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More than 56 million people in the U.S have a form of physical disability, according to a 2010 consensus. So, how do we make our homes, the place we reside for most of our life, nurture us no matter what. Ensuring that a home continues to be comfortable and a safe space for all is so important, and here are some ways you can make your home accessible and a welcoming place for yourself and those with disabilities.
Widen Doorways
Many wheelchairs and walkers are quite wide and may not be easy to maneuver through doorways. Widening doorways can be a costly job, but you can use some offset hinges to help swing the door clear of the opening to inexpensively add a couple inches of space!
Get an Aluminum Wheelchair Ramp
If getting in and out of your home is a challenge, fitting a ramp can help, especially if you have limited mobility and steps into your property! An ADA-complaint, non-slip, modular, solid surface aluminum wheelchair ramp is the perfect solution for your home. With a continuous handrail from the ground to your front door, an aluminum wheelchair ramp can help make your home more accessible for yourself and people with disabilities.
Add Grab Bars
Grab bars will help with stability in the bathroom - especially around the shower and toilet. A standard 1-½ inch diameter bar works for most people's grip.
Get Wide
Another way to make adjustments to your home is to make sure inside your home is also acceptable for wheelchairs. If you can, taking down walls between rooms can create a modern open plan look while also making it easy for wheelchair users to move about.
Depending on the needs of an individual with a disability, you may also want to lower your kitchen counters, sinks, stove, and cabinets so that the counters rise no more than 36 inches from the floor. Again, this can be done throughout the entire kitchen or just a section of it.
Moving important items to lower storage space can also be helpful, as can going with a side-by-side refrigerator rather than one in which frozen items or other top-shelf goods may be out of reach. Stoves with front-access knobs make them easier to operate while seated. Replacing the faucet with models that work automatically by touch or a wave of the hand can also make things easier for someone with physical challenges.
Use Technology
Thanks to many advances with the internet, it's now easier than ever to control devices around your home using your voice or a smartphone. Appliances like smart washers. Drivers. Crock pots, coffee makers, and ovens can all be operated from the palm of your hand with accompanying apps.
Voice control has also come a long way and makes it easier than ever for someone with mobility issues to control the environment with minimal movement. Smart hubs like google nest or amazon echo can be connected to locks, video doorbells, cameras, thermostats, and lights, all of which can be controlled by speaking to your hub!
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