Home Accessibility Bucket List

There are two categories that most people fall into when trying to make their home accessible.

One category is where someone has suffered a life changing event such as a stroke, car accident or some other catastrophe. In this case, the person may end up in a wheelchair and thereby need their home to be made accessible to permit mobility equipment to be used inside.

The second category is where peoples’ needs slowly change over time and evolve from perhaps needing a cane to a walker to a stair lift to a wheelchair.

The needs for accessibility equipment could start with a stair lift so that one can access both levels of their home. A stair lift is mounted on the stair treads and there is very little alteration to the home. An exterior stair lift may assist with outside stairs if necessary.

The next piece of equipment that could be required may be used in the bathroom where perhaps a walk in tub is required. Ceiling to floor poles to assist with getting up from a bed or chair is also a popular device. A lift up chair is also common.

The real need for home renovations to make a home accessible comes when a wheelchair is required in the home. This is when a porch lift may be needed to get the wheelchair up to the threshold height of the doorway entrance. Any bump outside or inside the home is a huge barrier to one’s freedom in a wheelchair so utmost care must be used to remove the slightest bump. There maybe the need to widen doorways and bathroom renovations to permit a roll in shower is another common need.

One of the main challenges inside the home is how to move a wheelchair from one level to another. An inside elevator is difficult and costly to retrofit. An incline lift to carry the wheelchair up the stairs has many limitations from a standpoint of stairway width, strength of a load bearing wall, head room and space at the bottom of the staircase. Ceiling lifts are also available to move a person from a wheelchair to the toilet or bed with curved track cut through door headers. If a wheelchair user is seriously considering making their home accessible the advise of a knowledgeable person within the accessibility field and an occupational therapist is a must.

There are so many factors that that make up the bucket list to make your home accessible. Each person’s situation is somewhat different. The most important part of the process is to find someone you trust to give you the proper advice.
Look for a company that can grow with your needs, offer recycled equipment and accepting trade ins as your needs evolve over time.

New Product To Carry Wheelchair Up Stairs