It’s easy to assume that when it comes to accessibility in the home, it only applies to people who have more obvious or extreme needs. However, with many older people living in their homes for longer or cohabiting with their grown-up children, it can be worth exploring how to make a home easier to navigate for people who may have a diagnosis of anything from arthritis to multiple sclerosis.
What are the signs that you need to improve the accessibility of your home? Read on to find out.
- Issues with Stairs
The majority of accidents in the home with the elderly or those with physical limitations happen on the stairs. There are a few ways to get around this. You could move to a bungalow, install a stairlift, or invest in one of the many types of wheelchair lifts. The latter two can help you or your loved one access the upper floor without the need to go up and down the stairs, eradicating the risks of significant falls in this area of the home.
- Doorways are Getting Tighter to Navigate
Tight doorways don’t only impact people who use wheelchairs. For people with arthritis, their joints may be stiff, causing them to hold their arms at an outward angle, increasing the risk of knocks and bumps to the elbow. So, if this sounds familiar or someone in your home uses a wheelchair or walker, it’s well worth widening doorways to at least 800mm.
- Falls and Trips are Increasing
Going back to the stairs, as well as the bathroom and other areas where are steps or slippery surfaces, if you notice that either you or your loved one are falling more in the home, something needs to be done. Remove clutter from the floor, tape down the carpets or rugs with carpet tape, and install slip-proof mats in the bathroom, as well as installing grab rails on the stairs, in the bedroom, and of course, in the bathroom.
- Daily Tasks are Getting Harder
If you’re having to stretch to reach for things that were once easy to grab, or if it hurts to bend to access lower cupboards, then it’s worth moving items to an area where you can easily reach them. For the kitchen, this is the countertop. In the bedroom, it may be worth installing a shelf, and in the bathroom, you can place toiletries you use regularly in a corner unit.
- Hygiene is Suffering
Lastly, if you or the loved one you share your home with is struggling to maintain personal hygiene, then this is a sign that the bathroom needs an upgrade. This can be something as simple as installing grab rails to help with toileting needs and stability, all the way to having a walk-in shower installed, which reduces the need for someone to climb into a lipped bath. Also, when it comes to oral hygiene or washing your hands and face, you could invest in curved toothbrushes, as well as having the sink in your bathroom lowered to accommodate those who may be in a wheelchair, if needed.