of finding a house in the area you desire that was previously owned by a wheelchair user is unlikely.
(Take a look at our blog titled Wheelchair Accessible Renovations for tips and ideas for how to accommodate your home.)
Fortunately, there are many others who have had to remodel their home in order to make it wheelchair friendly. Speaking with a health care specialist or checking out some of these websites can make your renovation a little less overwhelming.
- udservices.org/services/personal-care-independence/accessible-home-modifications/
- athomecontracting.com
Looking for a wheelchair or handicap accessible vehicle? Classic Vans, located in the San Francisco Bay area, offers a huge selection of new and used, minivan and full sized vans. Call us at (866) 370-8222 to learn more and ask about low-cost nationwide delivery.