Our homes are places of safety, privacy and security. For those that suffer from mobility problems, an accessible home is very important. While focusing on core rooms like the kitchen, bathroom and bedroom is important, the accessibility of the hallway should not be an afterthought.
Design Ethos
Because hallways often get dark and lack natural light, the artificial lighting you buy should offer good coverage. This will help those with poor visibility get around the home. Hanging a mirror will maximise the vibrancy of a hallway too.
In any room, clutter can become a hazard. Hallways are just as guilty of this, with the most common offender coming from shoes haphazardly left in the hall. These can snag on the wheels of a wheelchair or trip up those who are shaky on their feet.
For disabled or elderly home-owners, widening the entrance to hallways may be necessary to accommodate wheelchairs. It’s also important to keep balance points available throughout the hallway to prevent trips and falls. Installing safety rails or heavy furniture will help with this.
Staircases
Staircases are another tricky element for those with poor mobility. The best way to make stairs easy to use is to install a stair lift. Even if you have a tricky staircase, you can get a bespoke stairlift made to fit your stairs by specialist companies like Ideal Stairlifts.
Obviously, these can be a costly investment. Buying a second hand stair lift may be a less financially-intensive purchase. For elderly homeowners doubting the convenience a lift provides, there are lots of people who have shared similar doubts.
Mrs. Duncan from Scotland suffered from mobility problems and at first doubted whether she needed a stairlift. She said: “I was sceptical […] I was wrong. My life is so much easier these days and I have much more energy. The stairlift is brilliant, my best buddy.”
With just a few minor adjustments your hallway and staircase can be transformed from difficult to navigate passageways into accessible, comfortable gateways.
