Top Tips for Adapting Homes and Living Spaces for People With Disabilities
A loss of mobility can lower self-esteem and confidence, making the individual feel dependent and less capable of performing otherwise routine daily tasks.
Adapting homes and living spaces for people with disabilities is a proactive way of empowering individuals to feel more independent, live life with greater dignity, and increase motivation to partake in daily activities. Making homes and living spaces accessible is therefore an excellent way of improving inclusion for anyone with mobility impairments whilst also increasing safety and security.
How can residential homes and living spaces adapt to accommodate those with mobility impairments? Below are a few of the main methods:
Build Ramps and Accessible Entryways
One of the most important considerations for accessibility is to construct ramps and/or accessible points of entry to/from the property. Naturally, this provides the individual(s) with greater freedom to come and go as they please, to get fresh air outdoors, go to the supermarket, visit a neighbour, and so on.
Wheelchair-accessible ramps and wide doors can sometimes be prohibitively costly and in some cases it is simply impractical or impossible to install these features, but they should be a priority whenever it is possible. Opt for materials and design features that prioritise durability and safety.
Kitchen & Bathroom Amenities
For individuals with full mobility, it usually isn’t much of a thought to use a kitchen or a bathroom as designed or intended. On the other hand, the tasks that take place in these rooms suddenly become incredibly difficult or outright impossible for individuals with mobility impairments.
Consider installing handles and safety rails throughout the living space, especially in these rooms. Commodes, shower chairs, raised toilet seats and other bariatric equipment such as hoists can be an excellent means of increasing independence and dignity, allowing individuals to perform daily hygiene tasks in the bathroom without the need for a caregiver.
Slip-Resistant Flooring
Stylish hardwood floors may be a great investment for many homeowners, but the choice of flooring may be quite different for wheelchair users or individuals prone to slipping. Instead, depending on the mobility needs of the individual(s), consider slip-resistant flooring.
Moreover, diligently ensure that there are no tripping hazards along the floor and pathways. Again, the clever placement of handrails can also facilitate movement throughout the living space.
Adopt Smart Home Technologies
Smart home technology has come a long way in recent years, and the price of turning your home “smart” has come down drastically. Whilst useful for just about everyone, smart home features can be particularly useful for those with impaired mobility. This could include smart home integrations for voice or motion-sensing light switches, doors and locks, and even some appliances can be controlled through the smart home interface.
For hopefully obvious reasons, smart home integrations can greatly increase safety by making many mundane household tasks completely controllable from one interface such as a smart home or tablet. Elderly individuals that may not be very tech savvy may require some instruction on how to use the technology, but again many smart home systems have been made better over the past years and most offer simple and easy user interfaces that make them suitable for a wide range of individual needs.
Better Care Services
Empower people to live life independently with services from Better Care Services.
At Better Care Services, we strive to provide the best disability care services in Melbourne. Our team of dedicated and experienced professionals is committed to helping individuals with disabilities lead fulfilling lives.
In addition, we also offer personal care services in Melbourne, disability services in Brunswick, and respite care in Dallas, Moonee Ponds, and St Albans.