According to the Australian Institute of Health and Wellness, about 4.4 million Australians live with some form of disability. Of them, around 180,000 require the use of a wheelchair to get around.

If you fall into this category or have a close friend or relation who does, you’ll no doubt be aware of how crucial it is to live in a home that affords freedom and ease of movement. This doesn’t just relate to now but also as you get older.

For this reason, it is vital that the properties in which you or they reside are designed to prioritise accessibility. One way to do this is to create living spaces that minimise or eliminate potential barriers to entry.

The good news is that this can be achieved in a variety of ways. Here are seven of the most common things you can do to make a property more wheelchair-friendly. 

1. Move Home or Get Help

Before we highlight some of the ways a home can be made more accessible, it is worth pointing out that several companies offer NDIS disability accommodation that is already designed to maximise the liveability of wheelchair users. 

Subsequently, the easiest option might be to move into a property like this instead of coordinating a series of home improvements and modifications in an existing property.

Alternatively, or in conjunction with doing this, you might consider engaging any of a range of disability home care services with United For Care. Doing so can make life easier for you by helping with activities like personal care, cleaning and cooking.

2. Widen Hallways and Doors

For wheelchair users who don’t want to move, one of the easiest ways to redesign a home that prioritises accessibility is to widen the hallways and doors. This will go a long way towards enabling you to navigate your way around where you live.

Typically, a standard hallway or door is about 32 inches wide. However, for wheelchair users it is a good idea to have this extended to at least 36 inches and, if possible, closer to 40 to make them easy to pass through.

While widening the hall, it is worth installing French or sliding doors. These will allow for wider points of entry and add a stylish design element to your home.

That said, swing access or disabled sliding doors are a good alternative, especially as they can be operated via a phone app or a remote-control system.

3. Declutter and Reconfigure Furniture

Decluttering is another excellent way of improving the accessibility of a home

It is amazing how much easier it will be to move around if extra space can be created by streamlining the amount of furniture pieces or fixtures in any given room.

While decluttering can be a confronting process, especially if certain items have sentimental value, it is important to look past emotional attachments and consider the wider goal that is trying to be achieved. When deciding what should stay what should go, it is a good idea to sell, recycle or donate to charity excess furniture.

After doing this, consider reconfiguring the pieces you have left to maximise space and create an easier pathway through each room.

4. Install Ramps, Grab Bars and Handrails

Another worthwhile modification that can be made to make a home more accessible is to install aids such as ramps, grab bars and handrails in toilets, bathrooms, stairs and kitchens.

This apparatus will provide wheelchair users with much more independence and freedom, as it will make it easier for them to perform routine and necessary everyday tasks that many able-bodied people take for granted.

In view of factors such as elevation changes and weight resistance, it is worth getting a professional tradie to install them for you.

5. Stairlift 

For those who live in a multi-level home or generally lack space, it might not be feasible to install a ramp. Instead, putting in a stairlift might be a better option.

The great thing about stairlifts is they can easily help a person to ascend or descend to other floors of a home. They also come in numerous styles and designs to suit various budgets. So, it should be easy enough to find something that is not only functional but also looks good.

6. Replace Door Knobs to Handles

Door knobs can be difficult to get to grips with for wheelchair users, if you pardon the pun, especially if their hands are wet. So, it might be prudent to change them to handles that might be, well, easier to handle!

When doing this consider raising or lowering them to a level that can be easy for wheelchair users to open or close from their seated position.

7. Install Voice Activated Smart Home Technology Systems 

For many people who are wheelchair-bound the introduction of voice activated smart home technology systems have revolutionised their lives.

These systems enable them to operate many aspects of a home, including room temperature, the turning on of appliances like an oven or kettle and various security aspects.

This capability has significantly improved their independence and quality of life but making these everyday tasks much simpler to complete.

In addition to voice activation, they can also be completed remotely or in the home via apps on a computer, tablet or smartphone.