How to Renovate Your Home While Considering Age-in-Place Accessibility
If you're planning on renovating your home, accessibility for elderly members should be one of your topmost priorities. But what is accessibility when it comes to seniors? How can older adults access common areas? And how can they get around more easily once they're inside your home? Let's have a look at how you can renovate your home with such things in mind.
Doors
Make sure that all of the doors in your house are as wide as possible, with a pivot on both sides so that someone with limited mobility can open them from either side. For a person that is pushing a chair, it's a good idea to have sufficient space between both sides of a door handle so that even if a person slips and falls, they don't hit the door.
You can also add a rubber strip at your front and back door entrances. They're not only great for keeping it sealed during rain, but they also provide valuable traction for people who use wheelchairs and walkers making them safer when entering or exiting the house through its main entrance.
Hallways
Make sure that your hallway is wide enough to accommodate wheelchairs. In addition, make sure your hallway is built in such a way that differently-abled and elderly members of the family don't trip when walking from one end to the other. If you have no wheelchair ramps in your home, make sure you create one by building them up from the ground floor and then extending them into your bedrooms and bathrooms to reach an accessible toilet or shower.
Bathrooms
Most ADA-compliant bathrooms have a grab bar installed in the shower. If you're renovating your old house, remember to install a grab bar in the shower, near the bathtub, and under the sink. It can help people balance their weight and keep them from slipping or falling.
Light Switches
Make sure your home contains light switches that are easily accessible for the elderly and differently-abled. Alternatively, you can also have a remote control lighting system so that these members of your family can switch the lights on/off without facing any trouble. Also, remember to install light switches near the bed in case an elderly person has to get up in the middle of the night. A dimmable light switch with a remote is convenient for elderly people who can't manage to reach out and turn it on and off.
If you are looking for contractors who can help you with remodeling your house to improve accessibility for elderly and people with disabilities, we are here to help.
We're an ADA compliant contractor serving in Miami and have been offering accessible remodeling, home modification for the elderly and people with disabilities, and many other services. You can reach out to us to find out more.
Access Built is a universal design build platform dedicated to connecting residential and commercial property owners with resources they need to create more accessible spaces. For more information or to schedule your FREE consultation, click here.
