When a loved one gets sick and is unable to fend for himself/herself, it is basically up to you and the rest of the family members to help and pitch in whenever you can. However, there will always be a time when you and the rest of your family won’t always be available to help out, so it’s also important to make sure that your house is modded or built to assist people with reduced mobility when it comes to their daily activities.
There are actions that will be very easy for you to undertake, but for the people that need to move with a weelchair or crutches, those actions present a considerable problem. That’s why you must organize your home letting them move around the house by their own. If you’re looking for ideas on how to make their everyday routine more comfortable for them, here are some of the best ideas on how to modify your home to make things easier for everyone.
1. Putting a ramp
Just on the entrance of your house. That’s the first thing that you should bear in mind. This will make it easier for people on wheelchairs and crutches when accessing the front door from the vehicle and vice-versa.
2. Special furniture for the kitchen
For people with disabilities but are still eager to cook, a good kitchen space with lots of room for movement is ideal. Never place obstacles in between because this will make it difficult for wheelchairs and crutches to move about.
Also, notice that the furniture found in the kitchen do not have sharp edges at all. This is to avoid body injuries as the disabled person moves from one place to the other. Rounded wooden counters are perfect examples for this type of furniture. And it must have the suitable height for them, of course.
3. Place an electric stair climber
The width of the staircase should be spacious enough to install an electric stair climber. Because you will really need that useful invention to help a disabled person climb up and down the stairs comfortably.
4. Remodel the bathroom
When modifying your bathroom, always remember to keep the sink at a suitable wheelchair height. This will make it more comfortable for them when washing their hands after using the toilet. Hand grip bars are a must. Make sure these are installed near the toilet seat itself, near the sink, and the bathing corner.
5. Living room is not an exception
The same rules for the kitchen should also apply in the living room. There should be ample space for a wheelchair to move about and furniture should not be in the way while the disabled person is moving. The floor should also not be too slippery. Finally, make sure that furniture found or placed in the living room do not have sharp or protruding edges that may cause bodily harm towards a disabled person.
6. Everything at the right height
Plugs and electrical switches should be installed at a height where the person can comfortably reach without having to exert too much effort. Install wireless appliances instead inside the room, like wireless phones and chargers. The minimun heigh where switches can be placed is at 40cm, taking into consideration that the maximum is 140cm.
7. Be careful with the soil
Make sure that the soil is firm, not loose. Loose soil is a terrain that is a no-go for wheelchairs. Let’s be practical, forget your taste for aesthsetics.
8. Install sliding doors
Sliding doors make it super comfortable for disabled people to walk in and out of a room or house. When installing sliding doors, you have to pay attention to the handles: they must be low enough for a person to hold while sitting on a wheelchair. You must pay attention to the fact that in front of a door a weelchair must be able to make a circle of 120 cm in diameter with no objects that disturb that movement. The width of the walkway must be of 90 cm.
If you take into consideration these ideas when it comes to living with someone with reduced mobility, things should be much easier for all.