You can use the following tips to optimize wheelchair accessibility in your house. These tips will help the person who uses a wheelchair in your family will have more mobility and independence.
o One of the major problems that wheelchair users face is doorways being too narrow. One of solving this problem to a certain extent is installing hinges that allow the door to open and fall back in line with the frame. This can give a few extra inches. These hinges can be bought from a hardware store. However, not all hardware stores sell them.
o You can remove the normal door and install a bypass door on the overhead track.
o Remove the hand rims from the wheelchair to make it a little bit narrower.
o If the door has a trimming, remove it until halfway up the frame. This will allow an extra half inch in the doorway which might just be sufficient for the wheelchair to pass through.
o Accessibility should also be provided in the kitchen. You can mount adjustable mirrors above the stove that allow you to look into the pots while they are simmering on the stove.
o If the stove burner switch is located towards the back of the stove, you can buy a reacher. This is also helpful for people who have limited shoulder and arm movements.
o You can purchase special cutlery with large handles for people who are debilitated with arthritis or a stroke. However, the cutlery is expensive and only sold at specialty stores.
o In case you cannot afford to buy special cutlery, you can always buy a parfait spoon with a long handle. Bend the handle to form a loop. The user can wrap his fingers around the loop so that he does not have to grip it tightly.
o Install night lights so that you can access any part of your house after dark.
o Have phones that can be turned on and off with a push of a button.
o Put scarves, hats, gloves in a basket on a lower shelf so that the wheelchair bound person does not have to stretch to reach them.
o In case the person faces difficulty in switching on and off the lights, you can get special peddles to operate lamps.
o Cut a tennis ball into half and slip it over the door knob so that the person can grip and turn the knob easily.
o Rearrange the furniture in your house so that there is more space for the wheelchair to move around.