Modifying Your Kansas City Home for Wheelchair Accessibility
Kansas City Home Care • July 5, 2017
Have you found your Kansas City home’s no longer user friendly now that you’re in a wheelchair? If the chair’s going to be temporary, you may be able to live with it with some help from a caregiver and a few minor adjustments. If it’s going to be permanent, you’ll need to make some bigger changes. Here’s a checklist of what you need to consider.
Home Entry
- Choose the best entrance. If your front door has steps, it may not be your easiest way in. If you can roll straight in from your garage, that may be your best option.
- Build a wheelchair ramp. If there are stairs in both the front of your home and in your garage, you’ll need a wheelchair ramp or a lift.
- Widen your entry door. You’ll need at least a 32″ clearance to get the wheelchair comfortably through the door (most doors are 23″-27″). In some cases, reversing the swing of the door will allow it to open wider so you can roll through.
Living Room/Hallways
- Rearrange furniture. Make sure there’s room for you to comfortably maneuver the chair.
- Lower furniture. Tables, in particular, may need to be lowered to accomodate the chair.
- Widen doorways. Again, you’ll need at least a 32″ clearance. In some cases, it may be easiest to just remove the door. Or you can install pocket doors. Or again, try reversing the swing to allow the door to open wider. Add rubber ramps to help with thresholds.
- Remove rugs. Rugs aren’t great for rolling. Neither are carpets, but if they’re low pile, you should be okay to roll. Wood floors or tile work best.
Bathrooms
- Replace the tub with a shower. A roll-in shower is optimal. A shower seat is also a good idea.
- Install grab bars. Put grab bars by the toilet and in the shower for safety.
- Install sinks without vanity cabinets. Removing vanity cabinets will allow you to get closer to the sink; it will also give you more room to manuever, in general.
Bedroom
- Lower the bed. If your bed sits up high, find a way to lower it. The easiest way is to take it off the frame.
- Widen doors to walk-in closets. Or just take them off if that will give you enough space to roll in. Again, you can also install pocket doors or change the way the doors swing.
- Lower clothing rails in closets. Lower rails will allow you to reach your clothes without help. You may also want to add some lower shelves and/or cubbies.
Kitchen
- Lower countertops. This will give you access to work space and allow you to reach appliances. If lowering the countertops isn’t an option, add a pull-out cutting board for work space and move appliances to where they’re within reach. An appliance cart may be usefull if you have space.
- Rearrange shelves. Make sure items you use most often are within reach.
- Add pull out shelves to cabinets. Pull-out shelves will make it easier for you to reach items stored in the back.
- Get a side-by-side refrigerator and a range with front controls. A side-by-side regrigerator will give you easier access to both the refrigerator and the freezer. And without front controls on the range, you may not be able to use it at all.
- Remove the base from the sink cabinet. Removing the cabinet base will create easier access to the sink.
Stairs
- If you live in a house that has stairs and you need access to the upstairs rooms, you’ll need to install a chair lift.
This all may sound pretty daunting, but you don’t have to do it alone. If you have someone who’s helping you with care at home, see if he or she is able to help you make some adjustments. For major updates (e.g., a wheelchair ramp), you’ll want to hire a Kansas City (or Independence, or Overland Park) contractor who has expertise in making homes wheelchair accessible.
The post Modifying Your Kansas City Home for Wheelchair Accessibility appeared first on Kansas City Home Care.
REQUEST FREE
IN HOME ASSESSMENT
REQUEST FREE IN HOME ASSESSMENT
If you have an elderly parent or grandparent who needs healthcare support, patient advocacy strategies and services may be able to help navigate the journey.
Dementia is an illness that affects people’s cognition, memory, and behavior. Dementia is a progressive condition; therefore, symptoms may be mild at first and worsen over time. People with dementia can require professional dementia care, which varies depending on symptoms. Those with severe dementia symptoms can require 24-hour care. However, the question is, at what […]
The post At What Point Do Dementia Patients Need 24-Hour Care appeared first on Kansas City Home Care.
According to a 2016 report, 17.7 million Americans provide medical assistance to an elderly relative or friend. As we age, we may experience a decline in physical or mental health, adversely affecting our ability to live independently, which will leave us questioning when is it time for assisted living. Over half of those aged 85–89 […]
The post When Is It Time for Assisted Living? appeared first on Kansas City Home Care.
Here at Kansas City Home Care, we know that when it comes to choosing private care services for your loved ones, you likely have many questions. And that’s perfectly normal! Choosing a private care service is a big decision, and we want to do everything we can to help you feel comfortable and confident in […]
The post Private Home Care Services: Frequently Asked Questions appeared first on Kansas City Home Care.
As our parents age, we often find ourselves taking on new roles to ensure they’re well taken care of. If your parent is living with dementia, it’s important to understand how to best provide for them. Caring for a parent with dementia can be challenging, but there are ways to make it easier. First, you […]
The post How to Care for a Parent with Dementia: Caregiving Tactics for Elderly Parents appeared first on Kansas City Home Care.
Post-surgery recovery can be challenging for any person, but it can be especially so for seniors. To help you make the best of the situation, here are some tips from Kansas City Home Care on how to make your post-operative recovery period less stressful and more successful. Follow Your Physician’s Instructions Following your physician’s instructions […]
The post Respite Care Kansas City: Post-Surgery Recovery Tips for Seniors appeared first on Kansas City Home Care.
Are you the primary caregiver for an elderly loved one who lives far away? If so, you know how challenging it can be to manage long-distance caregiving. You may feel like you’re not doing enough or that you’re unable to be there for your loved one the way you want. But don’t worry – you […]
The post Long-Distance Caregiving: 6 Tips for Making Your Caregiving More Effective appeared first on Kansas City Home Care.
Alzheimer’s is a devastating form of Dementia that robs people of their memories and eventually their ability to function independently. For families dealing with Alzheimer’s, the physical and emotional toll can be overwhelming. One of the most difficult decisions families face is whether to keep their loved ones at home or place them in a […]
The post Understanding the Costs of In-Home Care for Alzheimer’s Patients appeared first on Kansas City Home Care.
For many older adults, social interaction is an important part of life. When caring for an elderly loved one, many families feel the tug to take on the caregiving responsibilities themselves. But there are benefits to home care that can be worth considering. By bringing in outside help, families can give their loved ones the […]
The post Benefits of In Home Care Services To Consider appeared first on Kansas City Home Care.
Nothing improves the quality of life for seniors than being active. Staying active helps older adults avoid or delay health issues associated with aging. Seniors may require help from relatives or professional caregivers to perform some activities. For instance, an older adult needs help from a trainer to engage in yoga. The best activities for […]
The post Activities for Seniors in Kansas City appeared first on Kansas City Home Care.
Kansas City Homecare provides caregiver support services for seniors who need assistance with everyday living and want to live in their home. Our visiting caregivers can provide meals, implement health programs, run small errands and assist with light housekeeping. We are your choice for premium in-home care in the Kansas City area.
We serve Kansas City, Leawood, Mission Hills, Lee's Summit, Overland Park, Lenexa and Olathe.
