My mom has been living in an accessible living complex for about eight years now. Half the units, consisting of one and two bedroom apartments plus multi-level townhouses, are wheelchair-friendly and the other half are not, which creates a mixture of young families, single folks and seniors. My mom's two bedroom apartment has wide doorways for her wheelchair to pass through easily, an electronic opener so she can open the door from anywhere, lowered counter tops and shelving in the kitchen and an extra-large bathroom with a roll-in shower so there's plenty of room to move around.
Of all the requirements needed for accessible living, the bathroom contains the most design elements. There has to be enough space to turn a wheelchair around, nothing under the counter top so that a person can use the sink without bumping their knees, the shower stall has to be large enough to accommodate a shower chair (and sometimes another person, like a personal attendant, to help) and the ramp into the shower can't be too steep nor too flat (or else you'll get water everywhere!).
My mom's bathroom recently underwent a renovation to make it even more comfortable. The shower was widened, taking space from the closet in the craft room, the ramp was made less steep and the pesky radiator, which my mom would often bang into due to its location, was moved.
With many baby boomers reaching retirement age and more adults taking care of aging parents at home, accessible living options will become more popular, whether you buy a new property or convert your existing property.
Have you had to renovate to accommodate for a disability? Any tips?
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