Due to the ageing population, modern homes need to be more accessible. This means there is an increase in multigenerational homes, which essentially means that they cater for numerous generations, such as grandparents and parents, once the parents’ children have moved out.
With residential property, it shouldn’t be difficult to make a home more accessible. Modern homes are becoming more spacious due to their interior design. This means that it shouldn’t come with an extra cost. Furthermore, interior design tends to consider timeless trends that fit numerous generations.
Universal Design
More homes are starting to consider a more universal design. This means that now a home is constructed to ensure that a home suits all abilities. It will remove any features of a traditional home to ensure that it is much easier to navigate around for all abilities. Furthermore, they need to follow a design that requires little change as the residents get older. Plus, if there is ever an injury with those residents, the home needs to be accessible, especially if their movement has become restricted. So, what makes a home have a universal design?
One of the things that is considered with a home’s design is to ensure that they have wider doorways and hallways. This provides that extra space for manoeuvrability and caters for those who require a Zimmer frame or a wheelchair. There are also many other considerations, as well, which will make a home have a universal design.
Essential Features to Make a Home Accessible
There are a number of things that can make a property accessible for its residents. These are some of the features that need to be considered.
Entrances
Before you consider the features inside a home, you need to consider the outside first before entering the property. The first feature is that there should be no steps to get inside the property. If there are steps, there needs to be a ramp to help people get into the building who cannot use steps. If there isn’t enough space for a ramp, consider purchasing a foldable wheelchair ramp that can be easily placed over the steps.
Something else that needs to be considered is the doorway. Some doors will have a lip before entering the building. This isn’t ideal for those who struggle to lift their feet up and can be considered a tripping hazard. Make sure your doorway is level with the ground floor to make it easy to enter. Additionally, you need to ensure that the doorway is wide enough for those who require a Zimmer frame or a wheelchair.
Bathrooms
The design of a bathroom also needs to be carefully considered. This includes walk-in showers, non-slip flooring and handrails so the person can easily keep themselves supported, no matter where they are in the bathroom. Ideally, handrails should be placed next to the toilet, next to the basin and in the shower itself. Toilets should also be much higher compared to the traditional toilet to ensure it is easy to get on and off the toilet. In some cases, a backrest would be required for a toilet as well.
Kitchen
The design of a kitchen is also important. Most traditional kitchens will have storage cupboards that are out of reach. So these storage options need to be reachable for the average person. Furthermore, there needs to be adjustable countertops. This is mainly for wheelchair users so they can easily adjust the height and be able to use the kitchen tops.
Lighting
Lighting is also very important, as most light switches can be out of reach. There are two ways to go about this. One way would be to lower all of the light switches in the property however, this means they are within reach of a child. The other option would be to consider a pull cord for the light switch instead. These are much better for those who use a wheelchair. For more modern homes, people can consider motion sensor light switches instead, especially in hallways and bathrooms where there needs to be light when someone is in there.
Accessibility For Multiple Levels
Something else that should be considered for a modern property is how someone with restrictions on moving can access the other floors. Again, there are a couple of ways to go about this. One of those ways, and more common, is for a house to have a stairlift installed. These are quite common, especially in pensioners’ homes. Furthermore, there are many affordable options with these stair lifts as well.
A home with multiple levels can be quite challenging, so there needs to be options for people to get up and down the stairs. For houses that have plenty of space in one of the rooms on the ground floor, a home lift can be installed to take you from one floor to another.
Some lift companies can offer a home lift to be installed if required. These can help to deal with the restrictions of going from one floor to another, which is something that some people have difficulty with.
Keep The Future In Mind
The future should always be considered, especially because we all get old eventually. Moving will become more difficult for the average person, so they need to find ways to make their homes more accessible and comfortable. It includes the simple things, such as getting access to the other floors. Furthermore, there needs to be plenty of space and very few tripping hazards to ensure your safety when you get older.
If you do consider the long-term future, you can add more value to your property, which would be good if you wish to sell your home. These small changes can profit your bank account and your health, so it is certainly worth considering.
Summary
A common misconception with accessible homes that have a universal design is that they are ugly. That is not the case. More space in a home will make your interior look more luxurious. Furthermore, it adds more functionality, which is always a benefit, no matter the age.
One of the issues that many interior designers face is that they never consider accessibility. This means that it becomes more of an afterthought rather than an issue that is dealt with at a later date. Additionally, there can be issues in regards to financial issues at a later date, so dealing with those potential problems earlier can make everything a lot easier.
There are many ways to ensure that you are providing value to your home, such as general repairs like water damage restoration, mould removal or even roof repairs. However, there are other things to consider, such as
