5 Ways to Make Your Home More Accessible

5 Ways to Make Your Home More Accessible

I love talking about everything to do with home improvements. Whether it’s making your home more aesthetically pleasing, or just overall having it somewhere that is a more efficient place to live, there is so much that can be done to improve any home. I’ve been looking up tips to make my home more accessible and I thought they would be useful to share. Here are five ways to make your home more accessible. 

Adjust your plugs and switches

Plugs and switches are generally installed at a standard height across all houses, but your home can immediately become more accessible by having a professional come in to adjust the heights of your plugs and switches, making them more easily reachable without straining. You could even take this a step further and get some smart plugs, which means that you can easily control your home by using your phone.

Home Lift

Most people have heard of a stairlift, but in my dream accessible home, I would take it one step further and have a home lift installed in my house. After reading about home lifts on Age Co Mobility, I know that this will be the best accessibility option for me. There are a number of sizes and styles available, which means that although having a home lift installed might seem like a large endeavour, it can actually be done with minimal disruption to your home. The benefit of the home lift is that you can consistently use your wheelchair throughout both the upstairs and downstairs of your home.

Walk-in shower or bath

Getting in and out of a shower or bath can be dangerous – it is a slippery surface that is made even more unsteady by the addition of water, therefore many people need assistance with getting in and out of the bath or shower. In order to increase independence and make your experience safer, a walk-in shower or bath is a must for any accessible bathroom. 

Door entry system

There are a number of reasons that a door entry system can be useful. Navigating the act of unlocking and opening a door when movement is difficult (for many reasons, including using a wheelchair or having a pain condition) as you have to move back and forth to be close enough to the door to unlock it, and then to allow space for the door to open. Turning a key can also present a challenge for some people. This is why using a door entry system can be incredibly useful, and with smart technology, this can even be controlled using your phone. 

Multi-level kitchen

If you are somebody who uses a wheelchair for some or all of the time, you might benefit from having lower countertops in your kitchen. Countertops of differing heights are useful for people who use a wheelchair and live with somebody who doesn’t, but also for ambulatory wheelchair users who may find it more comfortable to sit or to stand depending on the day. This allows you to be in more control of your environment, to tailor it to your needs on that specific day.

 

What are your top tips for making your home more accessible? Share your ideas in the comments below.