Published by B. Cando on 24 Nov 2009
Home renovations for a motorized wheelchair
Most individuals never consider the home architecture before buying a motorized wheelchair. Even though most wheel chairs are of a standard size, homes, and apartment buildings do vary considerably in size and shape. Many homes have narrow entrances, alleys, small corridors and tiny elevators unless they are specifically designed to be wheelchair accessible. So it is vital that one know the home area before rushing to buy a motorized wheel chair. Sometimes people forget that they have steps or staircase and a wheel chair quickly becomes redundant.
With the worsening economy, not everyone can afford complete renovation of the home. Moreover, renovations are not cheap and many people who are disabled do not have the money for home renovations. However, this should not deter the individual from buying a wheel chair if one is required. There are some options that can help modify the home and make the place more wheel chair friendly.
The first thing to know is that all doorways must be at least 36 inches to allow motorized wheelchairs to pass through. If the wheel chair is slightly wide, then one can remove the door frame or the hinges. In most cases, this will add at least a few inches and will suffice in most cases. However, if this is the front or back door, this is not a great option because you simply cannot have a door without the frame or hinges attached to it. So it is vital that before you buy any type of wheel chair, you should know the width of doors in your home or apartment.
In some cases, the door to the kitchen or bathroom may need to be removed. In most homes, bathroom entrances are the narrowest door of the house and present a common problem to individuals with wheel chairs. Once the door is removed, one can replace this with a curtain, plastic or roll up screen.
In some cases, individuals who are wheelchair bound have little upper body strength and are unable to rotate door knobs or push doors that are heavy. In such cases, the locks many have to be changed to a lever type handle which can be easily manipulated with the elbow.
Other options for these individuals may include installing lighter but strong doors, or doors which open when electronically activated. These automatic doors can be used in all parts of the home and do come with a secure lock system.
For individuals who use wheel chairs, one should avoid placing heavy rugs or carpets around the house. Wheel chairs can be difficult to drive on heavy carpets and can make it difficult to enter the home. Often the doormat edges can trip the individual and also make it difficult for one to get up from the wheel chair.
Moreover, individuals in motorized wheel chairs with poor vision should avoid placing items along alleys and corridors to avoid accidents. Door mats are a common cause of difficulty when entering the home. The best choice of floor material for individuals with wheel chair is tiles or wood.
Finally when one is bound to a motorized wheel chair, a small view window is a great investment. This allows one to see outside and also helps people who have poor hearing. Further, the view window also permits the person outside to see who is at home. The view window is also a safety measure and allows outsiders to check in on their wheel chair bound neighbor.
