Making Your Home Accessible: Modifications When You Have Mobility Issues
Whether you are dealing with an acute injury, or your mobility has decreased because of a chronic health issue, you can make your home more accessible with some changes. Grab bars, higher toilet seats, and walk-in tubs can all make your home safer when you are unstable on your feet. If you are worried about falling, and you want to avoid injury, there are a number of easy-to-install devices that you can use throughout your home to provide you with the stability that you need.
Safety Features in the Bathroom
Grab bars can be used throughout your home to make walking, or standing easier. One common area to put grab bars is in the bathroom, as it is easy to slip while using the tub or shower. If you are looking at a long term health issue, it will benefit you to invest in a walk in tub so that you can avoid falls when you are trying to shower. Grab bars will help avoid slips, especially when you are standing on a wet surface. It is also useful to place strips in your tub or shower that are anti-skid, to avoid unnecessary falls. If your toilet is not high enough, you can either install a handicap accessible toilet, or use a seat that fits over the toilet that has independent arms that you can balance on.
Stair Safety
People struggling with mobility often have the most difficulty going up and down stairs. You can put a railing on both sides of the stairwell, so that anyone walking down the stairs can hold on with both hands as they walk up or down. Remove any loose carpeting from the stairs, and use anti-skid strips instead of carpeting. Make sure that the stairs are free of hazards at all times, and if you aren't stable on your feet, only use stairs when another person can assist you.
Removing Clutter from Your Home
While throw rugs and small pieces of furniture may look great in your home, it's important to remove these small hazards when you are trying to make your home more accessible. Throw rugs cause people to trip, and they can slip easily. Small pieces of furniture may get in the way of a person trying to use a walker or cane, and should be removed.
As you work to make your home more accessible, use common sense. If something is in your way, move it. When you are worried about your mobility in a certain area, look for ways to improve your stability. For more information, visit websites like http://www.twincitystairlifts.com.