How can we make an average house more accessible to someone with a disability in the most economical and affordable way?
Answers
My little sister,17, uses a wheelchair now, and our house is totally different. There’s a slight change on every small part of our house to keep her away from danger. We started from the stairs. We live in a detached house, so we don’t own many stairs, just two or three at the entrance. There are many portable ramps you can have in your place to transport easily by the disabled person on his own. But if you’re living in a semi-detached house, there are stairlifts installed on the handrail, or with the extra cash, you’re able to buy a special elevator.
A barrier-free bathroom was another move. Making your bathroom barrier-free is a must for the disabled using wheelchairs. This will create a safer place where the risk of falls is reduced.
People with disabilities cannot keep their balance in different positions. The safety frames will help them to keep their balance. It’s not a must to have it next to your toilet; place them in a different part of your house where you think it’s needed.
This last one needs no money, and it’s a hundred percent affordable. Change the layout of your home. Arrange the furniture so that people with wheelchairs can move around.
Finding a house that is accessible to someone with a disability is a crapshoot. If you need to make your home more accessible to a disabled loved one, here are some ways to make your home more disability-friendly:
• Doorways
Get a carpenter who can widen inside doorways; this is more cost-effective than moving to a new accessible house.
• Bathrooms
If the person is able to transfer in and out of the wheelchair to the toilet independently, then the restroom should be adequate.
• Enter way
You can add a ramp to most houses yourself as a solution for easy entry for a person with a disability. You can build a ramp with instructions and videos online to guide you if you are handy.
Last year we decided to make our home more disabled-friendly because of my dad. He doesn’t have enough strength to lock the door or turn the key. Therefore, we replaced our door with an automatic door opening system. In this way, my father can get in and out of the house safely and without difficulty. In addition, we have chosen wooden floors for their ability to provide a flat surface without resistance; they are cleanable and safe.
Remove or Re-Adjust the Steps Near the Entry.
Entering the house is often the first challenge that a disabled person faces. If your front door has steps, see if you can provide an alternate entrance, such as through the garage or rear door, for a person with a disability. If you couldn’t find any, you may have to build a ramp or find another way for a wheelchair to enter the house. Ensure you have an accessible bathroom and a bedroom on the first floor. The majority of the actual “living” areas where you sleep and use the bathroom are generally on the second floor in today’s houses. If you have a disabled family member, you’ll need to move to a one-story house or add a bathroom and bedroom on the first story to remove the need for stairs.
Increase the Width of Your Doors and Hallways.
You may need to widen your doorways and hallways to make your home wheelchair-friendly. Thirty-six inches wide doorways are ideal. Make sure your floors have a smooth surface so your disabled family member can move around more easily. Instead of carpet, you can use linoleum, wood, or tile. Since rugs may lead to slips and falls for someone with limited mobility, it’s best to remove them.
Redecorate Your Bathroom.
It can be the most challenging room in the house to make wheelchair-friendly, but it is achievable. As the first step, install grab bars near the bathroom area to make it easier for people to move from wheelchairs to toilets. Then, you should install Roll-in showers as well as a second set of grab bars.
Make Sure There is Enough Light.
Poor lighting can be dangerous for everyone in a house, but it’s riskier for the disabled. Ensure your ceiling has bright lights connected to a switch or voice commands.
Consider All Potential Obstacles.
Rethink the areas in the house that are difficult for a wheelchair to navigate. It can be a coffee table that blocks a path or a cabinet that’s too high to reach easily. Not all the objects need to be removed. Instead, you can move a few of the kitchenware to lower, more reachable cabinets.
My little sister,17, uses a wheelchair now, and our house is totally different. There’s a slight change on every small part of our house to keep her away from danger. We started from the stairs. We live in a detached house, so we don’t own many stairs, just two or three at the entrance. There are many portable ramps you can have in your place to transport easily by the disabled person on his own. But if you’re living in a semi-detached house, there are stairlifts installed on the handrail, or with the extra cash, you’re able to buy a special elevator.
A barrier-free bathroom was another move. Making your bathroom barrier-free is a must for the disabled using wheelchairs. This will create a safer place where the risk of falls is reduced.
People with disabilities cannot keep their balance in different positions. The safety frames will help them to keep their balance. It’s not a must to have it next to your toilet; place them in a different part of your house where you think it’s needed.
This last one needs no money, and it’s a hundred percent affordable. Change the layout of your home. Arrange the furniture so that people with wheelchairs can move around.
