Home Alterations to Aid the Disabled

The average home, its furnishings and equipment, is meant for the use of healthy, able-bodied people but is often a hostile environment for anyone with a physical disability.

Many otherwise capable people with physical disabilities are frequently obliged to give up their homes and their independence when they can no longer manage the many obstacles that their kitchens, baths and other home areas present to them. But often by making a few simple, inexpensive modifications and alterations, many disabled people can retain their sense of freedom and self-reliance.

Getting in and out of bed for some people is a major problem; some people have been known to sleep sitting in a chair, because problems with their hips prevent them from getting in and out of bed. Simply raising a bed with a set of BED RISERS will allow many folks access to their beds and a comfortable nights sleep.

Chairs, tables and sofas can also be raised with bed risers or blocks. By raising a sofa, people who might otherwise have to remain in their bedrooms can use the sofa as a daytime bed for a change of scenery. By raising a desk, it is often possible for a person confined to a wheelchair to continue to work.

Platform blocks come in different heights, shapes and colors and can be purchased singly and in sets of four. The prices start at $4 for a single riser and $13.99 for a set of four.

For ten more simple household solutions visit The Arthritis Foundation website. Also see their article “Home Barrier-Free Home”

For more good ideas in making a more comfortable home for the disabled don't miss the free online brochure of the Arthritis Research Campaign titled "Your Home and Arthritis"


Elder Design
Designing and Furnishing a Home for Your Later Years (Paperback) by Rosemary Bakker. The author gives advice on designing and furnishing a smart aging home, providing room-by-room analyses, checklists, and recommendations for resources.

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