Wheelchair access at home: easy living improvements
Navigating your daily routine at home can be difficult as a wheelchair user: naturally, most homes aren’t built with this kind of mobility in mind. Assessing the suitability of your living space is vital to ensure that your everyday life is as easy as possible. There are several factors to consider when planning these home improvements. Think about your physical abilities, home activities and personal needs, and what changes you can make to facilitate easy movement. You will also want to be aware of the needs and routines of those who live with you or spend a lot of time in your home, so that the home adaptations are appropriate for everyone concerned.
Some improvements can be made simply with friends and family as a DIY project, while others may require special equipment, specific materials, and installation or building expertise. It may also be possible to seek help from your local authority in the UK: if a local authority needs assessment has said you need certain equipment, they should provide it for you free of charge1. Like any home improvement project, adapting your home can be an exciting time, creating a space which truly suits you and your lifestyle. So where do you start? Here’s a few pointers on how to transform your house into a wheelchairfriendly home.
Easy entrance
The entrance of the home should be wide enough for entry in your wheelchair. It may also be necessary to install a ramp for each entrance. Check the ramp regulations and measure your wheelchair so that the entrance is customised to your needs2. Also consider adding hand rails near the entrance, and be sure that the floor is made of nonslip material.
Safe stairway
If you have stairs in your home, you will need to install a stair chair or vertical lift so that you can access the different levels of the house. These can range in price, dependent on the company you decide will install your stair chair or lift, and the amount of work that will need to take place. When making plans however, it is important to ensure that there is enough room to manoeuvre when getting in and out of the chair or lift, make life easy for yourself.
Flat, fuss-free floors
Moving over a thick carpet can feel like wheeling through beach sand for a wheelchair user, and throw rugs often get bundled up underneath wheels and may cause falls. Floor covering should be material with low friction and a low glare, while slippery and polished surfaces should be avoided altogether3. If you must have carpeting, consider a low pile, low thickness carpet that is fixed. Also check the floors of your home for uneven areas, thresholds, and exposed cords that could potentially catch your wheel.
Logical living areas
Assess the doorways of living spaces in your home to ensure that they are wide enough to pass through, and that the doorknobs are easily reached. A wheelchair user should be able to turn 180° at their front door, with all doors able to open beyond 90° to ensure there us a clear width of opening that allows you to comfortably get through4. If you are only just able to fit through, you may want to consider removing the door and creating a more openplan space. Light switches and plug outlets can be moved lower on the wall and commonly used items and devices should be kept where they are easy to reach.
Convenient kitchen
In the kitchen, it’s essential that food preparation areas, cooking areas, and appliances are all within easy reach for a wheelchair user. You should be able to move freely and easily between kitchen units and equipment5. There are also a number of safety considerations where it comes to appliances you should take into account, such as whether or not there are sufficient hob controls, or how sockets, switches, and controls are positioned. Everything should be fully accessible, with enough turning and knee space for easy use6. For example, an L or U shaped layout can minimise the need for excessive movement between kitchen functions7.
Befitting bathroom
Bathrooms deserve special attention for wheelchair users. If you have a bath, it should be made of pressed steel, and be of standard size; when siting some bath equipment, acrylic tubs are not suitable8. A roll-in shower is a common choice, but as there is no boundary, you need to be aware that the water will land on the bathroom floor and will need an appropriate drainage system. Handheld shower heads allow for more flexibility. Assess the taps and consider whether single or double level taps are more suitable for you. The height of all items in the bathroom should also be considered. This may require lowering the mirror and cabinets. Also check the height of the bathroom sink, and clear the area underneath so that you can slide in close to the sink when washing. Transfer to and from the toilet also requires some planning, and you may want to change the height of the toilet and invest in a transfer seat or commode lift. Finally, be sure to install hand-rails9 and grab bars in the bathroom to assist mobility and prevent falls.
