Making your home accessible for all doesn’t have to break the bank. There are various simple and cost-effective ways to improve accessibility, whether you have a loved one with a disability or just want to ensure your home is comfortable for everyone. Here’s how to create an inclusive space without spending a fortune:
1. Clear Pathways and Reduce Clutter
- Declutter regularly: Ensure that hallways and rooms are free from obstacles. This improves mobility for individuals using wheelchairs, walkers, or canes.
- Move furniture: Ensure furniture is arranged in a way that allows for easy passage.
2. Ramps Instead of Steps
- Portable ramps: For entryways with steps, you can buy or make low-cost portable ramps. Materials like plywood can be cut to size for DIY ramps that are sturdy but affordable.
- Threshold ramps: Simple rubber or wooden threshold ramps can help eliminate small height differences at doorways.
3. Install Grab Bars in Key Areas
- DIY grab bars: Install grab bars in the bathroom, near the toilet, and in the shower or bathtub. They can help with stability and are easy to install with minimal cost.
- Cost-effective options: You don’t need to hire a contractor for this; grab bars can often be mounted with a simple drill.
4. Improve Lighting and Contrast
- Bright LED lights: Ensure rooms are well-lit to help individuals with visual impairments. Replace bulbs with energy-efficient LED lights.
- Contrast and color: Use contrasting colors for walls, floors, and furniture to help people with visual impairments navigate better. For example, dark mats on light floors or brightly colored door frames can be very helpful.
5. Non-Slip Flooring
- Use slip-resistant mats: Particularly in bathrooms and kitchens, make sure the floor is non-slip. Use anti-skid tiles, adhesive, non-slip strips on your current flooring or buy budget-friendly non-slip mats to lay on the floors.
6. Accessible Bathroom Setup
- Toilet height adjustment: If your toilet is too low for some people to use comfortably, consider installing a toilet seat riser or using a higher toilet model. These are relatively inexpensive.
- Shower aids: For easy shower access, a detachable shower head or a handheld sprayer is a low-cost addition that can make showers much more accessible.
7. Lever Handles for Doors and Faucets
- Replace door handles: Swapping round door knobs with lever-style handles can be an easy and inexpensive update, as they’re easier to use for people with limited hand strength or arthritis.
- Faucet upgrades: Install lever or touchless faucets, which are easier to turn on and off.
8. Chair Lifts or Stairs Lifts
- Secondhand or rented lifts: If you need to improve access to upper levels of your home, consider chair lifts or stairlifts that are often less expensive than purchasing Vertical Platform lifts or residential elevators.
- Inclined platform lifts for stairs: These are available at a cost-effective cost than traditional lifts and could be a viable option depending on your situation.
9. Mobile Accessibility
- Smartphone apps: Use apps designed to enhance accessibility, such as those for controlling lights, locks, or thermostats, making things easier to manage for people with physical disabilities.
- Voice-controlled devices: Invest in a voice assistant (like Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant) for hands-free control of lights, doors, and more.
10. Wide Doorways and Hallways
- Use removable door hinges: If you want to temporarily widen a doorway to fit a wheelchair or walker, you can install a removable hinge or simply remove the door to give more space.
- Temporary solutions: You don’t need to do major construction; sometimes, simply removing a door or re-arranging furniture can create wider access.
11. Furniture and Layout Considerations
- Use accessible furniture: Invest in adjustable-height tables or chairs that are easier to use by people with mobility limitations.
- Consider open spaces: Ensure there’s enough room to maneuver between furniture, especially for wheelchairs and walkers. Open spaces can be created by rearranging or replacing bulky furniture.
12. Increase Technology Accessibility
- Use voice-activated systems: Technology like smart thermostats, light bulbs, and security cameras can be controlled via voice, which is an easy way to make your home more accessible without any significant remodeling costs.
By focusing on small, budget-friendly changes like these, you can make your home much more accessible to everyone without spending a fortune. Whether you’re building a fully accessible home or simply making adjustments for specific needs, get in touch with Cairo Contracting as these changes will promote independence and comfort.
