ADA Home Modification Ideas For The Aging & Disabled
The idea of not being able to live in a home you’ve lived in for years can be heart-breaking. And yet for many seniors as well as individuals and veterans with disabilities, the option of remaining at home may disappear if they are not able to safely and comfortably age in place or live-in place. By implementing home modifications that support seniors and others, your loved ones will be able to maintain their privacy, dignity, and of course, remain safe – at home. For a few ways to make dwellings safer and easier to live in for those who want to stay at home despite the challenges that come with aging or living in place, keep reading!
Widen doorways
The width of doorways in a home usually ranges from 23 to 27 inches. While certainly wide enough for an individual to walk through, it presents a challenge for those in wheelchairs or who use walkers and other mobility aids. 32 inches from the door’s face to the opposite stop is the ideal standard and actually required of businesses according to the American with Disabilities Act (ADA).
Install ramps
Climbing stairs becomes harder for seniors and individuals who have balance issues, who are confined to wheelchairs, or have another problem that prevents them from accomplishing this task. Installing ramps on the exterior and possibly smaller threshold ramps inside is another way to assist those who want to stay home in doing so.
Modify the kitchen
When individuals are wheelchair bound, every aspect of their life is affected – including how they prepare their meals and clean up after. One work around is to adjust the height of the kitchen counters and the sink as is changing the layout of the whole kitchen to make it easier to move around in with mobility aids.
Remodel the bathroom
Using the bathroom and showering is something most of us take for granted. It’s like breathing, we just take care of business without much thought or effort. For individuals who are hampered by age or a disability, there is an element of difficulty to tasks that should be easy. Ways to make a bathroom safer and easier to use include:
Installing grab bars that individuals can use to support themselves while attending to their needs.
Replacing the toilet with one that is at least 60 inches wide and that has a seat 17 -19 inches from the base of the unit to the seat top.
Installing a tub or shower unit that has a seat and faucets and knobs that are usable with one hand.
Providing plenty of room in the space so that one can move around easier even in a wheelchair.
Convert a downstairs room into a bedroom
While a single-story home is ideal for the elderly and those who aren’t able to use stairs safely or at all, many have homes where the bedroom is on the second floor. To overcome yet another hurdle we recommend converting a room on the ground level into a bedroom that is easily accessible with or without mobility aids.
Greater Birmingham Safety & Aging In Place Services
At Serve One Construction, we offer safety and aging in place services in Pelham, Chelsea, and Mountain Brook as well as throughout the Greater Birmingham metro that help make it possible for family members to remain at home. Services include:
ADA compliant installations
Ramp building and installation
Widening doors
Handrail installation
Kitchen, bathroom, and home remodeling
And more!
For more information on how our locally owned and operated home improvement company can help you or a loved one live safely and comfortably in their home, please reach out today! With more than 10 years of industry experience, a commitment to excellence, and full-time professionals on staff, you can count on our team to work with your from start to finish.
