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Low- and no-cost modifications for accessibility
Our needs and abilities can change as we age. If you or anyone who lives in or visits your house is getting older or has a disability, there are a whole range of low- and no-cost modifications you can make to your home to make it safer, more comfortable and more accessible for everyone.
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Low- and no-cost modifications for accessibility
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Doorways and entrances
- Paint the threshold to your house in a contrasting colour as a visual signal to anyone with impaired vision.
- Remove the storm or screen doors to make it easier for someone with arthritis or limited upper body-strength to enter your home.
- Add a doorknob gripper or install a levered handle that can be opened without having to grip or twist the knob too tightly.
- Use swing-away hinges to gain an extra few inches of clearance for a wheelchair or walker.
- Place a bench at the entrance where people can set heavy items or sit down while putting on their shoes.
- Remove any unnecessary doors from around the inside your home, so someone using a walker or wheelchair can move around more freely.
- Install a peephole in your front door for extra safety and peace of mind.
Furniture and home layouts
- Remove any clutter or obstacles from the hallways and main rooms.
- Place your furniture to create a clear path of travel throughout your home, with extra manoeuvring space at doorways and the ends of halls.
- Secure or remove any area rugs that someone could trip over.
- Paint floors or doorways between rooms in different colours, to help people with a visual impairment or dementia find their way around.
- Install low-level transition strips between any changes in height or level, or use different floor textures between rooms and at the edges of hallways.
- Get a power bar and cable organizer to keep your television, telephone and other cords safely stored where they can’t trip anyone walking by.
- Place the television where it will have the least amount of glare.
- Put corner guards on the sharp edges of tables, chairs and other furniture.
- Place elevated risers under beds or chairs to help anyone who has trouble sitting or rising from a seated position.
Stairs and staircases
- Place a gate at the top of the stairs to protect seniors and small children.
- Install a safety nosing or coloured strips between the treads and risers to make the edges of each step clearly visible.
- Add a small bench or chair on the landing where people can rest or catch their breath.
- Install a decorative post or finial at the beginnings and ends of railings to signal that the stairs are about to end.
- Use strip lighting to make the stairs easier to see and help prevent falls.
Kitchens
- Choose slip-resistant flooring or put a slip-resistant coating over any tiles—available at most hardware stores.
- Install easy-grip D-handles on cabinets and drawers.
- Reverse the swing on the refrigerator door if the access would be easier.
- Get a pot stabilizer to keep pots from spinning while they are being stirred and a kettle tipper to fill or pour water from a kettle with minimal strain.
- Place an anti-fatigue mat on the floor in the prep and cooking areas to make it more comfortable to stand for long periods of time.
- Add a shelf between the counter and upper cabinets for accessible storage.
- Install a shallow sink basin that can be used while standing or seated.
- Use a folding, wall-mounted or Murphy bed-style table or counter to create more space for someone using a walker or wheelchair.
Bathrooms
- Label your taps “hot” and “cold” if you have small children or if anyone in your home gets easily confused.
- Add a safety mat and grab bars in the tub.
- Get a raised toilet seat and add a bath seat in the shower to help people who have trouble getting into or out of a seated position.
- Install D-handles on the cabinets and drawers to make them easier to open.
- Get an accordion-style mirror for anyone with a visual impairment.
- Use slip-resistant flooring or coating on the tiles.
- Install a shallow sink that can be used in both standing and seated positions.
- Use a medication organizer to make sure the proper doses are taken.
- Purchase a water alarm to alert you if the tub or sink is overflowing.
Laundry room
- Add stickers or marks on the washer and dryer settings to make them easier to see, or as a reminder for someone with memory issues or dementia.
- Use detergent dispensers that don’t have to be lifted off the shelf.
- Use a wheeled laundry cart to eliminate any heavy lifting.
Lighting
- Add extra lamps throughout your home, and use task lighting to help seniors or someone with a visual impairment see what they’re doing.
- Choose light switches in a contrasting colour to make them easier to find.
- Use a night light to help prevent falls or confusion.
- Install a motion detector to make it easier for anyone who has trouble using a light switch to turn the lights on.
- Use a timer to turn lights on or off automatically for added comfort and safety.
- Install motion-detecting lights at the entrance to your house to light your way home after dark and discourage would-be intruders.
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Date Published: May 28, 2021