Whether you are caring for a disabled senior parent, a disabled spouse, or another disabled individual, there’s no doubt that you want to make your home a comfortable place. And because life is substantially different for those with disabilities, the average home is not typically accessible enough. The most critical areas in your home to consider when adding accessibility are the bathroom, stairways, and kitchen area.
Nevertheless, in this article, we discuss some impactful ways that you can make your home comfortable, safe, and accessible.
Install Handrails In Key Areas
Installing a handrail is a relatively simple DIY project that most can manage without professional assistance. But beyond the easy installation, these rails are vital for disabled individuals. Not only will handrails add accessibility, but they will also make the environment far safer for your disabled loved one, as the risk of slips and falls will decrease substantially. That said, you will need to spend some time determining where handrails are required. The best approach is to consider which areas of the home have steps, are slightly raised or lowered, or maybe slippery. Common areas to consider are stairways, entrance steps, around the bathroom, and in the kitchen. Handrails are essential for making a bathroom accessible for disabled individuals.
Add Ramps Near Steps
It’s not plausible to add a ramp to stairways inside your home, although these are essential for steps. Fortunately, you should be able to install ramps in and around your home where steps can be a challenge. Even though you can tackle this project with a DIY approach, you should still invest care as the ramp must be able to hold the weight of the disabled individual and more to be stable enough.
Installing A Stairlift
For stairways inside your home, you can consider having a stairlift installed. These installations can transform the quality of life for a disabled individual that is currently trapped downstairs due to mobility issues. Even though this installation is a bit costly, it’s definitely well worth it if your budget can accommodate the investment.
Updating The Toilet
The standard bathroom is typically a nightmare for a disabled individual; traditional fixtures are simply not accessible at all. Fortunately, updating the toilet is far easier than you might think; all you’ll need is to install a handrail at the right height and install a safety frame on the toilet.
Non-Slip Surfaces
In the bathroom and the kitchen, slips and falls are more of a concern. Installing non-slip surfaces is easy, and it can add so much safety to these areas of a home. In the bathroom, it’s best to add non-slip flooring on most of the floor area. You can also assess other areas in your home that might require added floor safety.
Installing A Walk-In Bathtub
In addition to the toilet, it’s not an easy task to use a standard bathtub; getting in and out is a massive task that typically requires the assistance of another adult individual. But by installing a walk-in bathtub, disabled individuals can bath without assistance in many cases. These bathtubs allow the individual to get in without a struggle. These bathtubs also include a slip-resistant surface, grab bars, ADA-compliant seating, and LED lighting, adding important safety to the bathroom.
Throw Out Your Doorknobs
Opening and closing doors is another struggle for disabled individuals. Fortunately, home automation offers the perfect solution; throwing out your doorknobs for automated door systems. You can automate other areas of your home as well, such as the lighting and even the curtains. While home automation is designed to enhance convenience for anyone, it can massively add to the quality of life for disabled individuals. Furthermore, some smart home technologies are particularly beneficial for disabled and senior individuals. Voice assistance, smart doorbells, and smart locks are examples of smart technologies that can be exceptionally beneficial.
Living with a disability can be a constant struggle; things that are effortless for non-disabled individuals are often impossible for the disabled. Fortunately, it is possible to make the world more comfortable for individuals with disabilities. Changing your home to make it more accessible for disabled loved ones is the best way to substantially enhance their overall quality of life and let them take back control of their lives. Instead of always needing to rely on others, making your home accessible means a disabled individual can manage a lot more on their own. And this is essential for confidence-building and self-esteem.
