Maintaining the Home:
Accessible Living
Mobility Impairments
Mobility Impairments
Standing or walking from one place to another and going up and down steps can be extremely difficult for people with limited mobility. Long, crooked, inclined or uneven pathways are especially hazardous. Some people are not able to walk at all and must perform all daily activities from a wheelchair.
People who use wheelchairs and walkers may not be able to negotiate thresholds or narrow doorways and corridors. People with limited mobility may have difficulty getting in and out of bed, on and off the toilet and in and out of the bathtub or the shower.
Modifications for mobility impairments
To help people with limited mobility live independently, barriers outside and inside the home must be removed. An automatic garage-door opener, a ramp leading to the entrance to the home and curb cuts in sidewalks can help outside. Inside, widen and reframe doorways so that there is at least 36 inches of clearance for a wheelchair or walker. If just an additional inch or two of space will make a doorway wide enough, replace standard hinges with swing-clear hinges. When the swing of a door takes up the maneuvering space that a wheelchair user needs, install a pocket door that slides back into a wall pocket. Replace any high thresholds with low, beveled ones or with smooth flooring. Install ramps wherever the floor level changes in the home.
Lever handles on doors are easier for everyone to manipulate. C or D-shaped handles mounted on the pull side of a door, near the hinged edge, helps users of wheelchairs or walkers close doors behind them.
Make sure there is ample maneuvering space within the home by moving any furniture that obstructs walkways. High-density, low-pile carpeting makes it easier to move wheelchairs and use walkers without tripping.
If possible, there should be a bathroom and bedroom on the ground floor for the person who has mobility problems. This might involve converting a den or a study to a bedroom, and a half bath to an accessible full bath; or, rooms can be added to the house. If these modifications are not possible, a chairlift or an elevator can be installed to transport the person from one level to another. If the individual can still climb the stairs, organize activities and storage areas so that he or she needs to climb the stairs as little as possible.
To eliminate barriers in a bathroom, install a roll-in or walk-in shower with a seat and a hand-held showerhead with a flexible hose. To move a person in and out of a bathtub, install a water-operated hydraulic seat; a portable, hydraulic lift; or an overhead track lift. A lift is also useful in the bedroom. In fact, a professional can craft a track for the lift that will move a person from the bedroom to the bathroom and back.
There should be soft, nonskid surfaces on bathtub bottoms, shower floors, stair treads and stair landings to minimize the danger of falling. Stair treads of a consistent depth, with closed risers of a consistent height, also lessen the hazard of going up and down stairs.
Install grab bars or handrails throughout the home to give support and a place to rest. Grab bars are particularly helpful in bathrooms as aids to getting in and out of the shower or bathub, and up from or down onto the toilet. Handrails along hallways and on both sides of stairways give security to a person whose mobility is limited.
As with people whose strength and range of motion are limited, it is helpful to bring items to people or to relocate appliances and products. Use pop-up appliance holders, pullout cutting boards and bowl holders, and cutout or recessed spaces beneath countertops, cooktops and sinks to accommodate a seated person or a person in a wheelchair. Store frequently used household items where they can be retrieved with a minimum of bending, reaching, lifting and carrying. There are toilets available with seats 19 inches above the floor, and spacer rings and thick seats can raise the height of existing toilets.
This material was adapted from publications produced by Texas A&M University Cooperative Extension.
Balance and Coordination
Loss of balance and coordination makes people unstable when standing or walking, putting them at risk of falling, especially on carpeting, stairs and thresholds. People whose sense of balance or coordination is diminished often shuffle to try to keep from falling, but this actually increases the risk. They may have difficulty raising or lowering themselves from chairs, beds and toilets. Dizziness also can cause these problems.
Modifications for balance and coordination
To make the home safer, lower or remove thresholds, put skid-proof rug pads under area rugs, secure the corners and edges of area rugs and remove scatter rugs. Place an extended handrail at the head of the stairs to lessen the chance of an unsteady person falling. Make beds, chairs and toilet seats high enough for easy access. The optimum height differs for each person, but generally it is the height at which the hips and the knees are on the same plane and the feet are approximately under the knees.
People will also need supports to stabilize them as they sit down, rise up and move about. Again, grab bars and handrails are among the most useful items. Placing stable objects near chairs, toilets and beds is especially important. Strategically placed handles on counter tops are also useful. Make sure floors and stairways are well lit.
Home modifications, whether simple or complex, can allow individuals to remain in the home or families to remain together. Modifications and assistive devices make life easier and safer for everyone.
This material was adapted from publications produced by Texas A&M University Cooperative Extension.
