There are several reasons you might want to make your home more accessible. You might be doing it for yourself or someone else you live with. On the other hand, you might have a friend or relative who you want to feel welcome in your home. How you make your home accessible will depend on what sort of mobility issues or other requirements you might need to address. An accessible home for a wheelchair user is different from an accessible home for a D/deaf person. To make your home accessible, you need to think about what adjustments you can make.
Getting Into Your Home
The first thing that you might think about is how to get into your home. For anyone with certain mobility needs, one of the main obstacles that might be presented is steps or stairs. Getting from one level to another is tricky if you use a wheelchair or another mobility aid, or if you're visually impaired and use a white cane. One way to deal with steps and level changes is to install aluminum ramps. Ramps can be permanently installed, or they can be moved around. If you want one you can move, aluminum is a good choice because it's tough but lightweight.
Getting Around Your Home
Once inside your home, being able to navigate it is also important. Again, you might think about level changes, no matter how small they might be. Even the threshold from one room to the next can be tricky to get over for some people if it's not completely flat. You might consider things like a stairlift to get upstairs, or making sure there is enough space between furniture for a wheelchair. You might also consider widening doorways. Blind people may need everything to stay in its place, and for everything to be clean and tidy.
Being Independent in Your Home
Whether you're adapting your home for someone who lives there or someone who is a regular guest, it's a good idea to think about independence. What changes can you make to help facilitate independence in your home? You might have a flashing doorbell for D/deaf people, or you could ensure you have an accessible bathroom with grab bars. People with visual impairments can benefit from appliances and technology that makes noises, instead of relying on visual cues. There are lots of adaptations that can help with independence.
Feeling Comfortable in Your Home
Comfort can be a big thing to consider too. This could relate to seating and beds or even tables and other surfaces. Can everyone easily get in and out of a chair? If someone is a wheelchair user, is the dining table the right height for them? An adjustable bed might help to provide a better night's sleep. A walk-in bathtub or roll-in shower could be a good idea too. Even making it easier to do things like reach for something can help to make your home more comfortable.
Make your home more accessible, and you can make it more comfortable for yourself or someone else with accessibility needs.
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