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When considering the best home modifications to make as you age-in-place, it is helpful to think about the most commonly used places and spaces in your home. For most people, that list would include entryways and doorways, bathrooms, kitchens, and stairways.

A second thing to consider is the safety and accessibility of these commonly used places and spaces. Entryways and doorways, bathrooms, the kitchen, and stairways are the most common sites within the home of serious accidents for people with mobility issues.

Keep reading to learn some of the best home modifications you can make to prevent accidents and start to make your home more accessible!

Entryways and Doorways

Entryways and doorways can become safer and more accessible when modified with a ramp. Depending on your needs and preferences, there are many ramp options from which to choose.

If you access exterior entryways via a flight of stairs, installing either a modular aluminum ramp or a custom-built ramp is one of the best home modifications you can make. With a ramp, you no longer have to worry about stairs that are dangerous when wet or icy.

Ramps can also be used to make doorways safer and more accessible. Threshold ramps can be accurately adjusted to fit securely against a door jamb, creating a smooth surface to travel across, either on foot or in a wheelchair.

Kitchens

Nowadays, the kitchen is the most-used room in the house. Making modifications to make it more accessible and safer should be high on your priority list.

There are many ways that a kitchen can be modified. Kitchen layouts can be altered to create more space between countertops and kitchen islands.

Cabinets and countertops can be lowered to accommodate wheelchair users or individuals who lack arm strength or flexibility. Ensuring that kitchen flooring is slip-resistant with a gripping texture can prevent harmful slips or falls makes cooking worry-free. 

Brightening the kitchen with additional task lighting in specific areas of the kitchen, like over an island or the sink and under countertops, can prevent eye strain and make small tasks, like chopping vegetables, safer for everyone.

Bathrooms

It has been estimated that up to eighty percent of falls in the home occur in the bathroom. With its hard and sometimes slick surfaces, an investment in bathroom modifications is also an investment in the health and safety of you and your loved ones.

There are many ways to make bathrooms safer and more accessible. For bathing, you could opt for a wheel-in shower or a walk-in tub. You can make your existing bathtub safer with either permanent or suction cup grab bars.

Grab bars, as well as handles, can be used in many areas of the bathroom to increase stability. Some of the best places to install grab bars and handles are along walls, in the shower, and on either side of an ADA-compliant accessible toilet.

Stairways

The easiest and most effective way to make a stairway more accessible is by installing a stairlift. A stairlift allows users to move from one floor of the house to another safely secured in the stairlift’s seat.

Stairlifts can be customized to fit a wide range of staircase configurations, including staircases with a curve or bend in the middle. There are even stairlift models with foldable tracks, allowing everyone in the house to access a stairway according to their needs.

Home modifications that increase safety and accessibility in the most used places and spaces in your home can ease your mind about your decision to age-in-place. At Portland Accessibility Remodelers, we work with you to identify your individual needs to ensure your home is age-in-place ready!

To learn more about home accessibility modifications that can transform your home, contact Portland Accessibility Remodelers today!