Your home should be the ultimate haven that provides comfort, shelter, and of course, space to enjoy the important moments in life. Incorporating accessibility minded design can help ensure that your home stays safe and easy to enjoy in the years to come, as well as add value to the property. Learn more about the importance of senior friendly/accessible home renovations below!
What Makes A Home Accessible?
As the name suggests, accessible design is meant to make sure every area of your home is easy to access and navigate, regardless of any physical ailments that may affect mobility and coordination. Oftentimes, as we age, or even encounter a life changing incident, we may find our ability to move around the house and reach certain areas increasingly difficult. Accessibility focused designed will help to mitigate these challenges by creating clear paths and reducing barriers in each room. Key areas of the home to focus on include:
- Bedrooms
- Kitchens
- Bathrooms
Since these areas play a key role in our day to day lives, it’s important to ensure they are equipped to meet our needs, especially if your mobility is reduced. Below are a few items to keep in mind with regards to bathroom renovations.
Designing A Safe Oasis
When it comes to senior and accessibility friendly home design, bathroom renovations should be among your top priority as a property owner. Without the proper safeguards in place, bathrooms can become one of the most difficult and dangerous areas of the home for those with mobility concerns. Slips, falls, and other mishaps are a high risk, but can be prevented by looking at each component of your room careful. Core areas to consider include:
Showers/Tubs
Adding in grab bars or rails can help keep occupants steady while getting in and out of the shower or bath, as well as minimize the risk of slipping inside. If you’re hoping to keep your additions discreet so as to not disturb your aesthetic, there’s no need to worry: there are plenty of subtle options available that blend in with ease. You can also consider options such as a walk-in tub, or wheel-in shower as well as nonslip flooring options.
Toilets
Installing a taller or or wall hung toilet with a grab rail near by can help to reduce the chances of falling, particularly for occupants using a walker or wheelchair. It’s also wise to consider having storage installed nearby that makes it easy to reach for essentials like extra toilet paper as needed.
Sinks and Vanities
For those who need extra space to accommodate mobility assistance items, installing a wall mounted sink without a cabinet underneath will give you additional space to move comfortably. Including single handle faucets that are easy to move in either direction can reduce the strain of turning knobs for wrists, and consciously placed mirrors, should make freshening up a breeze.
Lighting
Lighting is one of the most important aspects of any washroom, and becomes even more imperative where accessibility is concerned. Light switches should be easy to reach for all occupants, and you’ll want to ensure you that you have enough brightness to safely navigate the room. For those who have trouble reaching switches, motion detector switches are a good option, as well as LED bulbs that reduce the need to constantly replace burnt bulbs.
Your Safety Means Peace Of Mind
Accessible bathrooms and home design shouldn’t feel like a hassle. At Peak Improvements, our team works closely with each of our homeowners to design a renovation that’s perfect for you. Contact us today to learn more!