Tips for Improving Home Accessibility
As a home health and hospice agency that specializes in providing geriatric healthcare, it is important to make sure that clients are living in homes that are as accessible as possible. Poorly maintained and unsafe living conditions can lead to falls, trips, and other serious accidents. It is essential that we take the steps required to ensure our clients are safe in their own home. Below you will find a few key tips that you can employ to improve their home accessibility.
Minimize Obstacles
The elderly and those living with disabilities must be able to move safely and freely throughout their living space. When designing a plan for ensuring safety in the home, it is important to minimize the potential obstacles the individual may encounter. This can be done by removing any sharp objects like furniture corners, eliminating trip hazards like electrical cords and wires, and ensuring pathways are kept clear.
Adequate Lighting
Lighting is incredibly important when it comes to home accessibility. Lighting should be of sufficient brightness and be placed in the right areas to ensure that obstacles can be seen properly. This is especially true for areas that have high rooms and other safety hazards that an individual may not be able to see in the dark. Furthermore, if possible, it may be recommended to invest in motion detection lighting as it might help to detect someone in need of assistance, or simply to turn the lights off in the event of a fall.
Securely Mounted Grab Bars
Grab bars are incredibly important for those that are elderly, sick, or living with a disability. Place grab bars in areas with high traffic to help support an individual and ensure their safety and security. When looking to buy grab bars, make sure to buy ADA compliant bars and place them securely into the walls. To complete the installation, always make sure to use the appropriate reinforcement to ensure that the grab bar is firmly in place.
Installing Accessible Appliances
Ensuring the home is safe also means making sure that devices and appliances are easily accessible. Moreover, it may be beneficial to invest in larger and higher-quality appliances that are easy to use. For instance, there are many accessible washing machines that have flat surfaces that make it easier for individuals to place and remove clothing. Similar accessible appliances such as dishwashers, refrigerators, and more can also be utilized to make sure that an individual is able to use an appliance efficiently and safely.
Adjustable Countertops
When it comes to home accessibility, it is important to take into account how individuals interact with their kitchen space. Many individuals living with disabilities find it difficult to access countertops, cabinets, and drawers. Therefore, it may be beneficial to look into adjustable countertops or counter height adjusters to help individuals access items in the kitchen. This could make a wonderful impact on an individual’s ability to live alone and manage their home independently with confidence.
Reachability
When it comes to home accessibility, reachability is the key factor that must be considered. The individual should be able to access any item or appliance in the home, without having to struggle for long periods of time. Furthermore, items that can be placed at an individual’s eye level can improve the reachability in a home and make it much easier for an individual to take care of their environment.
Conclusion
Improving home accessibility for our clients is an incredibly important part of providing geriatric healthcare. It is essential that we are taking the necessary steps to ensure that individuals do not encounter obstacles throughout their home. With the right amount of planning and research, you can find the right tools and equipment to ensure that our clients live in an environment that fits their health needs.