This document discusses home modifications that can improve accessibility and safety for individuals with disabilities or mobility issues. Common disabilities addressed include difficulties with stairs, use of wheelchairs, loss of sight or hearing, and respiratory problems. Typical solutions involve modifications like ramps, grab bars, widened doorways, roll-in showers, and first floor bathrooms. However, home modifications can be challenging due to structural limitations and zoning/building code issues. When done correctly, adaptations improve independence, care delivery, and quality of life while reducing accidents and institutionalization. Case studies provide examples of modifications for individuals in various living situations.

1. Home AccessibilityHome Accessibility
Home Modifications for
Independent Living, Aging in
Place, and Long-term Home Care
Problems and Solutions in Homes

2. Second Floor Wheelchair Access with Outside Chairlift
Before After

3. What do we find in the field
and how can homes be made more accessible
Common Disabilities and Barriers
• Difficulties of stair climbing and
tripping from age, injury, stroke,
arthritis, etc.
• Wheelchair limitations from stroke,
amputations (often from diabetes)
• Loss of sight or hearing
• Reaching and gripping from aging,
arthritis, milder stroke, etc.
• Breathing problems from asthma,
heart condition, etc.
Typical Solutions to Common Barriers
for Disabilities
• Sound handrails and wide tread/low
rise steps, vinyl floor surfaces, ramps
only if walkers are not needed,
modified bathrooms, improved lighting,
first floor baths & laundry
• Ramps, vinyl flooring, wider doorways,
bathroom and kitchen modifications,
mechanical lifts, first floor baths and
laundry
• Removal of tripping hazards, grab
bars/hand rails, strobe alarms
• Paddle door handles and faucets,
rocker light switches, anti-scald & slide
bar showers with shower seats
• New heating, cleaning ducts, windows
for ventilation, hot air e-static cleaners

4. Common Problems in Implementing Home Modifications
Structural Limitations
• Position of walls
• Location of plumbing/electric
• Room size & window locations
• Height of outside porches and
steps for determining ramp
length and location
• Structural implications for
widening/relocating doorways
• Mobile homes – doorways,
room size, hallways
Zoning, Building Codes, and
Family Interests
• Limitations on ramps re: set-
backs, conversion of non-living
space (porches) to baths or
bedrooms
• Code requirements for baths
and bedrooms (ADA doesn’t
apply to single family homes)
• Concerns and self-interests of
family members apart from
client
• Mobile home mechanic cert.

5. Common Benefit of Adaptability
Modifications in the Home
• Self sufficiency of health care and day-to-day living needs for individuals
• Greater effectiveness and efficiency of home care service delivery
• Safer and more effective family care
• Capability for individuals and health care providers to create viable
long-term home care environments
• Delay or eliminate the need for nursing home placement
• Reduction or elimination of public & private home care services
• Accident prevention
• Preferred satisfaction with quality of life for individuals and families

6. Typical Barriers and Safety Problems Found in Homes
Entrance and Egress Basement Stairs
Steps and Handrails

7. Typical Barriers and Safety Problems Found in Homes
Bathroom Uses – Tubs and Toilets
Tripping Hazards from Bad Flooring

8. Case Study - Non-senior living alone and
confined to a wheelchair
Initially, access and egress to/from the home must be made secure
with the introduction of a ramp.
In this case, a previously constructed ramp was subject to seasonal heaving
from excessive groundwater; a (diamond tread) steel plate was attached to the
Ramp end and left free to flex on the concrete base.

9. Inside the home, kitchens can allow for
sink for wheelchair access; dishwashers
and refrigerators are useable “as is”; range
tops for wheelchair and low mounted range;
note a swivel down counter alongside the
range.
Wheelchair Modified Kitchen - $20,065
This was an exceptional case with the
newness of the home for matching cabinets
and positions of existing counters

10. Wheelchair accessible kitchens have versatile cabinet choices for:
Drawer that auto close Base cabinets with swivel shelves
Hinged counters Pull out shelf pantries

11. Car Accident Victim

12. Track System

13. Track System

14. Senior couple had new home built using all of personal money, husband had a stroke at
time of move in – Modifications of Ramp and Basic Bath Safety - $4,222

15. Senior living alone, severe arthritis, still working - $4,784
Difficulty getting
on and off
toilet
Unable to step
in and out of
bathtub, was
showering at
son’s home

16. Non-senior lives alone, severe disc injury and surgeries resulted in minimal ability to stand ,lift legs,
and maintain balance – Unable to access and egress home and enter/exit bedroom and bath
Ramp addition, widened doorways (bedroom & bath) and bath modifications - $7,800

17. Non-senior lives alone, severe disc injury and surgeries resulted in minimal ability to stand ,lift legs,
and maintain balance – Unable to access and egress home and enter/exit bedroom and bath
Ramp addition, widened doorways (bedroom & bath) and bath modifications - $7,800

18. Easy and inexpensive way that modular ramps can be made to fit differing situations
Right Angle Straight Run
Exceptional Height - 90” Rise (90’ Incline) 45 Degree Turn

19. More examples of simple changes
Flooring
Stackable W/D on 1st
Floor

20. Grab bars, Slide bar
and Anti-scald
showerheads
Lighting
Smoke and CO Detectors

21. Active and working non-senior born with spina bifida and confined to a
wheelchair. Dependent on mother or girlfriend to leave home down a
steep portable ramp.

22. Now enjoys the freedom a vertical lift provides