Renovating a home for wheelchair accessibility can seem overwhelming, but Van Products offers a few tips on how you can turn a challenge into an opportunity to create freedom of movement in, around and out of the home for a wheelchair user.
Ramps are important
Most homes have steps toward an entrance. Installing front, side and even back ramps will give a wheelchair user greater opportunities for independence. Be sure to screen contractors and ramp providers carefully to get a long-lasting and safe product.
Smooth floors, ease of flow between rooms
Remove all loose rugs and carpets, and check transitions between rooms for ease of movement and safety. Study the furniture placement, and use a chair to test the width of different pathways in the home.
Check your bathroom for function
Roll-in showers are available for purchase, or a plumber may be able to adapt your current shower. Specially made bathtubs, with a rise of just a few inches, are examples of products available for ease of use. These kinds of tubs fill and empty water quickly.
Access to technology, the basics
Use universal remote controls for televisions and other electronic devices. Adding “Clapper” devices to turn lights on and off will also allow wheelchair users control of conditions when entering or exiting a room.
Check your dining arrangement
Arrange your seating to create space and ease of movement for a wheelchair around your table and kitchen area so the wheelchair user can assist with meal preparation and cleanup, if they so choose.
Getting from one place to another inside or outside the home doesn’t have to be challenging or frustrating. Explore the opportunities that wheelchair vans can provide. Whether you decide to rent a van or purchase, let Van Products assist you.
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