Disability can be challenging for disabled people and their immediate families. Daily chores like drinking water, turning a doorknob, walking the stairs may seem a grave task and a trial for the incapacitated. Mobility restrictions like these end up making the handicapped a prisoner in their home. Social life gets cut off and dependent on others for trivial requirements compounds.   

Fortunately, at our disposal, several solutions can make a living at home manageable and normal for the physically disabled. Here are some home up-gradation tips that can create a room for their comfort and self-reliant living.

1. Ramps:

If a wheelchair is necessary for the disabled, then there are a variety of ramp systems that promise safety and ease. Ramps vary in size, length, and configuration and generally find use at the doorways.

Ramps work well for the disabled who do not need a wheelchair but find climbing stairs to be burdensome. Place a folding ramp over a small suitcase of two to three steps. Ramps are not an ordinary inclusion that lacks luster. Some ramp designs are architecturally better. Collapsible ramps add to the storage value. With portable ramps, you can change any step into a wheelchair accessible entry. Threshold ramps allow wheelchair and mobility scooters to climb short rises at the home entryway. In short, the disabled who are dependent on walkers and wheelchairs can now experience better movement with ramp mobility aids.

2. Wheelchair Lift:  

Climbing stairs can be a cumbersome task for the disabled. Wheelchair lifts, also known as a platform lift, can overcome the barrier that stairs create with a wide variety of styles. Moving in multi-storied homes becomes easier for the disabled with installable wheelchair lifts.

It is installed as an alternative to a stairlift, which only transports the person & not the entire wheelchair along. The best part of getting a wheelchair lift is that it gets you smooth navigation up and down the stairs at home. Usually installed near the shaftway, these lifts are appropriate for patients fighting osteoarthritis of the knee or spine and other physical barriers.      

3. Home Elevators:

Installing an elevator at home is gaining momentum for the seamless movement it brings to the elderly while moving from one floor to another. It is a good and practical solution for enhanced mobility and is easy-to-operate.  

Home residential elevators come with advanced safety features such as door interlock system, one touch screen controls, cable safety devices, emergency stop with alarm, telephone and power backup facility, handrail, and many more. Most home elevators are custom-made to suit individual requirements and price points. Gearless motors in lifts prove to be fruitful for the elderly facing mobility challenge.     

In multi-story buildings, the demand for ADA (Americans with Disability Act) compliant residential elevators are increasing by the day. They also add to the real estate value and cover up the installation cost. 

4. Handrails:

Well-placed handrails are a workable option for the disabled who are prone to falls and slips even in a well-constructed home.     

They are also of tremendous help for patients who have a tough time to get up from a chair, bed or bathroom and need a sturdy hold-to device to lift themselves from a seated position. Handrails are a good way to reduce dependency and encourage self-movement. Install it in toilets so that the disabled can find it easy to get up from a bathroom stool or pot with a solid handrail grip. 

5. Grab handles:

Any form of physical disability can disturb the mental balance and lead to disruptions in the grip. Moving doorknobs is one of the challenges the disabled face. Replace hard-to-move door knobs with push/pull bars, lever handles.

Automatic door openers are the new normal that facilitates hand-free movement from one door cabin to another with the push of a button.

6. Rearrange Home Furniture:

Dressing a home with priceless furniture is a common aim for home lovers. But, when there is a physically challenged family member at home, think of their movement between center tables, chairs, and sofa.

Rearrange the costly furniture so that the passageways are broad, and there are no sharp turns. Items of daily use like bookshelves, chairs and tables, crockery and cutlery items, refrigerators, and the microwave should be within easy reach. Nowadays, sliding door, window, and kitchen fittings help in moving items with increased mobility.   

More Safety Tips for Patients with Physical Mobility

Our speedy lifestyles may trigger off a slip or two in the house, particularly in the bathroom. Here are some pointers to make a note of to avoid an injury.   

• Pool lifts: Swimming pools pose a safety risk to handicaps, particularly the pool ladders and entry stairs. Pool lifts make aquatic entry safe for the mobility-challenged. They can carry different weight capacities and are good for inground and above ground pools.
• Surface watch: A physically changed person depends on walkers, canes, and hardwood floors for active mobility. Replace the slip-and-slide rugs and instill floor mats with grip in bathrooms and water-prone surfaces.
• Toilet up-gradation: Toilets can become a hurtful experience for the disabled. Get a safety frame around the toilet to avoid any fall and increase user comfort. It is a good security measure for senior patients also.
• Bathing obstacles: Bathrooms may look sensational with several bathroom accessories in place, but there is always a hazard with bathtubs that have tall sides. Go for bathtubs with a step-in version that makes it easy, convenient, and safe to step in and step out.           

Conclusion

Making a home handicap-accessible is easy when you take careful and straightforward steps. The joy of doing home is more when the interior and exterior design is in keeping with the safety and convenience of the elderly and the disabled. Take a step or two to enhance security for everybody at home, including the disabled and life will become pleasing for everyone.