If you or a loved one has recently been injured or diagnosed with a condition that has limited your mobility and requires a wheelchair, you need to make sure your home is ready. Quite a few things have to be considered and prepared when readying your home for a wheelchair. Continue reading this guide from Complete Care Shop to find out how to make a home wheelchair friendly.
If you now need the support of a wheelchair to move around your home and outside, you’ll have to take the steps to ready your premises for the change. Having a wheelchair does change many things at home, especially if you’re going to rely heavily on it to perform daily tasks like cooking, cleaning and washing.
Making your home accessible for a wheelchair is important to improve accessibility, mobility and the ease of living. Here are some key considerations and changes to make to your property in preparation for having a wheelchair at home:
If it’s at all possible, you may need to widen doorways and hallways in your home. This is to allow space for a wheelchair throughout your home. You must make sure that every part of your home is accessible via a wheelchair in order to live your life as normally as possible.
Having a wheelchair means you now need to not only prepare the interior of your home but the exterior too. In order to gain access to your home, you may need a ramp for your wheelchair to get in the front door. Similarly, if you have a back garden, there may be a step out of the house. A ramp will need to be installed there too. If you have a vehicle, you may need a ramp to access that as well.
If you require all-day support of a wheelchair, using the kitchen may be tricky in its current state. Make use of a wide range of kitchen aids and equipment to ensure you can still live your best life at home. There is a wide variety of products and devices available for people with mobility issues to remain handy in the kitchen. If you have a larger budget, you may also want to consider lowering countertops to make them easier to use.
Bathroom aids are another consideration for you to factor into your preparation. This can include things like bathroom grab rails, bath lifts to help you into a bathtub and even shower chairs to allow you to stay seated while washing.
At Complete Care Shop, we also have a wide range of useful bedroom aids that are designed for wheelchair users and people with limited mobility. The range includes bed grab rails, supports and hoists, and adjustable Divan beds that help you sit upright.
Consider these aids as a wheelchair user at home to make your life a lot easier and more independent.
Flooring is another big consideration for making a home more wheelchair accessible. Choose a slip resistant smooth flooring surface throughout your home to facilitate wheelchair movement. Also, make sure all transitions between rooms are smooth and level.
Another aspect of preparing a home for wheelchair use is electrical sockets and switches. While sitting in a wheelchair, you may now find it difficult to reach the light switch. Use the skills of an electrician to move your switches lower or even consider making your home smarter with smart light bulbs that can be controlled with your smartphone or smart assistants, like Alexa.
Much like widening doorways and hallways, you may need to rearrange your furniture to make space for a wheelchair. Some people may be fortunate enough to have plenty of space to fit a wheelchair around couches and tables already, but you must map out your rooms and make sure there’s enough space to pass between furniture.
Our final tip for how to make a home wheelchair friendly is to consider a stair lift. If you have stairs and cannot get upstairs by yourself, strongly consider purchasing a stair lift that can quickly and easily get you up and down a flight of stairs.
Did you know that you can get a free home wheelchair assessment from Complete Care Shop? If you are in need of a wheelchair and you’re not sure what you need, or you need assistance with choosing the right living aids for your home, this service is ideal for you.
If you require any more assistance, contact us now for help and advice.
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