The need to make your home handicap accessible can arise suddenly. Perhaps the worst case scenario is you or someone you love becomes permanently injured. However, there are other circumstances that warrant the modifications. For example, maybe you only have a short term injury, or a friend is visiting who requires the modifications. You also might want to make the modifications to increase the value of your home. Whatever the reason, here are three clever ways to make your home more handicap accessible.
Kitchen Tricks
Handicap people aren’t helpless. They are able to do work in the kitchen. However, you can make this easier by making the kitchen sink more accessible for someone in a wheelchair. Removing the usual cabinets and baseboard beneath the kitchen sink can allow someone in a wheel chair to pull up close to the sink to clean dishes or prepare food. To grant additional assistance in the kitchen, you can replace a kitchen drawer with a flat table. This allows a person in a wheel chair to pull on the drawer to reveal a work space for cooking. It also provides space for the wheelchair to slide underneath while working. It can also be used as a desk or work station throughout the day.
Stairways
Yes, we are all familiar with commercial chairs that are mounted to the sides of steps. You can hire a professional to install one of these. However, many handicapped individuals are able to walk up stairs themselves if they have a little assistance. You can install a handle bar that attaches to the banister of your steps. The handle bar extends the width of the steps, and it glides upwards as the disabled person holds it on his or her journey up the stairs. This allows the user to use the steps without assistance from anyone.
Bathroom Renovations
If you are renovating your bathroom, consider installing a separate shower. A single shower is easy to enter and exit. If you are not in a position to install a separate shower, consider installing a pole with extending arms near the toilet and bathtub.
This pole can help a handicapped individual use the toilet and utilize a traditional shower with minimal assistance. You can also install a toilet safety frame in your bathroom. This increases the height of your toilet seat to make sitting easier. It also provides handle bars for stability while sitting and while returning to a standing position. Just like many public handicapped restrooms, you can also add a small pull string to use as an alarm near the toilet.
Try some of these suggestions today. Your handicapped friends will thank you, and the renovations just might help you someday as well!
