Everyone gets old, and as we get older we start to lose our mobility. It’s a fact of life, yet a worrying time for those of us who have elderly relatives who still live alone. Slips and falls become more frequent, and often you have to make a choice; either to put your parent or relative in a home or to move them into your own home. When it becomes dangerous to leave your relative alone, moving them into your home makes sense. But of course, your home will not be prepared for someone with limited mobility. Accessibility for disabled people is possible for your own home however. Read on to find out how.
Accessibility for Disabled : Wheelchair Users
If your relative uses a wheelchair then there are many things you will need to do to your home to ensure he can get around safely. Firstly, move any loose rugs and furniture that is in the middle of the floor. You should leave enough gaps so that your relative can easily navigate around the ground floor of your home without bumping into things.
As your relative is using a chair, it is important to consider where you leave things. High up shelves and cupboards will be out of reach. So, in the kitchen leave some cutlery cups and plates lower down, to ensure that your parent remains as independent as possible. If you have a downstairs bathroom, make sure that you fit grab rails and a panic button, and where at all possible, make sure there is someone at home when your relative takes a shower or bath.
A standard bathroom is not really well suited to a wheelchair user, but you may not always have the money to make a wet room in your home. So, ensure that your relative can at least use the toilet without having to call for help. If your bathroom is upstairs, then you will need to consider fitting a stair lift in your home. The same goes for reaching the bedroom your relative will use. It is not always possible to convert one of your downstairs rooms into a bedroom.
Wheelchair Ramps
Accessibility for disabled people almost always includes adding a wheelchair ramp to your home. There are many different types of ramp available and the design you choose will depend on the access to your home. Some ramps will fit directly over stairs, and others will be portable and can be used for thresholds, cars, and more. A threshold ramp will be necessary if you have a step by your front door. Remember that just a few millimeters of threshold will prevent your mum or dad getting in and out of the house alone.
Disabled Steps
Accessibility for disabled people also includes the use of half steps and disabled steps that you can purchase for your home. Even if your relative uses a chair, they may be able to stand up for short periods of time. To prevent slips and falls always make sure to have a step stool with a handle in place. These are particularly useful for the kitchen, bedroom, and bathroom.
A step stool with a handle can help your relative get in and out of bed by themself, the step ensuring that they have something to grab hold of as they sit up. Step stools are handy in the kitchen for reaching things that are at the back of the counter, and for simple cooking tasks.
Kitchen Safety
In the kitchen you can make some more alterations, depending on how good your relative is at remembering things. Unfortunately it is common to start forgetting things as we get older, and the kitchen can become a hazardous place. If you have a gas cooker, we recommend that you change it for an electric one, or turn off the gas supply with a key each time you finish cooking. This however may not be possible if your water boiler and heating also run off gas.
The kitchen is the room in your home where the most accidents will occur. If your relative is suffering from Alzheimer, it is recommendable that you stop access to the kitchen altogether when you are not there to supervise. This can be done by using a stair gate or by locking the kitchen door.
Inviting an elderly relative to stay with you will mean making a lot of changes around the home. Accessibility for disabled and elderly people means adapting your home so that it is safe, secure, and will not become an accident zone.