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Low- and no-cost modifications for accessibility

Our needs and abilities can change as we age. If you or anyone who lives in or visits your house is getting older or has a disability, there are a whole range of low- and no-cost modifications you can make to your home to make it safer, more comfortable and more accessible for everyone.

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Doorways and entrances

  • Paint the threshold to your house in a contrasting colour as a visual signal to anyone with impaired vision.
  • Remove the storm or screen doors to make it easier for someone with arthritis or limited upper body-strength to enter your home.
  • Add a doorknob gripper or install a levered handle that can be opened without having to grip or twist the knob too tightly.
  • Use swing-away hinges to gain an extra few inches of clearance for a wheelchair or walker.
  • Place a bench at the entrance where people can set heavy items or sit down while putting on their shoes.
  • Remove any unnecessary doors from around the inside your home, so someone using a walker or wheelchair can move around more freely.
  • Install a peephole in your front door for extra safety and peace of mind.

Furniture and home layouts

  • Remove any clutter or obstacles from the hallways and main rooms.
  • Place your furniture to create a clear path of travel throughout your home, with extra manoeuvring space at doorways and the ends of halls.
  • Secure or remove any area rugs that someone could trip over.
  • Paint floors or doorways between rooms in different colours, to help people with a visual impairment or dementia find their way around.
  • Install low-level transition strips between any changes in height or level, or use different floor textures between rooms and at the edges of hallways.
  • Get a power bar and cable organizer to keep your television, telephone and other cords safely stored where they can’t trip anyone walking by.
  • Place the television where it will have the least amount of glare.
  • Put corner guards on the sharp edges of tables, chairs and other furniture.
  • Place elevated risers under beds or chairs to help anyone who has trouble sitting or rising from a seated position.

Stairs and staircases

  • Place a gate at the top of the stairs to protect seniors and small children.
  • Install a safety nosing or coloured strips between the treads and risers to make the edges of each step clearly visible.
  • Add a small bench or chair on the landing where people can rest or catch their breath.
  • Install a decorative post or finial at the beginnings and ends of railings to signal that the stairs are about to end.
  • Use strip lighting to make the stairs easier to see and help prevent falls.

Kitchens

  • Choose slip-resistant flooring or put a slip-resistant coating over any tiles—available at most hardware stores.
  • Install easy-grip D-handles on cabinets and drawers.
  • Reverse the swing on the refrigerator door if the access would be easier.
  • Get a pot stabilizer to keep pots from spinning while they are being stirred and a kettle tipper to fill or pour water from a kettle with minimal strain.
  • Place an anti-fatigue mat on the floor in the prep and cooking areas to make it more comfortable to stand for long periods of time.
  • Add a shelf between the counter and upper cabinets for accessible storage.
  • Install a shallow sink basin that can be used while standing or seated.
  • Use a folding, wall-mounted or Murphy bed-style table or counter to create more space for someone using a walker or wheelchair.

Bathrooms

  • Label your taps “hot” and “cold” if you have small children or if anyone in your home gets easily confused.
  • Add a safety mat and grab bars in the tub.
  • Get a raised toilet seat and add a bath seat in the shower to help people who have trouble getting into or out of a seated position.
  • Install D-handles on the cabinets and drawers to make them easier to open.
  • Get an accordion-style mirror for anyone with a visual impairment.
  • Use slip-resistant flooring or coating on the tiles.
  • Install a shallow sink that can be used in both standing and seated positions.
  • Use a medication organizer to make sure the proper doses are taken.
  • Purchase a water alarm to alert you if the tub or sink is overflowing.

Laundry room

  • Add stickers or marks on the washer and dryer settings to make them easier to see, or as a reminder for someone with memory issues or dementia.
  • Use detergent dispensers that don’t have to be lifted off the shelf.
  • Use a wheeled laundry cart to eliminate any heavy lifting.

Lighting

  • Add extra lamps throughout your home, and use task lighting to help seniors or someone with a visual impairment see what they’re doing.
  • Choose light switches in a contrasting colour to make them easier to find.
  • Use a night light to help prevent falls or confusion.
  • Install a motion detector to make it easier for anyone who has trouble using a light switch to turn the lights on.
  • Use a timer to turn lights on or off automatically for added comfort and safety.
  • Install motion-detecting lights at the entrance to your house to light your way home after dark and discourage would-be intruders.

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Date Published: May 28, 2021

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