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If you or another member of your household has mobility issues, it could be worth investing in a few of the following home modifications. Such upgrades could make life a lot easier and potentially prevent you from having to move house if mobility issues are likely to get worse.
Smart thermostat
Having to get up and manually adjust the temperature could be an inconvenience if you have mobility issues. A smart thermostat can make things easier by allowing you to remotely control your home’s heating from your phone. Thermostats are not the only beneficial form of smart technology that you can install in your home – options like smart lighting and smart sockets could also be handy if you have mobility issues.
Disabled access shower
Regular bathtubs and showers can be challenging to use for those with mobility issues. A disabled access shower provides much more space and is much easier to use – it’s pretty much a walk-in shower however, it has a fold-out seat that allows you to sit down as you shower. These showers can take up quite a lot of space, but could greatly reduce the risk of injuries from slips and falls. It’s possible that there could be other bathroom modifications worth making too such as lower washbasins.
Grab bars and rails
It could be worth adding grab bars and rails around your home. This allows those with mobility issues to grab onto something when they need to steady themselves. Grab bars are worth adding near toilets and beds – they can help those with mobility issues to lower themselves down and pull themselves up again. You may also find that grab bars are useful in other locations such as next to sofas. As for staircases, it could be worth adding handrails to the wall to offer support. Handrails could also be worth adding in other locations too such as along corridors.
Lifts and ramps
Lifts such as stairlifts or platform lifts may be useful for helping individuals with mobility issues to reach upper levels if climbing stairs has become too much of a challenge. Stairlifts are the easiest option to install – many of these are operated by a rechargeable battery, so you’ll need to have a socket located nearby. A lift needs to be regularly serviced to make sure that it’s working properly – you can hire lift repairs services to carry out this work. When it comes to single steps or smaller staircases, lifts may not be necessary and you may be able to install ramps instead. Make sure that the gradient of ramps is not too steep.
Downstairs bathroom/bedroom
If going upstairs is too challenging but you don’t want to move home, it may be possible to convert a downstairs room into a bedroom. You’ll also need to build a downstairs bathroom if you don’t already have one. The space under the stairs is a common place to build a downstairs bathroom, although there may not be adequate space for shower facilities.
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