Four Temporary Changes That Can Be Made To A Home To Accomodate Use Of A Wheelchair
When someone is injured in a car accident and loses their ability to walk temporarily, changes will need to be made to their home to accommodate their needs. The changes that are made do not need to permanently change the home though. The following guide offers you a few ideas for temporary changes that can be made to a home until someone regains their ability to walk.
Install Ramps
There are temporary ramps that can be added to the exterior of a home to make it easier to get in and out of it. You may not realize that small ramps can also be added to the interior of the home to allow someone to easily have access to their counters or the sink without having to get out of the wheelchair. Most counters and sinks are installed at a height that is slightly out of reach for someone in a wheelchair, and the ramps make cooking and cleaning a bit easier.
Install Bathroom Handles
When getting in and out of the tub, having handles to grab onto allows someone to safely maneuver their body in the slippery space. The grab bars adhere to the sides of the shower space through suction. When someone regains their ability to walk, the bars can easily be removed from the wall.
Install a Raised Toilet Seat
Getting on and off of the toilet will be difficult when using a wheelchair because the seats are often positioned slightly lower than the chair. Installing a raised seat on the toilet will make transitioning their body from the chair to the toilet seat easier.
Install Sliding Shelves
In the kitchen, sliding shelves can be installed in tall cabinets to allow the person to make the most of the space available in their kitchen. The upper cabinets will be impossible for the person to reach, but sliding shelves can be added to allow items to be brought down to a height that is easy for the person to grab while they are still sitting in their chair.
These changes will make life much easier while someone lives in a home that is not modeled to accommodate someone in a wheelchair. The changes are relatively inexpensive to do and worth the investment if they can make life easier until someone regains the use of their legs. Making permanent changes to a home is often not a good idea, because it will make it more difficult to sell the home later on because some of the permanent changes will not accommodate every potential homebuyer.
If you need help finding the right additions or changes for your home, you can talk to a local mobility equipment supplier like Alaska Mobility.