Planning and executing proper home modifications for disabled people is critical to make their living space safe and easily accessible. Partnering with a registered NDIS provider can be beneficial as they are known for making short-term improvements and long-term home modifications for the disabled.
Now we know who to work with to modify home interiors keeping the needs of disabled people in mind. But the question is, what should you change for ease of access? Your service provider will provide plenty of recommendations to make the modification job worthy. However, you must also do some research on accessible home modifications to evaluate the NDIS provider’s suggestions. It will let you arrive at the right decision on time.
In this post, we will shed light on the most common home modification practices that will help you learn about the conventional changes you can make at home to make it easily accessible for a disabled family member. Besides, we will also reveal the highest-rated NDIS provider you can choose to address the accessibility needs. So, without wasting time, let’s dive into the discussion.
Modification Tips to Streamline Mobility Through Stairs
Navigating through stairs is considered the toughest hurdle for many elderly and disabled individuals. Poor lighting in stairwells and carpeting on stairs multiply the magnitude of the problem. Consider fitting stair lifts or glides to solve the mobility issue. Installation of additional handrails may also come in handy depending on your budget and the patient’s condition. Invest in high-illumination lights for the staircase area if the patient or the senior has limited vision.
Bathroom Modifications
A recent study showed that 80% of residential falls occur in the bathroom. Needless to say, aged and disabled individuals are more prone to it as they can frequently lose balance on a wet surface. Consider applying a non-slip coating on the bathroom floor to make it less slippery. It is a common practice in NDIS bathroom modifications. Get curbless walk-in showers so that wheelchairs, transfer chairs, or walkers can easily be taken to the shower. Making these changes in your bathroom will reduce the chances of accidental falling.
Easing Wheelchair Accessibility
Many disabled people depend on wheelchairs for better mobility but not many homes are designed to accommodate the requirements for wheelchair accessibility. If your family member is dependent on a wheelchair, flatten out the lips, which may restrict wheelchair access. The same rule is also applicable to thresholds. Besides, you must also measure all entryways in your home and increase their width if needed for the ease of wheelchair accessibility.
Address Thresholds and Focus on Consistent Flooring
Thresholds cause difficulties to disabled people while roaming in-house as minimum elevations like 6 inches or less may feel like a mountain to them. Consider using removable ramps to overcome the hurdle posed by thresholds. Sudden changes in flooring like wood to carpet may also cause mobility problems for disabled people. Therefore, we recommend installing consistent flooring throughout the living area or, at least, even out the existing flooring to make home mobility hassle-free for the disabled.
We hope these modification ideas will ease accessibility for disabled people. You can rely on Dwelcom Pty Ltd to turn your modification ideas into reality. We are a leading NDIS provider performing home modifications for the disabled and elderly. Our team works in cooperation with expert occupational therapists to achieve personalised home modification outcomes for each patient. Get in touch with us to discuss your requirements. Let us help your disabled family member access his/her home safely.