Disabled-Friendly Floor Plans: The Best Layouts for Handicap Accessible Homes

Living with a disability requires many accommodations and changes. You may have to outfit your car with new seats and expand the bathroom in your home, or renovate your home entirely! 

Handicap accessible homes no longer have to sacrifice accessibility for beauty. Open floor plans and one-story homes are currently trendy but are also great for people with disabilities or the elderly. 

Many parts of the home that we take for granted present unique difficulties for those with disabilities. High cabinets and counters can prevent a person from fully enjoying their kitchen. Cramped bathrooms can be miserable or even impossible to use for those with limited mobility. 

But what should you look for when purchasing a disabled-accessible home? What layouts best serve your needs, and why? Read on to find out. 

Looking For Handicap Accessible Homes

When looking for a wheelchair accessible home, you may have to commission a custom build. But not always! Many homes can be retrofitted to become disability-friendly. 

There are many things to look for when finding a home suitable for a person with limited mobility. These are the most important aspects of any disabled-friendly home layout. 

Open Floor Plan

An open floor plan is a layout where there are few walls and the rooms largely connect to each other. This is important in a handicap accessible home because more space equals more room to move and navigate. 

Those who use mobility aids such as wheelchairs and walkers will need more space than those who do not.

Wide Doors And Hallways

If a person is using a mobility aid, they will need to be able to fit it through every doorway and hall. Homes designed with accessibility in mind will have wider hallways and doorways to accommodate. 

It's important that the halls are large enough not just to fit a mobility aid, but to allow it to turn around. 

Lowered Counter Tops 

Counters designed for those who can stand for extended periods of time present a challenge to many with disabilities. Wheelchair users often cannot reach the surface, and those with limited mobility may have difficulty sitting level with the counter. 

Make sure the home you're purchasing has adjusted counter height and plenty of room to navigate through the kitchen. 

Spacious Bathrooms

Small bathrooms are a unique challenge to people with limited mobility. Those who use wheelchairs or mobility aids must be able to turn around and navigate within the room.

Wheelchair accessible homes will have spacious bathrooms, with plenty of extra room in front of the toilet and sink. They're usually outfitted with rails and handholds as well to guarantee stability. 

Everyone Deserves A Comfortable Home

Finding handicap accessible homes may seem daunting at first, but there are plenty of people willing to create them. Finding a home that accommodates those with limited mobility can be trying, but it's worth it. 

Make sure that you're fully able to accommodate a disability, both in your home and in your car. Most of life is spent driving and relaxing at home, and everyone deserves to be comfortable doing both. 

Read through our website for more ideas and advice on how to incorporate accessibility into your daily life. We can give you a new perspective on different ways of living.