Accessible Design & Consulting
Home Safety Guide
More accidents happen in the home than anywhere else, especially in the bathroom and kitchen. Making a home safe and accessible will allow seniors and people with disabilities to remain in their own home for as long as possible.

This Home Safety Guide outlines things to look for in the home and offers simple recommendations to make the home safer and more accessible for everybody.

Questions to Ask

1. What disabilities does the individual have?
2. Are the disabilities temporary, permanent, or progressive?

Steps to Take

1. Assess the individual's ability to function in the home
2. Note activities that are difficult to perform
3. Note obstacles that prevent the individual from performing each activity
4. Determine which types of home modification would be most useful

Is the individual having difficulty in any of these areas?

• getting in and out of the home
• using the stairs
• moving from one room to another
• using the kitchen
• using the bathtub or shower
• using the toilet
• getting in and out of bed, chairs, sofas
• reaching items in closets and cabinets
• opening, closing or locking windows and doors
• operating light switches, faucets, kitchen appliances, laundry appliances

General Home Modification Options
To improve lighting and visibility:

• light switches should be close to room entrances and at the top AND bottom of stairways
• make sure there is a flashlight, light switch or lamp beside the bed
• use high-watt light bulbs in stairways and other hazardous areas
• place a night light in the path between the bedroom and bathroom
• install cordless battery-operated lights inside closets and cabinets
• install motion-sensitive lighting outside the home

To enhance safety and support:

• remove loose rugs
• secure mats with non-skid backing or double-sided carpet tape
• secure telephone and electrical cords
• install non-slip flooring, especially in kitchens and bathrooms
• use non-slip mats or adhesive strips in bathtubs
• remove furniture from paths and walkways
• edge stairs with bright non-skid tape to highlight changes in floor levels
• install handrails and grab bars in stairways and bathrooms
• install a clamp-on support rail to the edge of the bathtub
• install anti-scald devices on faucets and shower heads
• install smoke detectors near kitchens and bedrooms
• Keep list of emergency phone numbers by the phone for Fire, Police, Emergency and Ambulance

To improve accessibility and safety:

• utilize a wheelchair ramp for steps going into the house
• use a seat assist device or furniture risers to make it easier to get up and down from chairs and sofas
• widen doorways with swing-away door hinges
• install revolving shelves in kitchen cabinets
• convert a ground-floor room into a bedroom
• install a bed rail or handrails
• Install slide-out shelving or pull-down clothes rods in closets
• Replace round doorknobs with lever handles
• Install lever-handle faucets in kitchens and bathrooms
• Replace fixed shower heads with flexible hand-held shower heads
• Install a raised toilet
• Add a fold-down bench to the shower
• Buy clocks and telephones with large numbers and buttons

Products that improve safety and accessibility

• wheelchair ramp
• automatic door opener
• stairway lift, wheelchair lift, elevator
• grab bars and handrails in bathrooms and stairways
• lever doorknob
• swing-away door hinges
• bath and shower seats
• hydraulic bath lift
• elevated toilet
• hands-free water faucet
• flexible hand-held shower head
• anti-scald device
• non-slip bath mat and adhesive strips
• smoke alarms, smoke detectors
• fire extinguishers

Accessible Design & Consulting has created an Accessible Home Showroom and Gallery in Santa Monica that allows visitors to see actual home modifications and products for each room in the house. The Showroom is open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and on weekends by appointment by calling (310) 998-8400.

In addition, the company has created this web site that illustrates home modifications and the best mobility products available for seniors and people with disabilities. Many of the products are available for purchase through the secure shopping cart.

"The Ultimate Accessible Home" Showroom
1623 Stanford Street
Santa Monica, California
(310) 998-8400 Office
(310) 998-8500 Fax
Info@accessibleconstruction.com E-mail

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