Home accessibility updates

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1 in 4 U.S. adults lives with a disability. If you are living with or have a loved one with a disability, here are a few ideas to improve accessibility and comfort at home:

• – Replace knobs and handles. Turning knobs and handles to open doors can be difficult for people with hand coordination issues. Replace round doorknobs and faucet handles with lever handles.
• – Widen doorways. Most wheelchairs and walkers are too wide to fit in and out of doorways in older homes. In some cases, you can use offset hinges to help swing the door clear of the doorway — a cheaper option for adding more space for people to maneuver.
• – Install a toilet riser. For people who have issues bending over, standing up and sitting down, a toilet riser helps alleviate some of these difficulties.
• – Change out flooring. Carpeting and rugs are not only hard for people with wheelchairs and walkers to navigate, but they can also be a tripping hazard. Consider hardwood, ceramic tile or vinyl flooring options to replace carpeting and rugs.
• – Rethink furniture placement. Establish a path of at least 32 inches between furniture fixtures to make movement easier. Some furniture, such as couches and chairs, may need to be raised to help people sit comfortably – use small blocks of wood or furniture coasters that can be secured to furniture legs.

DURA’s Renter/Homeowner Access Modification Program (RHAMP) is the only program of its kind offered to both renters and homeowners in Denver. This program offers grants up to $10,000 to assist Denver residents with qualifying disabilities to make accessibility modifications in and around their homes. Elligible improvements include wheelchair ramps, chair and stairs lifts, grab bars, ADA bathroom fixtures and roll-in showers. Since these are grant funds that don’t need to be paid back — and funds are limited — apply soon at https://renewdenver.org/housing-rehabilitation/rhamp/

Information from familyhandyman.com