02 March 2022
It’s surprisingly easy to forget about hallways and entrances when it comes to thinking of ways to make your home more accessible. But they’re a key area to look at when it comes to making daily life easier.
In this series on home adaptations, we’re looking at ways to help make your home more accessible, from smaller changes through to larger scale remodels. To help you improve the accessibility of your hallways and entrances, we’ve put together advice and suggestions for you to consider, alongside tips from our in-house Occupational Therapist, Sharon.
If you find it difficult to answer the door but don’t feel comfortable leaving it unlocked, then a key safe may be a useful solution. You can attach a key safe outside your home and leave a house key inside it. It’s securely hidden away behind a security code, so only those you trust that know the code will be able to get to the key. It’s a much safer option than hiding a key somewhere around your property and it means that your trusted, regular visitors can get in your home when necessary.
A grab rail gives you strong, sturdy support to hold onto when entering or exiting your home. There are a variety of styles and sizes available, so it’s important to double-check that the grab rail you choose is suitable for where you’ll be putting it. If you think a grab rail will help you but don’t like the look of a standard grab rail, you may want to consider the outdoor grab rail from Invisible Creations. This grab rail is designed to look like a plant pot holder, giving you unobtrusive help when you need it most.
Please note, grab rails must be fitted to a solid wall.
If your front doorstep is causing you difficulties, a half step may be worth investigating. As the name suggests, a half step is half the height of an average step, reducing the height you need to lift your legs when stepping up into your home. There are half steps available that are adjustable – some with individually adjustable feet so even if the ground is uneven, you’ll still have a stable surface to stand on.
Motion detection lights are incredibly useful lights that shine when you need them, without the need to fumble with switches in the dark. They’re especially handy if you’re prone to night-time trips to the bathroom and don’t want to turn on the main light.
Motion detection lights help you spot any obstacles in your path, whether it’s an abandoned toy, dropped towel, or even a beloved pet prowling around, so you can avoid tripping over them and potentially causing yourself an injury.
Getting up to answer the door isn’t always as simple as it sounds, especially if you have difficulties with mobility. A video doorbell will let you see who’s calling without you having to move from where you are. It’s also an extremely useful way of checking for nuisance or unwanted callers at the door as with many video doorbells you can both see and speak to them to find out what they want.
It’s worth noting that some video doorbells need you to download an app on your smartphone in order to use them properly. If this isn’t an option for you, look for one that connects using a base unit.
Steps leading into your home or even steps inside your home can make it tricky to get around. Ramps make it easier to get up small sets of steps, especially when you’re using a wheeled mobility aid. There are a variety of different ramps available depending on your need and where they will be used. You may even want to consider a portable ramp you can take with you wherever you go to use as required.
If your hallways are nice and wide but your doorways are narrow, you may find that you struggle to get through them with a mobility aid. While you can get narrower mobility aids designed to go through tighter spaces, these may not always be appropriate for your needs. Getting your doorframes widened where possible is something that could make a surprisingly amount of difference to the accessibility of your home.
Finding it increasingly difficult to get up and down the stairs in your home? Rather than considering moving to a bungalow, a stairlift may be the answer. Stairlifts help to gently carry you up or down stairs as needed. Most give you a place to sit while moving, but some will allow you to remain standing. There are a variety of different types of stairlift available including those suitable for curved staircases, so it’s worth looking around and seeing what’s available.
Vertical lifts are designed for use by people with wheelchairs who need to be able to get around on different floors of the house. There are a variety of different designs for these kinds of lift, but whether or not it’ll be suitable for your home will depend on the space you have and if a site survey confirms your home is suitable for one.
Do you need more tips and advice on other adaptations you can make to other rooms in your home? Download our full guide to home adaptations here or choose the room you need help with below:
Not sure where to start with adapting your home to meet your needs? Try our Home Living Consultation Service where a registered Occupational Therapist will assess your needs and offer recommendations for changes you can make.
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