Sensible sleeping
It’s important to consider how your furniture is laid out within your bedroom: you should be able to enter and leave the room easily, as well as access both sides of your bed and operate any window controls10. If you have any storage units in your bedroom, or shelving layouts, be sure to make sure their depth and width is enough to give you the access you need to stored items11.
In addition, investigate devices that allow for easier transfer in and out of bed. Bed bars are an option for those who are at risk of falling out of bed. Everyone values a good night sleep, so it is important to invest in a quality bedstead and mattress to give you premium comfort.
Exits and emergencies
Finally, it is important to make sure that you are able to get out of your home easily in the case of an accident or emergency. Plan fire escape routes, and make everyone in your home aware of them in case of the event of fire. Also it’s always a good idea to keep emergency phone numbers in several places in your home, including the contact details of your doctor.
By simply considering your daily routine and needs, adapting your home to suit your lifestyle needn’t be a chore or hassle. For more information and advice on ways to manage your condition at home, speak to one of our nurses, or explore our Learn section.
1 NHS. Care equipment, aids and adaptions. Accessed July 7th 2016 from http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/socialcareandsupportguide/Pages/equipmentaidsadaptations.aspx 2 Portsmouth City Council. Design guide for wheelchair accessible housing. Accessed July 17th 2016 https://www.portsmouth.gov.uk/ext/documentsexternal/plndevaffordinghousingwheelchairaccessplan.pdf
2 Portsmouth City Council. Design guide for wheelchair accessible housing. Accessed July 17th 2016 https://www.portsmouth.gov.uk/ext/documentsexternal/plndevaffordinghousingwheelchairaccessplan.pdf
3 South East London housing partnership. Wheelchair homes design guidelines partnership. Accessed July 7th 2016 https://www.lewisham.gov.uk/myservices/planning/policy/Documents
4 Mayor of London. Wheelchair accessible housing: designing homes that can be easily adapted for residents who are wheelchair users, Best Practice Guide. Accessed July 7th 2016 https://www.london.gov.uk/sites/default/files/gla_migrate_files_destination/archives/bpgwheelchairacchousing.pdf
5 Portsmouth City Council. Design guide for wheelchair accessible housing. Accessed July 17th 2016 https://www.portsmouth.gov.uk/ext/documentsexternal/plndevaffordinghousingwheelchairaccessplan.pdf
6 Portsmouth City Council. Design guide for wheelchair accessible housing. Accessed July 17th 2016 https://www.portsmouth.gov.uk/ext/documentsexternal/plndevaffordinghousingwheelchairaccessplan.pdf
7 Mayor of London. Wheelchair accessible housing: designing homes that can be easily adapted for residents who are wheelchair users, Best Practice Guide. Accessed July 7th 2016 https://www.london.gov.uk/sites/default/files/gla_migrate_files_destination/archives/bpgwheelchairacchousing.pdf
8 Portsmouth City Council. Design guide for wheelchair accessible housing. Accessed July 17th 2016 https://www.portsmouth.gov.uk/ext/documentsexternal/plndevaffordinghousingwheelchairaccessplan.pdf
9 Portsmouth City Council. Design guide for wheelchair accessible housing. Accessed July 17th 2016 https://www.portsmouth.gov.uk/ext/documentsexternal/plndevaffordinghousingwheelchairaccessplan.pdf
10 Mayor of London. Wheelchair accessible housing: designing homes that can be easily adapted for residents who are wheelchair users, Best Practice Guide. Accessed July 7th 2016 https://www.london.gov.uk/sites/default/files/gla_migrate_files_destination/archives/bpgwheelchairacchousing.pdf
11 Mayor of London. Wheelchair accessible housing: designing homes that can be easily adapted for residents who are wheelchair users, Best Practice Guide. Accessed July 7th 2016 https://www.london.gov.uk/sites/default/files/gla_migrate_files_destination/archives/bpgwheelchairacchousing.pdf