Making Home Safer: A Guide for Disabled Parents
| Article written by Danny Knight |
For many parents who are living with a disability, it can be difficult to take everyone’s needs into consideration in regard to living in a safe, comfortable home.
You may be worried about your ability to maneuver through the home while carrying a baby, or you might be thinking about how you’ll give your child a bath while respecting your mobility issues.
There are so many things to consider that it can easily become overwhelming.
You may be worried about your ability to maneuver through the home while carrying a baby, or you might be thinking about how you’ll give your child a bath while respecting your mobility issues.
There are so many things to consider that it can easily become overwhelming.
The key is to think about what will make your life easier, especially if your child is very young.
You want to ensure that each room in your home has safety features that will also allow your family to live comfortably.
Fortunately, there are several simple modifications that can be made around the house that will help you reach your goals.
From installing handrails in the bathroom to replacing all the door and faucet knobs with easy-to-grasp handles, you can make daily activities much simpler for yourself while also ensuring that your safety is a priority.
You want to ensure that each room in your home has safety features that will also allow your family to live comfortably.
Fortunately, there are several simple modifications that can be made around the house that will help you reach your goals.
From installing handrails in the bathroom to replacing all the door and faucet knobs with easy-to-grasp handles, you can make daily activities much simpler for yourself while also ensuring that your safety is a priority.
Keep reading for some great tips on how to get started.
Tackle the Projects That Will Benefit Everyone First
If you have an infant or toddler, there are several things you can do to make your home safer for them that will also benefit you.
Installing handrails, a grab bar, a shower seat, a faucet cover, and non-slip rubber mats in the bathroom is a great start.
Not only will these modifications ensure that your child won’t fall and injure themselves, but it will also help you bathe them much more easily.
You can also add foam bumpers to sharp corners on cabinets, fireplace hearths, and countertops.
Installing handrails, a grab bar, a shower seat, a faucet cover, and non-slip rubber mats in the bathroom is a great start.
Not only will these modifications ensure that your child won’t fall and injure themselves, but it will also help you bathe them much more easily.
You can also add foam bumpers to sharp corners on cabinets, fireplace hearths, and countertops.
Remove Clutter
No matter how clean a home is, there’s still the potential for some clutter now and then.
The kitchen counter can become a catch-all and the foyer becomes a place for hastily thrown backpacks and shoes.
Getting organized and removing this clutter from such spaces will help your family get a mental health boost and prevent trips and falls at the same time.
This is especially important if you have a mobility issue.
The kitchen counter can become a catch-all and the foyer becomes a place for hastily thrown backpacks and shoes.
Getting organized and removing this clutter from such spaces will help your family get a mental health boost and prevent trips and falls at the same time.
This is especially important if you have a mobility issue.
Keep the Kitchen in Good Shape
Along with the bathroom, the kitchen is an area that often sees accidents, so it’s a good place to get started with safety modifications.
Raising or lowering countertops, good lighting, and easy access to appliances and storage are just the start; you can also make sure the flooring is non-slip.
Raising or lowering countertops, good lighting, and easy access to appliances and storage are just the start; you can also make sure the flooring is non-slip.
Don’t Forget the Exterior
The exterior of your home is just as important as the interior when it comes to safety.
You might add lighting to the walkways, install surveillance cameras that help you keep an eye on things via your smartphone, or add a ramp that will help you easily traverse the steps.
Make sure the ramp is made of a material that won’t be slippery when it rains or snows, and that it doesn’t have a lip that will cause an issue with equipment such as a wheelchair or walker.
You might add lighting to the walkways, install surveillance cameras that help you keep an eye on things via your smartphone, or add a ramp that will help you easily traverse the steps.
Make sure the ramp is made of a material that won’t be slippery when it rains or snows, and that it doesn’t have a lip that will cause an issue with equipment such as a wheelchair or walker.
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Making your home safer can be a big job if your home is a good size, but it’s an important one when you have kids.
Not only will these modifications help you stay healthy, they’ll ensure that you’ll have no worries when it comes to parenting or handling daily activities and chores.
Not only will these modifications help you stay healthy, they’ll ensure that you’ll have no worries when it comes to parenting or handling daily activities and chores.
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About the Author: Danny Knight
Danny is a dad living in Philadelphia. He enjoys DIY projects almost as much as raising his two children. He is the co-creator of FixItDads.com, which offers tips for home improvement projects.
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