Mobility options for your home

There are lots of circumstances that can make it difficult for people to navigate their way around the home. Physical disabilities and old age can affect mobility, strength, and the ability to navigate effectively, while other conditions can impact memory and the ability to safely move around a property.

Making adaptations to your home with these issues in mind can reduce the risks of accidents occurring and mean that people can avoid having to move into a new home or residential care. The amount of work that will need to take place and the resulting costs can vary greatly depending on what conditions you’re accounting for, but there are plenty of options to choose from.

Outdoor Ramps

Certain disabilities make it difficult – or even impossible – to navigate steps and stairways to home entrances. Adding a ramp will allow for wheelchair users to enter the property much more easily and will also make it easier for elderly able-bodied people to get into the home. 

Ramps can be added as a permanent fixture, but you can also make use of a suitcase ramp that can be used as and when needed, and can even be taken outside of the home to help people to walk up and down kerbs and small steps, and to get in and out of vehicles.

Stairlifts

Stairlifts help to carry the users from one floor to another. This kind of addition is perfect for people who are unable to use stairs but would prefer to not relocate to a single floored dwelling.

One of the big advantages of a stairlift is the confidence they can end up giving someone and there really is a price point for everyone no matter how your home is configured. For more in-depth information about this kind of feature, it’s worth checking the Age UK Mobility home lifts page where a professional can help you through the process.

Walk-In Showers

Many people struggle with regular shower and bath formations for a variety of reasons – they can be slippery, difficult to navigate, and can be impossible for some people to get into. Walk-in showers offer a solution to this because they can be designed to remain level with the rest of the bathroom flooring, have anti-slip trays, contain wider doors for easier access, and can even have built-in seats.

Rails and Lighting

Making adaptations to your home doesn’t always require large-scale building works to be completed. Simple additions such as railing in common walk-through areas can help people to navigate around the home more easily. Automatic outdoor lighting is also useful to help people avoid any dangers that may otherwise go unseen at night-time. 

Modern adaptations to properties make it much easier for disabled people to remain in the home they love. Nevertheless, it’s important to seek advice from professionals such as Age UK Mobility to make sure you’re making the right choices for your given situation and getting the best possible value for your money. 

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