Creating a comfortable and safe living environment for anyone with accessibility needs is key in making sure a home is a welcoming place to be. To be successful, it’s important to look at the home in its entirety, making the essential accessibility upgrades across the building that are both focused on the practical and those that are more tailored towards convenience and comfort.

At John Ford Group, we have the years of experience in accessible home design that you need to make any home modification project a success. Here are five of the most important home modifications for accessibility, drawn from those decades of real-world expertise.

1 – Creating Easy and Accessible Entry Points

Making sure that everyone can get in and out of the house is the first step towards making an accessible home. It’s important to plan for the future; this may mean making adjustments for wheelchairs even if they’re not currently needed. 

• Ramps – Wheelchair users and those with other mobility issues benefit greatly from ramps rather than steps. Properly installed ramps provide safety and allow for independence and greater confidence. Ramps can be installed around the home, in entranceways and in areas of the garden where access can be improved. They should always include handrails and should be constructed of a slip-proof surface.
• Door Frame Widening – Widening doors provides access for wheelchairs, walkers, and other mobility aids. It also provides extra space for direct support from a carer. Widening both external and internal doors is possible.
• Accessible Door Handles – Lever-based handles are much easier to grasp and use if hand strength is limited, making them a cost-effective method of improving access for those with mobility or other physical considerations.

2 – Enhancing Doorways for Seamless Navigation

Widening doorways has already been mentioned and is as important inside as out, but there are other considerations that can make doorways less of a barrier. These include:

• Improved Floor Transitions – Making sure the level on both sides of the door is either the same or that any changes in height are sloped or ramped removes the need for steps and accommodates wheelchair users. 
• Sliding Doors – Replacing traditional doors with sliding doors or one of the variants (pocket doors, which slide into the wall, or bi-fold doors that slide open by folding in half) will provide more room for manoeuvring and make movement between rooms easier. They are especially relevant if space is at a premium, as there’s not as much need for a wider clearance area.

3 – Designing an Accessible Kitchen for Independence

An essential accessibility upgrade is in making the kitchen a usable space for all occupants. For those with accessibility issues, the design of a standard kitchen can effectively lock them out of the room, a severe blow to independence and self-respect. 

• Lowered Work Surfaces – Wheelchair users benefit most strongly from having work surfaces at an accessible height, allowing them to prepare meals comfortably and safely.

• Improved Storage Access – Pull-down shelves, rotating shelves and cupboard sections, and drawers replacing deep storage are all effective changes that reduce the need for reaching and bending. Reorganising where things are stored so that the most-used items are the most accessible also makes a significant difference.
• Accessible Controls – Appliances that have easy-to-use controls at an accessible height make all the difference to daily tasks. Smart home features and app control can also help in this area.

4 – Making the Bathroom a Safe and Supportive Space

Perhaps the most important room in the house, a safe bathroom is a vital part of your home modifications for accessibility.

• Walk-In Shower – A walk-in / roll-in shower, or ‘wet room’ facility will give those with mobility issues the independence they need to safely wash. If a carer is needed to assist, the additional space provides that comfort. Replacing bathtubs with a larger level shower facility greatly improves ease of use, safety, and the feeling of self-respect. 
• Handrails – Well-considered handrails (sometimes called ‘grab rails’) as part of your accessible home design will make it easier to move around the bathroom and use the facilities. These can either be fixed or hinged, and come in a range of styles to suit the decor.
• Accessible Sinks and Toilets – Repositioning the sinks and toilets, in both placement and height, can greatly enhance a bathroom and foster independence for users with mobility issues. 

5 – Redeveloping Outdoor Spaces for Accessibility

The home is much more than simply the inside areas. Having access to outside areas helps anyone with mobility issues enjoy the garden without limitation.

• Pathways and Ramps – Developing the garden with a wheelchair or walker in mind means ensuring that all relevant spaces are accessible, with ramps and non-slip pathways of paramount importance. Paths should be widened where necessary, and obstructions (such as imposing trees and bushes) should be cut back.
• External Lighting – LED lighting to make the paths clear, sensor-activated lights and effective patio lighting are all ways to make the garden safer for anyone who is mobility impaired.
• Accessible Gardening – Raised garden beds allow wheelchair users or those who struggle to bend so they can enjoy the therapeutic nature of tending to plants, while a sensory area can further enhance the pleasure of being outside.

For a deeper look at making gardens accessible, look at our article here. 

Professional Home Modifications for Accessibility 

Accessible home design makes a huge difference to anyone with mobility challenges. The essential accessibility upgrades detailed in this article can significantly change life for the better, making a home the safe and secure environment it’s meant to be.

It’s important, however, that everything is done to a professional standard. Even something as seemingly simply as a handrail can become a liability if it is poorly fitted, causing more harm than good. John Ford Group are specialist construction professionals with a proven history in accessible home alterations. We will work with you and your occupational therapist to determine the most effective changes that will bring the greatest benefit – and then install them with precision, making sure your home is safe and welcoming.

For more information, contact us today.