Your home should be a safe and comfortable place. Whether you are modifying your home for the future, or you have mobility problems right now, there are several ways to make the space more accessible. There are plenty of modifications you can make that don’t cost a lot of money so you can spend your money on the things that really matter.
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Include Home Tech
Having home tech like an elevator makes multi-level living much easier. Having one can often make the difference between staying in your home and having to move somewhere else. When you are searching for a Canadian home elevator, you have plenty of options to choose from.
Other home tech will help you make your space more accessible as well. Today’s appliances, such as ovens, dishwashers, washers, and coffee makers are often smart appliances.
These will connect with your phone or voice-activated smart speakers so you can control your environment without having to go into the relevant room. You can also have it send you an alert when the cycle is complete, so you won’t forget about anything. You can even find smart curtains and smart blinds, which allow you to get more light in your space in the morning and darken the area at night. Adjusting blinds or curtains can be difficult if you have mobility problems, making a smart curtain a clever option.
Add Grab Bars
Grab bars and other handles are not that hard to put in, and they are relatively affordable. Installing them in bathrooms, hallways, and bedrooms can make it easier to get around. As you consider the best places to install them, consider where you will need to move around. You may find you spend much of your time in your family room and need some more support there, and the bathroom can be hazardous if you have mobility or balance problems, so grab bars can prevent you from falling down.
Swap Out the Doorknobs
Replacing your doorknobs might make them easier to use. You can put lever handles in place of regular doorknobs if you have issues with grabbing regular knobs. These are also sometimes called French door handles. Even if you can’t do all the knobs yet, consider at least replacing the most frequently used ones on the bathrooms and near entries. This is something you can either do yourself or hire a locksmith to do for you.
Make the Kitchen More Accessible
The kitchen might be considered the most used room in the home, but it is also sometimes the least easily accessible. This is because there are often appliances and cabinets above the counters, which can be challenging to reach. Plus, the counters themselves might be too high if you are in a wheelchair. You can rearrange the kitchen so the items you use most are lower down and easier to get to. You might be able to lower the countertops if you are already renovating the kitchen, and you can likely move appliances, like the microwave, to a lower spot.