Whether you’re recovering from a leg injury and will only be in a wheelchair for a few months, you need to hire an NDIS Service for a permanent disability, or an aging loved one is going to need a wheelchair soon, you are still going to want to be able to access every part of your home. When you are trying to make your house more accommodating to a wheelchair, there are several things that you need to take into consideration. Obvious things like stairs will need to be accounted for, while there are also a number of less obvious alterations that you will have to look into.
You should look into making such alterations to your home if you are planning to have someone who uses a wheelchair in your house for a longer period of time. If you are trying to prepare for such a situation, here are the main things that you should consider changing in your house in order to make it easier for someone with a wheelchair to access any necessary rooms in your home:
Stairs
The first and most obvious thing that will need to be accounted for is the manner in which any higher levels of your house can be accessed by someone in a wheelchair. Are there a few steps leading up to your front door? If so, you should look into having a ramp installed. Does your home have multiple storeys? There are a number of wheelchair access solutions for the disabled that you can choose from so as to make it possible for a wheelchair to access higher levels of your home.
It is a good idea to have an expert come and assess your stairs to help guide you to the right solution. Some stairs include turns or landings which can rule some simpler options out. With the right advice, though, you will be able to find the best solution for the layout of your stairs.
Bathrooms
If there is a certain bathroom in your home that will need to be able to accommodate a wheelchair, there are a few key changes that you will need to make. Firstly, there are some conditions that make it necessary to have an easily accessible alarm in the bathroom in case of a fall or other emergency.
You might need to have a specially designed bathtub or shower unit installed to make it safe for someone with a wheelchair to get in and out of. It is also a good idea to have handlebars installed on the walls to assist with getting in and out of a wheelchair.
Furniture Layout
Another consideration that you will have to make in your home is in regard to the positioning and layout of your furniture. When someone in a wheelchair is trying to manoeuvre their way around your living room, for example, can they do so freely without being incumbered by the furniture? If not, then you might need to consider rearranging things in order to create more space.
It might also be necessary to remove a piece or two of furniture in the key living areas of your home so that a wheelchair can fit comfortably. You can also look into smaller, more compact pieces to give yourself the space that you will need.