Wheelchair accessible baths and kitchens
Where can you go to find qualified remodelers for barrier free kitchens and baths? Recommendations from friends are great, but if that is not an option for you, NAHB, the National Association of Home Builders, has contractors listed by location and skills.
If you find yourself in need of an experienced contractor who is trained in remodeling homes to accommodate mobility impaired persons, then NAHB is a great place to start.
NAHB offers a course called CAPS (Certified Aging in Place Specialist) that trains contractors in how to determine the needs of clients and then ways to remodel a home to make it safe and workable for the client. Our DyLan McClary has earned the CAPS designation.
Here are some of the modifications that make a home accessible:
- Replace tub with barrier free shower
- Widen doorways; perhaps replacing some doors with a pocket door
- Add grab bars in bathroom
- Replace traditional sink mounted bath cabinets with wall mounted sinks
- Wheelchair ramps
- Kitchens present many problems for someone who is in a wheelchair or does not have the mobility to reach up to the upper cabinets. Careful selection of appliances, such as drawer-style dishwashers can be more user-friendly.
- Upper cabinets can be installed with elevator-type supports or pull-down shelving, so items can be accessed from a wheelchair.
Plenty of grab bars for security. Contrasting color makes them easy to locate for low-vision client.
