How to Remodel for the Handicapped

Install safety rails in rooms where a handicapped person may need them. Safety rails are a priority in the bathroom. Install rails anywhere the person may need support to get up, or help moving around. The most common places are around the toilet, inside the bath or shower and just outside the bath or shower. Use a pilot drill bit and a power drill to make starter holes. Use drywall anchors in the areas where you cannot drill directly into a wall stud. The drywall anchors can be used on the shower tile as well as drywall. Purchase safety rail kits that include anchors to make sure you get the right size. Safety rails should also be installed near the kitchen counters for safe access to the cupboards and counter tops.

Replace standard door hinges with swing-away door hinges that will allow the door to open wide enough for a wheelchair to pass through. This should be done with all of the interior doors in the house. If it is appropriate to remove a door and the door trim rather than putting on special hinges, then follow that route.

Replace all of the drawer handles in the house with large loops to allow for easier access by someone with a physical disability.

Install walkway rugs on all of the slippery floor surfaces. Make sure the rugs are the width of your widest door so that they can accommodate a wheelchair, and also be sure to use two-sided adhesive tape to hold the rugs in place and prevent them from slipping.

Try to put all of the important rooms such as a bathroom and the person's bedroom on the first floor of the house. If this is not possible, then install a chair lift that will carry the person up and down the stairs.

Install a ramp up to the front door of the house. Be sure that the front door is at least 36 inches wide to accommodate a wheel chair.