October 22, 2014 THE VILLADOM TIMES I • Page 25 A few tips for making a home barrier-free Many homeowners have found them- selves scrambling to make their homes hand- icapped accessible after a sudden injury or illness. In addition, some homeowners have found themselves looking to make adjust- ments to their homes in anticipation of wel- coming elderly, less mobile relatives into their homes. Converting a home into a barrier-free space can seem like a daunting task that requires adjustments to nearly every part of the house. While the extent of those adjust- ments depends on the individual who needs to be accommodated, some of the areas hom- eowners must address when making their homes accessible are universal regardless of the individual’s condition. A home’s entryways often must be addressed when making the home more accessible. Portable ramps can be an afford- able option and are often an ideal for those who only need to make temporary adjust- ments, such as when a resident suffers an injury that requires he or she spend some time in a wheelchair. When the adjustments will just be temporary, a folding wheelchair might be necessary, as the doorways might not be able to fit a standard wheelchair that does not fold. When adjustments will be permanent, homeowners might need to expand the door- ways in their homes. Contractors typically recommend expanding doorways to at least 32 inches, which provides some maneuver- ability when wheelchairs, which are typically between 24 and 27 inches wide, are entering the home. The most commonly used entry- ways, including front doors and bathrooms and bedroom doors, will likely need to be widened. The bathroom might be the area of the home that needs the most attention. Slippery conditions common to bathrooms can make things especially difficult for people in wheel- chairs or with disabilities. Grab bars should be installed in bath tubs and shower stalls and next to toilets. Safety treads, which can pro- vide a secure, slip-free surface on the floors of showers and tubs, can also be installed. Add a hand-held shower head to the shower stall can make it easier for those with a disability to shower. Portable transfer seats, which enable wheelchair-bound individuals to transition from their chairs to showers and bathtubs, can be purchased and kept in or near the bath- room. An often overlooked adjustment homeown- ers must make when transforming their homes into barrier-free spaces concerns the sinks throughout the home. People with disabilities may find it difficult to access faucets on sinks throughout the home, especially when there are vanity cabinets beneath the sinks. Replac- ing such sinks with pedestal sinks can improve maneuverability. Just make sure such sinks are lower to the ground than standard pedestal sinks. A sink that is a few inches lower than a standard sink is considerably more accessible for people in wheelchairs. Closets are rarely barrier-free. Homeowners can address this issue by creating multi-level closet spaces so individuals can place their clothes at accessible heights. Closet shelves can be lowered and doors can be widened so disabled persons can easily manage their ward- robes. In addition, consider installing a light inside the closet and make sure the light switch can be easily reached from a wheelchair. Making a home more accessible can be a significant undertaking, but many of the adjust- ments homeowners should make are small in scale and will not take long to complete.