If your loved one will soon leave the hospital, or if their mobility needs have changed due to a progressive condition or injury, you might need to make a few changes to your home to ensure their safety and comfort when using a wheelchair.
While your doors should be wide enough to support a wheelchair, you also must find ways to support their independence and protect their dignity each day. Find out how to prepare your home for a loved one who uses a wheelchair.
Request a Home Evaluation
The first step you should take is to talk to the hospital or rehab team to request a home evaluation from an occupational therapist. It’s important to involve your loved one throughout the process and arrange an assessment before discharge.
It’s essential that all doors, hallways, and rooms can accommodate the wheelchair’s width, length, and turning space. Doorways typically need at least 32 inches of clear width, but 36 inches wide will feel easier and more comfortable for your loved one. Also, they’ll need a turning circle of approximately 5 feet.
Review Your Home’s Accessibility
Before your family member leaves the hospital, consider how they’ll access the property once they return home. A permanent, portable, or modular ramp may be necessary for wheelchair users, and it should have a slope no steeper than 1:12. Alternatively, install a vertical platform lift if a porch is too high.
Arrange a Lift Installation
A lift installation might be necessary for multi-level homes, as it will allow your loved one to visit different floors at their leisure. Stair lifts are great options for wheelchair users who can safely transfer themselves to the stair lift seat. If this isn’t suitable, residential accessibility lifts are ideal, as your loved one can remain in their wheelchair when traveling between floors.
Make Interior Changes
Make everyday life feel easier for a loved one by making various interior changes in the home. For instance, you might need to widen doorways to accommodate a wheelchair or replace your current hinges with an offset design to add approximately 2 inches of clearance.
It may also be beneficial to rearrange furniture and replace a thick carpet or rug with hard, non-slip flooring to help a family member move freely in a wheelchair.
Create a More Supportive Bathroom
Using the bathroom can feel challenging for people who use a wheelchair. Depending on your loved one’s needs, they could benefit from:
- Curbless or roll-in showers
- Shower chairs
- Handheld showerheads
- Raised toilet seats
- Grab bars
- Roll-under sinks
Adjust Their Bedroom
Your loved one will need more than a comfortable place to rest and sleep when they return home. An adjustable bed that matches the height of their wheelchair seat is a suitable option, and it should have plenty of space on one side to support a smooth transfer.
Depending on their needs, your loved one may require a ceiling lift or floor lift to help them in and out of bed. Also, they’ll require more accessible storage and lower closet rods to easily access their clothing each day and night.
