Keep essentials on the main level

Having access to the most essential elements of your household on one level means you won’t need to climb numerous stairs. If you don’t have the ability or space to have your essential elements accessible on one floor, finding some accessible equipment, such as a stair-glide, might be an alternative.

Automate

You can make your life easier by installing motion sensors or have remote controls to operate numerous things in your home. For example: lighting, fans, heating/cooling systems, or automated door openers.

Maximize natural lighting

Create a natural mood booster, while also enjoying more light with less glare, with the addition of windows, French or patio doors, and skylights in windowless areas.

Adding “balance bars” for support

Add decorative grab bars to give you support near toilets, tubs and showers. Curved, ergonomic designs are easier to use than straight bars; add heavy-duty towel bars and reinforce them so they can double as support. Make sure walls in the bathroom have 3/4″ blocking between studs to allow for maximum flexibility of grab-bar placement.

Slip-resistant flooring

Install easy-care wood, slip-resistant tile, or dense carpet with less than 1/2″ pile in living ares so your flooring will not trip anyone.

Higher outlets and lower switches

If you are building or remodeling, raise outlets to 18” from the floor to make it safer for children and reduce bending, and lower light switches to 32” so children or someone in a wheelchair can operate them.

Does it pass the closed-fist test?

Faucets, cabinet handles, and door knobs can be used by almost everyone if they can be operated with a closed-fist. Test them out before you purchase. Replace round door knobs with lever handles that can be easily opened with a closed fist. Hand rails and grabs should allow clearance the width of a closed fist between them and any walls. For help in completing these projects, call Adapted Home and Business at 800-722-1371.