Handicap Accessible Home Conversions

The number one reason people have to go into assisted living or nursing home care is because of a fall they experience. Actually falling down is the leading cause of injury related deaths in people over 65 years of age. The largest segment of the population are baby boomers. 76 million people were born between 1945 and 1964. Every seven seconds another baby boomer turns 50 years old in America Today.

How to help prevent falls

Important piece of advice is: stay healthy. Walk around and keep the lower extremities strong. An active lifestyle is very important. And be aware of your surroundings. It's also very important that people not be overly afraid of falling. Fear should not prevent you from going outside and exercising and doing your activities. Just take some considerations of your surroundings and eliminate all of the hazards associated with fall accidents.

Other solutions General Areas:

  • Minimize changes in walking surfaces, and use slip-resistant coverings such as rough tile and carpet with short, dense pile
  • Use lighter-colored floor surfaces to create color contrasts between walls and floors
  • Increase lighting and reduce the contrasts in lighted areas
  • Install wall-mounted light fixtures, accessible while standing on the floor
  • Install more outlets to minimize the use of extension cords
  • Relocate switches so that the homeowner doesn't have to walk through darkened areas

Kitchen and Bathroom:

  • Securely install two grab-bars positioned for support when entering and exiting in tub/shower and near toilet at height and angle best suited for homeowner's needs
  • Install slip-resistant tile
  • Increase door width to 30 inches for homeowners with wheelchairs or walkers
  • Clean up grease, water and other liquids immediately
  • Don't wax floors
  • Avoid climbing and reaching to high cabinets or shelves and use a sturdy step stool with handrails if necessary
  • Always keep a night-light on in your bathroom
  • Use bathroom rugs with nonskid backing
  • Add bright decals or red tape to provide contrast between the white tub, white toilet and white walls
  • Be sure shower stalls have code standard shatterproof glass

Stairways :

  • Install handrails on both sides of the stairs and extend them one foot beyond the last step at both top and bottom
  • Position top of the railing at elbow height of the homeowner
  • Use handrails that allow the homeowner encircle their thumb and fingers around it
  • Use a different color contrast to mark the first and last step
  • Limit stair rise to seven inches
  • Make tread at least 11 inches deep
  • Use incline risers with 15-degree angles
  • Remove carpets 3/8 inch or thicker and under pads on treads
  • Make sure stair height and tread widths are adequate, and each step is identical in size
  • Install light switches at the top and bottom of stairs
  • Be sure carpeting is tightly woven and installed so it doesn't move or slide.

We offer complete minor or major renovations depending on your needs. Handicap Accessibility is Just one of the specialty services we offer within the remodeling division.