Adapting your home without major renovations

When walking becomes more difficult or you use a wheelchair or walker, your familiar home can suddenly present practical obstacles. A narrow doorway, a loose rug, or a piece or furniture that is just at the wrong place can make daily life unnecessarily difficult.

Fortunately, adapting your home doesn’t always require major renovations. Small changes can make a big difference.

Ensure adequate space for movement

For someone using a wheelchair or walker, clear walking and moving paths are important. Take a critical look at how your living room is arranged.

Can a side table be removed? Is a chair really at the way? Is there enough space to turn around easily?

By rearranging furniture, you can sometimes create surprisingly more space, without making any changes to the home itself.

Remove small obstacles

Loose floor rugs, cables, and high thresholds can be problematic with a wheelchair or walker and increase the risk or falling.

Cables can be hidden away, and for some thresholds there are simple threshold ramps available. A door stopper can also be useful when a door keeps closing while you’re trying to get through.

Make everyday items easily accessible

Also consider items you use every day. Dishes stored high at a kitchen cabinet or clothes on hard-to-reach shelves can be unnecessarily difficult to access.

By keeping frequently used items at a comfortable height, you become less dependent on help from others.

Think about the bathroom and toilet

This is where small adjustments can make a real difference.

Which adaptations are suitable naturally depends on someone’s personal situation and mobility.

Consider, for example, additional grab bars at the bathroom, better lighting at the hallway, a non-slip mat at the shower, or a raised toilet. Such adjustments can be arranged quickly.

Your home remains your home

Adapting your home doesn’t mean it suddenly has to look like a care facility. The goal is that you can live safely and independently at home at an environment where you feel comfortable.

So walk or move through your home at a relaxed pace and ask yourself one question about each room:

Can I do what I want to do here easily and safely?

Sometimes a small change is all that’s needed to make your home just a bit more comfortable.