Make Your House Wheelchair-Ready

Published: October 28, 2013

Being able to move freely about your own home is incredibly important. If you are confined to a wheelchair, there are a number of steps that you can take to make your house more wheelchair-ready. Taking these steps will make you more mobile, and in turn, provide you with a greater sense of freedom, confidence, and satisfaction. We encourage you to do everything that you can, along with the help of friends and family, to turn your home into a place that is suitable for power wheelchairs and scooters – you will reap the benefits immediately.

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Your Step-by-Step Guide

To make your home more wheelchair-friendly, simply take the following steps:

Pay Attention to Your Flooring – Carpeting and rugs may make it difficult for your wheelchair to move around freely. Not only do rugs and carpeting provide far greater friction than smooth flooring, but the fabric may get caught in the moving parts of the power wheelchair. If you are confined to a wheelchair, we recommend that you remove all carpeting and rugs, and instead go with a smooth surface, such as hardwood, tile, or concrete. This will make it much easier for your wheelchair to maneuver, powered or not.

Pay Attention to Your Width – A wheelchair takes up more room than you do by yourself. It is important to consider how wide your wheelchair is and what its clearance requirements are. It will likely be necessary to modify your home in some fashion to accommodate your wheelchair. Among the things that may require your attention include:

• Door frames may need to be widened to accommodate your wheelchair
• Your bathroom will likely need to be refinished so that you can access the toilet and shower
• Paths may need to be formed so that you can move about with confidence
• Ramps, elevators, or chair lifts may need to be added if your home has more than one level or steps

Though remodeling your home to accommodate your wheelchair may be cost-prohibitive, you will appreciate its value when you begin to reap the benefits of such changes.

Be Mindful of Yourself – If you use a standard, non-powered wheelchair, you'll want to do exercises to keep your upper body fit and healthy. If you utilize a powered wheelchair or scooter, you will want to be sure to practice often so that you can deftly maneuver it with little difficulty. You should also take steps to become comfortable in your wheelchair; join social groups of like individuals or even sporting leagues. Your wheelchair is a part of your life and you should embrace it to get the most out of it.