When you start having to live with a family member and close person in your life, you find your perception of everything around you shifts, especially if your loved one is mobility impaired. You could be looking at the sidewalk, intersection, storefront, many differing places whose accessibility is poor. While you cannot do anything for accessibility in public space, you can work to ensure that your home is handicap accessible. Some features such as hallways and stairs are neigh impossible to navigate with a wheel chair, but there is plenty that you can do to make the home more accessible.
The number one issue to keep an eye on is safety, especially for those confined to a wheelchair. First issue to consider is living conditions. The bedroom needs to be on the first floor with easy access to the bathroom and home, and a easy way out of the home in case of an emergency. Each and every room of the home which should be accessible has to be able accommodate the wheel chair turning a full 360 degrees. Doorways have to be at least 36 inches in width, along with hallways needing to be 4.5 to 5 feet wide. It would be beneficial to have a minimum number of hallways which need to be traversed. This set of requirements will ensure that the mobility of your loved ones is not compromised while providing a safe environment.
Of all of the rooms that need attention in the home, the bathroom tops the list. This is where the most mobility and assistance is required, but this is where it is the most embarrassing to require assistance from others. It is for this reason that the bathroom should be designed for providing as much independence as possible. The biggest expense with the biggest impact is to provide a tub with a sealed door, which when opened allows entry by just walking. These wash tubs provide grip handles for easy support, allowing for unassisted entry and exit from the tub. These tubs also provide a bit of safety in that the door allows a quick release of the bath water to avoid drowning. You can also add grip handles above and next to the toilet for easier access. You can also try and find a sink at a lower level with mirror, to prevent your guest from needing to try and prop themselves up.
Around the home, it is very helpful to lower tables and keeping handy items at the lower, more accessible height. Items such as telephones, refrigerator handles, drawers of silverware, etc. should be accessible to someone in a wheel chair. Make sure also that there are ramps where the are stairs on the way into your home and within your home. All of these steps are designed to make sure that your home is safe and accessible to a guest. Other common sense items should also be addressed, but if any involve the space about your wheelchair bound guest, then be sure that he or she is comfortable.
Photo Credits: 1
Originally posted 2009-01-13 05:30:47. Republished by Blog Post Promoter
Related Posts -
Door Installation Instructions for Knocked-Down Pre-Hung Doors Doors are something in our homes that we often take for granted. On the surface they are fairly simple, but as with most things in the home they’re a lot more difficult to deal with when you’re doing it yourself. Below you’ll find some door installation instructions to help you...... -
10 Most Common Mistakes of DIY'ers Every year, thousand of homeowners pick up their tools and go to work on their homes. Unfortunately, many are not prepared for the projects they are facing and they may end up causing more damage. Here are the top ten mistakes that DIY'ers make when fixing or renovating their home....... -
The Official Rent-A-Husband Guide to a Safe, Problem-Free Home: Quick, Easy, and Effective Solutions for Do-It-Yourselfer Improvements and Repairs The company was founded by Kaile Warren Jr, who at the time had a car accident. It left him nearly homeless, sleeping on the couches of his friends whenever possible. It was at this low point that at he decided to start his rent a husband business. In 1996, a...... -
Installing a Pet Door Installing a unique door for your dog or your cat is a great way for you to make pet ownership a little simpler, because it will allow your pet to go out and come in at will rather than scratching at the door for your attention all throughout the day....... -
Timing Home Improvement Service Properly With the economy in the shape it currently is in, any money that you can save through the completion of handyman projects at home is definitely going to be welcome money at this point in time. That having been said, one way in which you can save money on different......
Related Websites - Electric scooters are a great solution for people with limited mobility One of the hardest things about growing older can be giving up your independence. As arthritis pain increases, you need a lot of help moving around, and so you may have to get a wheelchair. However, for people who live alone, a wheelchair is not a viable option since it......
-
Be here or there, control home with Nokia from anywhere Mobile phones giant Nokia plans move close to our home, empowering us to control entire house activities from anywhere, be it our bed, car or even if we’re out at work. Nokia is developing a smart home platform called Home Control Center, which will be the basis for next...... -
Different Types of Short Term Investments Short term investments are the most ideal form of investing if you want to invest over a period that is relatively short. Cash manager accounts make it possible to access your money whenever you need to. Fixed term deposit investments secure your money for the entire length of the term....... -
Surf, Skate, Wakeboard: Gear and Accessories The thrill and action of surf boarding, skate boarding and wake boarding takes skill, practice, and receiving a few bumps and bruises. It also requires good equipment, since no amount of skill can make up for a board past its prime. Choosing the right board is a matter of preference,...... -
5 Reasons Google Wave Is Not Ready I was fortunate enough to receive an invitation into Google Wave shortly after the initial 100,000 invititations went out last month. Initially, I was a bit overwhelmed and did not really know where to begin or what to do. Bwana was kind enough to engage in a real-time wave with......
- Wagon Wheel Chandeliers Home Lighting
- Bedroom Sets Bedroom Furniture Home Store
- Handles Pulls Doors Door Hardware Building Hardware Home Improvement
- Entry Sets Doors Door Hardware Building Hardware Home Improvement
Categories:
Bathroom, Bedroom, Doors, Handy Man, Project, Safety
Tags:
0 comments ↓
There are no comments yet...Kick things off by filling out the form below.
Leave a Comment