Wheelchairs, lift chairs, and scooters all help you maneuver around your home with ease and preserve your independence. These devices do their jobs best in an environment that has been modified to be more wheelchair friendly. If you or someone you know is dealing with a disability that affects mobility, take a few simple steps to make the home wheelchair accessible.
- Remove Obstacles - One of the easiest ways to make your home more wheelchair accessible is to remove obstacles from the floor, such as loose throw rugs. Keep electrical cords and similar objects off the floor. Place a shoe rack by the door so that you won’t have to worry about bumping into shoes on the floor.
- Install Doorway Additions - Install at least one exterior wheelchair ramp so that you can easily get in and out of your home. Inspect your home’s thresholds; they should be rounded and no taller than one-half inch. If the thresholds do not meet these standards, install threshold ramps so that you can easily go from one room to the next. The doorways should be at least three feet wide; otherwise, you may need to have a contractor widen them or install swing clear offset door hinges.
- Install Bathroom Additions - Install grab bars around the toilet and in the bathtub so you can lift yourself in and out of the wheelchair with ease. You might also consider installing a roll-in shower. Place a bath bench inside the tub so that two legs are outside the tub for added stability.
- Rearrange Your Possessions - Assess the layout of each room and consider whether you can easily maneuver around furniture and other objects. You may need to rearrange the furniture to provide more space. Move cooking supplies and pantry items from the upper shelves and cabinets to the lower ones, and keep a reaching tool close by so you can more easily open the cabinets.
Since 1999, ACG Medical Supply has helped thousands of individuals achieve greater independence in their homes. We offer a comprehensive line of wheelchairs and scooters, including manual and power wheelchairs, and folding wheelchairs for greater transportability. Reach us at 1-844-463-0737, or sales@acgmedical.com, to learn more about our products.