Renovation and adaptation of a house for reduced mobility

Wheelchair Access to the House

To facilitate wheelchair access to the house, consider installing an exterior ramp or a lift. 36-inch doors are ideal for wheelchair access. If this is not possible, 34-inch doors with suitable hinges can be used. Sliding or pocket doors are very useful. Ideally, avoid stairs or unevenness between rooms. Electrical switches should also be lowered by about a foot.

The Bathroom:

The Key Room to Adapt for Reduced Mobility
Once the general environment has been adapted, the bathroom is the highest priority room. Shower thresholds can be eliminated to facilitate access. You can also consider a multifunctional toilet, such as a bidet toilet, which offers a heated seat, cleansing jets, and a dryer. This provides great assistance to the user.

Grab bars should also be provided. For a more streamlined look, you can choose models that combine the support with another function, such as a towel bar. If you’re renovating the bathroom, always install a solid screw-in base in the wall for future grab bars, so you don’t have to break the new ceramic tile later. Finally, thermostatic faucets are great because you can preset the water temperature, making the shower easier and safer to start and stop.

A Functional Kitchen for People with Reduced Mobility

To make the kitchen functional, we’ll lower the kitchen counter height to 30 inches instead of the standard 36 inches. We’ll also install the oven and microwave at a height accessible to a person in a wheelchair. We’ll make sure there’s space near the appliances to put down what we’ve just taken out.

We’ll also raise the toe kick under the cabinets from 4 inches to 8 inches. This will allow the chair to get as close as possible to the counter. We will also leave space under the sink and stove so that the user can slide their legs in.