Those who are older and those who have mobility or sensory disabilities sometimes need home modifications to help them navigate their homes independently. From assisting with navigating stairs to ensuring someone with visual concerns can safely move around a home, sometimes these modifications require an actual change to the house, its structure or its features. Here are several home modifications that can make life easier for senior citizens and those with disabilities.
- Installing grab bars in bathrooms
- Installing walk-in or roll-in tubs/showers in bathrooms
- Swapping out doorknobs with pull handles
- Installing ramps for exterior access
- Installing stair lifts for access to other stories
- Eliminating stairs where possible
- Additional handrails on stairs without stair lifts
- Addition of first-floor laundry facilities
- Adding a bath or shower to the first floor bedroom
- Addition of portable shower seats
- Levered faucets in sinks and showers
- Adjusting windows so they are easy to open
- Installing automatic openers on the garage
- Adding peepholes or viewing panels to exterior doors
- Strategic lighting to increase visibility
- Installing non-slip tape on exterior steps and ledges
- Installing an elevated dishwasher to limit bending