Share:

It can be challenging for people with mobility issues to navigate homes without special accommodations. If you or a loved one needs a custom wheelchair, it’s essential to ensure all parts of your property are accessible. Use the following tips to help you create a more wheelchair-friendly space.

How to Make a Home Wheelchair Accessible

1. Limit Storage to Lower Shelves

Storing any frequently used items on higher shelves presents a safety hazard for someone in a wheelchair. They may have to reach or stand to obtain stored items, and there’s the risk that something could tumble out and fall on them.

Reserve low, easily accessible shelves for routinely utilized items, especially kitchen essentials like pantry goods and eating utensils and bathroom necessities like toilet paper, towels, and grooming products. You may need to hire a carpenter to expand your lower cabinets and cupboards.

2. Install Ramps

custom wheelchairsA wheelchair can't travel up or down stairs, so ramps should be installed between different elevations. You can have a permanent ramp built for exterior stairs and a collapsible ramp for interior steps. If you have a staircase to an upper floor, consider investing in a stair lift, an automatic seat that will transport you up and down.

3. Create Space for Wide Turns

Assess how much space is needed for the wheelchair to make wide turns. The standard is usually a five-foot radius, but larger options or custom wheelchairs with additional features will likely require six feet or more. 

Ideally, you should be able to move the chair in a complete circle, but that isn’t always possible. Focus on the most frequently traveled paths and utilized spaces. You may need to rearrange the furniture or have a contractor clear out space in entryways, kitchens, bathrooms, and hallways.

 

To make your home more accessible, consult a professional to perform a comprehensive evaluation of the space. Hometown Medical offers this essential service to residents of Flowood, MS, and the surrounding areas. They provide home assessments, as well as custom wheelchair fittings, mobility equipment, and medical aids like CPAP machines and portable oxygen tanks. Call (601) 933-4699 or visit them online to schedule a consultation.

tracking