Home should be a place of comfort and safety. But for seniors, people with disabilities, or anyone with mobility challenges, daily tasks can become obstacles. Accessible home modifications can make your space safer and easier to navigate.

At Lakeshore Barrier Free, we specialize in home modifications that promote accessible living. From small upgrades to complete remodels, we’ve helped many people redesign their homes to ensure better safety and accessibility. 

Let’s explore a few barrier-free upgrades that can make a real difference in your life.

Are you looking for an expert resource in accessible spaces, special modifications for persons with mobility challenges, and more? Contact Lakeshore Barrier Free today.

1. Install Grab Bars in Key Areas

Slips and falls account for over 1 million hospital emergency room visits or 12% of total falls. They are also a leading cause of injury in the home, especially for seniors and individuals with limited mobility. 

Bathrooms, hallways, and staircases are high-risk areas where maintaining balance can be difficult. Grab bars provide much-needed stability, allowing you to move confidently and safely.

Where to Install Them:

• Bathrooms: Installing grab bars near toilets and inside showers can boost bathroom accessibility. Many accidents happen in the bathroom due to wet and slippery floors, so adding grab bars near the tub, shower, and toilet provides necessary support.
  
  
• Hallways and Staircases: Your hallways and staircases also need grab bars for safety. Stairways can be difficult for those with mobility issues, and hallways can become obstacles without proper handholds. Installing grab bars in these locations makes it easier to walk safely, especially for those using walkers or canes.

Hire a professional to install grab bars since they specialize in home modifications for barrier-free living. With their help, you can ensure the grab bars are placed securely and at the right height for your needs.

2. Add Ramps for Easy Mobility

Steps and raised entryways are major barriers for everyone using wheelchairs, walkers, or canes. Even a single step at the entrance of your home can make it difficult to get in and out independently.

Installing wheelchair ramps makes it easier to move freely without struggling with steps or needing assistance. Whether permanent or temporary ramps, they increase safety, independence, and ease of movement.

Where to Install Them:

• Main Entrances: Install a ramp at your front door to eliminate the challenge of climbing steps. A well-designed entry ramp blends with your home’s structure, ensuring accessibility without compromising curb appeal.
  
  
• Garage and Side Doors: Ramps also provide barrier-free entrances inside your home. Adding them to garage and side entrances ensures you can move freely through all entryways.

However, you should trust only a seasoned expert in installing permanent and temporary ramps. They can provide you with customized solutions tailored to your mobility needs.

3. Widen Your Doorways and Hallways

For wheelchair users and those using walkers, navigating tight spaces like doorways and hallways can be a nightmare. Widening them allows you to pass through easily without the risk of getting stuck or struggling to maneuver. Making these home modifications creates a more inclusive living space for you and your caregiver.

Where to Modify:

• Doorways to Bedrooms and Bathrooms: People with limited mobility struggle to move through narrow bedroom and bathroom doors. Widening these doorways for wheelchairs makes simple tasks like getting dressed or using the restroom feel like a breeze.
  
  
• Living Room and Kitchen Entryways: Accessible hallways and kitchen mean you can move throughout your home without help. A wider kitchen entry allows you to grab a glass of water or your favorite salad independently.

However, since this is a major home modification, it’s best left to pros. They can offer these mobility-friendly upgrades after a thorough inspection and through personalized design recommendations.

4. Upgrade to Slip-Resistant Flooring

Slippery floors are a major cause of falls, especially in areas where water is present, like bathrooms, kitchens, and entryways. However, slip-resistant flooring helps prevent falls as it provides better traction underfoot. This home modification is a must for seniors and those with balance issues or limited mobility.

Where to Upgrade:

• Bathrooms and Kitchens: These areas frequently experience spills and moisture, making slip-resistant flooring a necessity. Installing vinyl, rubber flooring, or textured tiles can greatly reduce the likelihood of slipping.
  
  
• Entryways and Hallways: These are high-traffic areas used to move between rooms. You need slip-resistant, safer surfaces in entryways and hallways to prevent unexpected slips, especially when coming in from outside.

Consult an expert as soon as possible. They can provide you with anti-slip home solutions tailored to your needs. This will create a safer, more comfortable home environment.

5. Install Patient Lifts for Comfortable Transfers

With limited mobility, moving from a wheelchair to a bed, chair, or bath can be difficult and physically demanding. Without proper support, these transfers increase the risk of injury for you and your caregiver. That’s where patient lifts come in. 

Where to Install Them:

• Bedrooms and Living Rooms: Installing a ceiling-mounted lift in these spaces makes daily transitions between seating, standing, and lying down much easier. With proper placement, you can move from wheelchairs to beds or recliners with minimal effort.
  
  
• Bathrooms and Shower Areas: Wet surfaces and tight spaces make bathroom transfers particularly challenging, so adding a ceiling-mounted or portable lift provides you with safe access to showers and bathtubs.

Since this modification requires designing and planning, you are better off hiring an expert. They specialize in custom patient lift installations designed to fit your home layout and mobility needs.

6. Make Your Bathrooms Fully Accessible

Bathrooms pose many risks for people with limited mobility, from slippery surfaces to hard-to-reach fixtures. Making your bathroom fully accessible eliminates these hazards and ensures safety and independence. 

Typical bathroom accessibility solutions include walk-in showers, anti-scald faucets, and toilet modifications for seniors, like raised toilets with grab bars.

Where to Upgrade:

• Shower and Tub Areas: Installing walk-in showers with zero barriers eliminates the need to step over high bathtub edges. Adding built-in seating and hand-held showerheads enhances safety and ease of use.
  
  
• Toilet and Sink Areas: Raising toilet seats and installing grab bars near the toilet and sink provides extra stability. Lowering sinks for wheelchair access ensures ease of use for everyone.

A Safer, More Accessible Home Starts Here

Each of these home modifications creates a safer and more accessible living space. Whether you need grab bars, ramps, slip-resistant flooring, or a full bathroom remodel, every upgrade brings you closer to a barrier-free home.

With the help of Lakeshore Barrier Free, you can make mobility-friendly upgrades tailored to your needs. Connect with our experts and they will guide you through each step, from inspection to design and installation, so you can move around your house stress-free.