How To Making Your Home Safe And Accessible

How To Making Your Home Safe And Accessible

As we grow older or have an unfortunate event, we may need to adapt to our homes. Accessibility into our home and around the rooms can be achieved with some simple DIY tasks, which do not have to cost a fortune.

Here we offer some hints and tips to ensure your home still works for you.

Ideas To Make Your Home More Accessible:

Getting In And Out Of Your House:

Dealing with steps is probably number one on the list of priorities. It is not just for those in wheelchairs or who have walking frames with wheels; it can also be challenging for those who find it difficult to walk.

The first option is to set up a ramp, which can be done without significant building work. The other option is to put up handrails wherever there is an elevation change.

It might not be that you cannot make the step; you feel unsteady as you change your center of gravity. Equally, you might still be able to handle the stairs if you were able to put up a second bannister rail.

Having something to hold onto each side will give you greater stability and allow you to put more weight through your arms.

Additional Railings:

As well as considering additional hand holds where there are steps, you might also want to consider other places where more railings would assist you.

The prominent place for more railings would be in the bathroom. Having assistance getting in and out of the shower and on and off the toilet are quick wins.

Moving Around:

Another essential to accessibility in the home is good lighting. Being able to see where you are going clearly will ease your access to the different rooms.

Consequently, investing in motion sensors for your lights is a good idea. These sensors are easy to install and will also mean you do not have to lower light switches, which can become a major DIY job.

Widening the doorways is another job that is needed and that requires a little more work. It could be as simple as changing the frames on the doors or even changing the direction the doors go in.

Security:

One of the overlooked areas of accessibility is security. Making it possible to answer the door quickly or to grant someone access to your home is an essential DIY activity.

First, you can put a key safe outside your door, which secures your key behind a combination lock. Should you need someone to get easy access, you can give them this code, and they can get in without you unlocking it from the inside.

Second, you might want to install a smart doorbell or intercom system, which allows you to talk to the person at the door without opening it.

Remove Clutter:

It is also essential to remove excess furniture from your home. You must create clear pathways through the house you know you can manage.

This also means lifting rugs and other impediments, preventing your free passage around the space. While we all love our home comforts, living more minimally can make it far easier to get around the home.

Lower Counters and Shower Seats:

There are bigger DIY jobs to be done in the kitchen and bathrooms, especially if you need to sit during everyday activities.

For instance, you will want to install a shower seat and an adapted bath with a door that allows you to slip in before filling it. You may want to lower some counters in the kitchen, maybe even the sink.

However, there are more straightforward jobs in the kitchen too. Remember to remove one of the dining chairs so there is a space for all guests in your home to roll up to the table.

Conclusion:

We all know our home is where we are happiest and feel most secure. Therefore, when we face accessibility challenges, we must understand that we can stay within the four walls that have always made us feel safe.

While some of the changes to your home might need professional help, there is a lot you can do for yourself.

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