If you or a loved one has found themselves dealing with a handicap that makes it hard for them to be mobile on their own, there are certain things that you will want to do to your home to make life a little easier. After all, there are going to be enough struggles out there in the world when you have a handicap, there is no reason to face those same type of struggles within your own home.
Widen Your Doors
While you might have already thought about putting in a wheelchair accessible ramp, you need to consider how easy it is for a wheelchair to maneuver throughout the home once inside. The normal sized door frames within a home are simply not wide enough for a wheelchair to make it through. Therefore, you need to consider hiring a contractor who can widen them for you. They need to be wider than the chair itself in order to have plenty of room for arms and hands so they do not become injured when trying to pass through the door frame.
Stair Lift For Access To Second Floor
If you have a two-story home, you will want to make sure that everyone in the house has easy access to the second floor. Of course, this means adding something in addition to the set of stairs that already goes up there. You need to have a lift or a stair elevator installed. This way, you will no longer have to worry about carrying anyone up the stairs and then trying to get their wheelchair or scooter up there. There is also less chance of an accident when you have a stair lift properly installed.
Lower Counter-Tops
Even if the person who does most of the cooking is not handicapped, it is vital that the person who is disabled is able to remain self-sufficient as much as possible. Whether it is to make a sandwich, cook a meal, or simply get a glass of water, you want him or her to be able to reach everything. This means lowering the counter, sink, stove top, and maybe even some cabinets.
Wheelchair Friendly Bathroom
If your bathroom is on the small side, it is time to do something about it. It will need to be made much bigger so someone in a wheelchair can easily move around in there. Also, you may want to consider hiring a skilled bathroom renovation contractor who can install a walk-in bath or shower. This way, anyone who is in a wheelchair will be able to go directly in without any assistance.
Voice Activation Technology
Those who find that they have trouble with mobility tend to also have trouble turning on the lights, changing the temperature on the thermostat, turning on a ceiling fan, or even opening the blinds in the window. However, all of that is now changing with voice activation technology. With such advancements, anyone can now simply speak the right command and have their needs met. This is a game changer for those who used to feel that they were helpless when they were left home alone. They no longer have to wait for someone else to come home before they can have the heat in the house turned up.
This might be a lot to take in, but once all of the improvements to the home have been made, it is going to be easy to see it was more than worth it. There is nothing more important than making sure that adjustments are made to the home of someone who is handicapped so they can continue to live life in the most freeing and independent way possible. The goal is to make them feel at home and to make their daily living routine as easy as ipossible.