Problems with Restricted Mobility in the Home

Disability can be quite a difficult subject to talk about. Whether you are disabled or not, understanding the needs of those with disabilities is always important.

My own dad is a blue badge carrying, registered disabled person due to his severely arthritic knees.  His disability impedes his mobility and makes walking very difficult for him, but maintaining his independence and ensuring his standard of living is as good as it can be, means he can still enjoy his day to day activities and lead a rich and fulfilling life.

It is important to be aware of the needs of disabled people. Both inside the home and out, being disabled poses many challenges that are often difficult  to truly understand and appreciate.  With both the elderly and for the disabled, mobility is often an issue that can adversely affect the quality of life. But there are steps that can be taken to improve the lives and independence of people with extra needs.  

Whether living alone or as part of a household, the need for independence cannot be underestimated and it’s crucial to understand the individual's  needs and how having increased mobility can bring its own freedom.  This post focuses on some adaptations that can be made in the home.

The Home 

It’s recommended to keep rooms clean and clear, so that everyone can move around freely. Rooms can often become cluttered but this can prove limiting and even dangerous for those with disabilities. 

Climbing the stairs often becomes difficult. With a disability, this simple action can be painful or outright impossible. If you consider all the actions required, from holding the rail to the intense bending and putting weight on the legs and knees, it’s easy to imagine  how this process could become problematic to someone. 

You could consider moving to a bungalow or to an accommodation without stairs (as my own dad has done), but these days it’s much easier and less expensive to look at assembling a stairlift in the home.  It also allows a disabled person to continue living in their own house. This simple addition can fit in virtually any home, thanks to a customisable rail that can cope with corners or high rising steps.  A stairlift makes the upstairs of a home accessible, improving the standard of living and providing greater independence.

The bathroom can also be adapted to make living with a disability easier.  Even though this may be a sensitive area, achieving independence is important, so the right facilities are needed. Having grab rails near the toilet gives confidence and stability to someone with limited mobility or balance problems.  Installing a shower seat makes getting up and down easier and helps prevents falls.  Having a wet room or a walk in shower is a good idea, making showering much safer.   

These simple steps can really make a big difference to someone's life.

This is a guest post brought to you in association with Stannah.