Whether you want to make your home more accessible for an aging parent or you are living with mobility issues due to a short or long-term disability, you might be dreading the immense undertaking. Home upgrades like maximizing bathroom space, a walk-in bath, automatic doors, and spacious showers require professional installation and a substantial budget.
Fortunately, we’ve listed a few easy and affordable ways to make your home safer and more accessible.
Install Handrails
A handrail for stairs can drastically reduce the likeliness of slips and falls on the stairs. And there’s no doubt that stairs are hazardous areas of a home for anyone with mobility challenges. Handrails are fairly easy to install, and you can manage the project on your own with the right tools and a handrail kit. Moreover, handrails are affordable, even when opting for professional installation.
There are also tons of different modern handrail designs to choose from, so you can find something that works well with your interior style and your budget.
Use Non-Slip Flooring
High-end tiles and luxury hardwood flooring might look appealing, notes www.brprop.com, a professional property management company, but these flooring options aren’t the safest. Tiling and wood flooring are quite slippery, which makes it less safe for anyone struggling with mobility.
Fortunately, there are quite a few non-slip flooring solutions like anti-slip vinyl, carpeting, and non-slip mats. If you don’t have the budget to upgrade flooring completely, you can use interlocking rubber gym flooring or place non-slip mats in strategic areas of your home.
Install Grab Bars In The Bathroom
The bathroom is one of the most dangerous places in any home, next to the kitchen. When navigating a standard bathroom with mobility issues, it will be tricky to get into the shower or bath, use the toilet, and even the basin.
Standard grab bars can make the room a much safer place. Install grab bars near the toilet, basin, and bath or shower to make the space safer. Moreover, remember to use non-slip floor mats in the bathroom.
Upgrade Handles, Faucets, And Switches
Regular door handles can be tricky to use, the same is true for faucets and light switches. Standards designs are, unfortunately, not made with accessibility in mind. Upgrading these details won’t cost much at all, and the upgrade will enhance convenience for everyone.
Get A Raised Toilet Seat
The toilet is especially difficult to use when mobility challenges are a concern. While a grab bar is essential, you can still make the toilet even safer and easier to use. A raised toilet seat is easy to install and incredibly affordable.
These seat frames provide extra support when sitting and standing, effectively preventing falls that could be severe.
If you are making your home more accessible for yourself or a loved one, be sure to install home monitoring systems. In addition to this, consider a medical alert bracelet and system that provides monitoring and emergency response in the event of a slip, fall, or any other medical emergency. These response systems are highly recommended for anyone living with mobility issues or a disability.
