Create a Wheelchair Friendly Home

It's too bad home planners of the past never gave a thought to designing an easily accessible 'wheelchair friendly' home. Sure, fitting as many rooms as possible within the least amount of square footage saved on the overall purchase price of a house, but tight bathrooms, narrow doorways, and sunken living rooms pose a real problem if a family member is confined to a wheelchair.

Many homeowners are now faced with the dilemma of remodeling their existing home to accommodate a wheelchair, or seek out assisted living facilities or nursing homes for a disabled loved one. Depending on the nature of the disability, most people fare much better if they remain in their home among familiar surroundings, but changes will need to be made to both the interior and exterior of the home for easy mobility.

Install Ramps

Install wheelchair ramps wherever possible at outside entrances and walkways. These can be made from wood, concrete, or the newer aluminum types, which are often portable. Thresholds should be kept to a minimum to allow the wheelchair to roll over them easily, and can sometimes be made smoother by placing a mat or rug over them. Just be sure the rug is big enough and securely held down so it doesn't slide. Handrails or grab bars along the ramps and thresholds are another good feature, so a wheelchair can be propelled along manually with the upper body and helped over the rough spots.

Widen Doorways Wherever Possible

Many older homes were built with narrow doorways, especially bathroom entrances. The doors are usually only twenty four inches wide, and need to be at least thirty two inches in order to fit most wheelchairs. Door frames can be widened easily enough, but even simply replacing old hinges with an expandable offset hinge will add two inches of clearance to any doorway.

Invest in a Wheelchair Lift

A wheelchair lift can greatly increase a disabled person's mobility within the home. Many homes are built on several levels, and that often limits a wheelchair to certain areas. There are many different styles and price options available today, and a reputable dealer will be able to help you find a solution to any accessibility problem you might have that can be solved with a wheelchair lift. In addition to your basic wall or floor mounted model, some units are portable, while some can be stowed beneath your vehicle to aid in getting in and out of the car.

And don't let the initial investment put you off - the cost of assisted living facilities has risen in the past few years, while the cost of a wheelchair lift has remained fairly steady in price and is well worth the investment.

While deciding whether or not you can remain in your home to accommodate a wheelchair can be a tough decision, just make sure you do the research and you will find many options available to help make your home 'wheelchair friendly.'