3 Tips for Improving In-home Access for Mobility Impairment
Many Australian homes are designed on a single storey which means that they are usually suitable for adaptation for mobility impaired people. If you need to make your home more suited to the needs of someone who uses a wheelchair, or who has another sort of mobility impairment, then certain measures are advisable to keep the whole of the home fully accessible. Even less severe mobility impairments can cause problems for people who live in homes which have not been adapted at all. When thinking about what to do to ensure a home is accessible to all, consider the following points.
Adopt New Flooring
Many people favour carpets and rugs are favoured because they have a warm feel underfoot. However, wheelchair and walking stick users can find them difficult to move around freely on in some situations. On the other hand, hardwood flooring, especially wood laminate flooring, offers less friction and can be much easier to move over. Areas of the home where there is lots of manoeuvring, such as the hall or main entrance way, can really benefit from having their carpet removed and the installation of a harder surface instead.
Add Toilet and Bathroom Adaptations
In some cases of mobility impairment, a fully-fledged hoist system is required in order to be able to use toilet and bathing facilities in a home. However, for many mobility impaired people, the addition of some hand rails is all that is needed for them to be able to gain the access that is needed. These are low-cost items and easy to install. Make sure they are fitted at the correct height for the person, or people, who will be making use of them so that they don't have to stretch too far to help themselves up and down.
Use External Ramps and Flat Surfaces
The outdoor areas of a home are often just as important to make accessible as the interior, especially if the property has a garden that can be enjoyed. Steps up to the front of the home should be removed, if possible, and replaced by gently sloping ramps. Poured concrete is one of the most effective ways of creating a permanent ramp. The incline should be as shallow as possible, or entirely flatten the area, ideally. In external areas which have natural inclines, it may be necessary to install timber decking so that the whole space can be on one level. In very hilly areas, install decking in a number of split-level terraces, connected together via inclined ramps. This approach should mean all of the entire property remains accessible to everyone.
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