Typically, there will be at least one floor drain in the bathroom. The master bathroom (or all bathrooms) most likely will require a roll-in shower rather than a tub – It is recommended that the concrete subfloor in the bathroom be lowered by an inch in order to make transitioning from the hallway into the bath smoother. These will also be great in any closet as well as the bathroom. If items are harder to reach and overhead, keep “reachers” in convenient areas throughout the kitchen that can grab items from high shelves and cabinets. When it comes to storage solutions, Add “Lazy Susans” to the lower cabinets, so it will be easy to access pot and pans. Plus, there are several ovens that have the button and dials across the front. When looking for appliances, a side-by-side refrigerator is the perfect choice. Once again a single lever sink faucet makes perfect sense. Offering knee clearance provides a great place for a workstation. Then, countertops should be lowered to 30” and offer knee clearance. First, a 5’ diameter clearance is needed for a wheelchair to turn around, so keep the kitchen wide open. Keep the kitchen open – There are few important necessities to consider when designing the kitchen. Some cut pile and Berber varieties may work better, but with ease of movement, carpet would not be the best choice. Be careful when considering carpet and definitely steer away from plush varieties, which would make movement almost impossible. Laminate, vinyl and wood laminate are all great choices as well making movement throughout the home easy. Large tile flooring is easier to keep clean – Wheelchairs are sure to track in considerable dirt and moisture from the outdoors, so the less grout, the easier it is to keep indoor floors clean. Often a fixed window may be placed below or above to make a larger window. For most wheelchair heights, the windowsills should be lower than the norm. Do remember to place carefully, so that the crank is within optimal distance for someone seated in a wheelchair. Swing away hinges are useful on doors and increase the door width by 2” – In addition, lever style door handles can be used much easier than the traditional knob style, so opt for this style fixture when making selections on interior finishes for your home.Ĭasement windows use cranks that allow easy opening with just one hand – Instead of the cumbersome double-hung variety, opt for a casement style window that can be opened much easier. If there’s a bump or raise in the flooring level between rooms, it only becomes more difficult for the wheelchair user to move freely and easily. If you decide to change flooring types between rooms kit is imperative that the subfloor is laid properly so that the transition between rooms is seamless. Transitions between rooms are important – And, doorways should be a minimum of 32” wide. Anything more narrow or with bends will make travel more difficult. So, find a plan that has short hallways that are 4’ wide and straight. Open floor plans with minimal hallways areīest – Hallways will most likely be needed to reach bedrooms and baths. Here are some things to consider if you are contemplating building a wheelchair accessible house plan. These homes generally will have taken many of the design challenges into consideration already and hopefully if there are any other custom changes, they will be minor. But, there are a lot more features that need to be accounted for when considering a wheelchair accessible home.įirst, start by looking for wheelchair accessible house plans and see if you find something that includes majority of the features you are looking to include. This means that the home definitely does not feature any obstacles such as staircases or narrow doors, for instance. So, the next step often is to begin looking to build a wheelchair accessible home design that includes all the features needed for comfortable living. Sure, there are changes that can be made, but to make an individual confined to a wheelchair feel completely mobile in an existing home that has been modified is difficult and often costly. Sadly, it is often a huge obstacle to remodel most homes to accommodate wheelchair accessibility properly. Many homeowners begin by taking a look at their current living situation and trying to find answers. With the age of the population in the United States rising, it is obvious that now more than ever, there will be a need for more wheelchair accessible housing to handle the physical limitations older individuals will have to endure in the very near future.Ĭhances are, you and your family will encounter a situation where you or a loved one will need a dwelling that is wheelchair accessible. department of Commerce, Economics and Statistics Administrations, by the year 2030, approximately 71.5 million people will be 65 and older.
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