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A Home Friendly for People with Disabilities
The home should be a place where all family members can feel safe and comfortable. For people with disabilities, it is important that the home can accommodate their needs and enable them feel secure and live as independently as possible.
Each area in the home has its own hazards. Depending on the nature of the individual’s disabilities, various measures can be taken to reduce the risk of accident. Some measures are simple such as removing rugs and securing electrical cords to prevent slips and falls. Others may be more complex such as modifying certain parts of the home to improve accessibility.
In the kitchen, store commonly used items in more reachable parts of the cabinets. It is also advisable to have a stove with front controls to avoid having to stretch across hot burners or pots to turn the fire on or off. A lower work area in the kitchen will allow someone to sit while preparing the food.
For a person using a wheelchair, having sufficient space to move and turn around is helpful. In the bedroom, the bed should be of a height that allows the person to get on and off more easily. A bed rail can be installed to provide additional support.
Install grab bars in the bathroom by the side of the toilet and shower area. Place non-skid mats to prevent falls on wet, slippery floors. If you are planning on renovations, consider replacing the floor tiles with non-slip flooring. Adjust the height of the sink if necessary and install lever taps which are easier to control.
Another important aspect is lighting. Have a night light in the bedroom and pathway leading to the bathroom. Place light switches close to room entrances and if necessary, install motion-sensitive lighting or a sound-activated adapter to turn on the lights.
Furniture may be rearranged to allow ease of movement for family members using walkers or wheelchairs. Chairs with slightly higher seats would also be easier for people with mobility problems to sit down and get up.
The steps to be taken to make a home friendlier for a person with disabilities would depend on the type of difficulties the individual is facing. The family can then identify the problem areas in the home and make the necessary changes to suit the needs of the individual.
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