We’ve been talking a lot about ways to make your home more accessible the past few weeks, and we’re wrapping up the series (at least for now) this week with some tips to make your outdoor area more accessible. Some of these may seem familiar from weeks past, but hopefully these items will give you some ideas to make your outdoor area comfortable for your entire family:
-Getting inside: First off, you’ll need to think about making it easy for people with walkers, wheelchairs, and other supportive equipment to get inside your house. Installing ramps, railings, and widening doorways are great places to start.
-Door knobs and locks: You may also want to think about changing door knobs that are difficult to twist with lever-style door knobs instead. Electronic locks for doors and windows can also make entry easier for everyone. From the inside, make sure that if you have peepholes on your front door, you install them at both standing and wheelchair heights.
-Garage: If you don’t already, making sure you cover at least part of your driveway will make it easier for those with supportive equipment to get in and out of vehicles, particularly if you do not have a garage. If you do have a garage you can park your vehicle in, make sure you widen your doorways (36” is recommended) and install ramps or railings for your loved ones to get from the house to the garage. Keeping a clean floor plan in the garage is also important so that wheelchairs and walkers have enough space to navigate, turn, and transfer to the vehicle.
-Sidewalks, patios, and other outdoor areas: Make sure your sidewalks or pathways are wide enough to accommodate wheelchairs or walkers. Seating areas should have enough room for those with supportive equipment to transfer from a walker or wheelchair to your patio furniture, and you may choose to install railings, grab bars, or other items to help with the transfers. Additionally, make sure your garden hose is accessible to everyone by creating a sidewalk to it or placing it in an area where everyone can reach it. Ensure that there is good lighting in your outdoor areas by adding motion-activated lighting or rocker-style light switches that are easy to turn on and off.
These are just a few tips to help make sure all of your loved ones can enjoy your outdoor area. If you need assistance with these or any other accessibility projects, Hunter Handyman Services is here to help. Give us a call at (815) 780-7884 for more information and a free estimate.
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