3 Tips for Designing a Wheelchair-Friendly House
Designing a home is no easy task, particularly when you have
to take particular functionality issues into account, such as those that come
into play when you need to make a home accessible to a wheelchair. Not only do
you need to make certain adjustments in terms of layout and space, but you also
might need to install certain pieces of equipment in order to help someone in a
wheelchair get about the place safely and effectively.
If you are in the process of designing or rearranging your
home so that it is more accessible for someone in a wheelchair, here are three
things that you should consider doing to make your home easier for them to get
around:
1. Start with the Stairs
The first and arguably most important thing that you will
need to address when you are designing a wheelchair-friendly house is the
manner in which someone in a wheelchair will be able to get up and down the
stairs. If your house has stairs that lead up to the entrance, then you will
need to have some sort of lift or ramp installed.
Interior stairs might require some more complex equipment in
order to make them wheelchair accessible. You can have certain types of
mechanical lifts installed depending upon the layout of your stairs. Some
houses are designed with additional landings while other sets of stairs might
have corners. You might need to have a professional assess your stairs to see
what sort of lift would be appropriate. You can find a selection of lifts that
you can choose from at Terry Lifts.
2. Bathrooms
Another key point that you will need to address has to do
with the wheelchair accessibility of the bathrooms in your home. Firstly, the
entrance of the bathroom needs to be wide enough for a wheelchair to
comfortably enter and exit. You should look to have grab rails installed along
any necessary walls as well.
The bathroom sink will need to be lower than the standard
sink. Moreover, you might need to have a specially designed shower unit or
bathtub installed. If the shower or tub that you already have is accessible
already, you should look to purchase a shower
seat at the very least.
3. Furniture Layout
The main living areas of your home are going to need to be
designed with extra space in mind. In other words, if your furniture is too
bulky or situated too close together then a wheelchair will not be able to manoeuvre
around the room properly. Make sure that the pieces you have in the key living
spaces of your home are spaced out accordingly.
You should also put some thought and research into the
furniture pieces that you select for your home. Certain models of sofa
recliners make for excellent choices as long as they are low enough for
someone in a wheelchair to easily access. You can also find good quality beds
that are low as well.