How to Make Your Home Safer for Someone With Mobility Challenges

When my walking began to worsen, I removed any tripping hazards and got rid of most of my rugs. Another option is to swap out rugs for a nonslip variety without fringe. Cushion supports can be slipped under couch cushions to elevate the cushion height and make it easier to stand. You can pair these with a couch cane to lean on when you’re getting up. Risers can elevate sofas and chairs, making the transition from sitting to standing easier. There are also specialty riser recliners that make getting up a breeze. 

Cooking can be tiring, especially if you’re sensitive to heat. I’ve found that perching on a bar stool or sitting in a kitchen chair can make the work much easier. Oxo kitchen gadgets were designed for people with low dexterity due to arthritis and can be more easily gripped and used. Particular bottle, jar, and can openers can also be a big help. I have a trash can that opens automatically when you wave a hand in front of it; it even has wheels, so I can bring it wherever I’m working. 

We spend about a third of our lives sleeping (if we get the recommended 7 to 9 hours per night). Using bed wedges or body pillows can significantly improve sleep quality. If you’re struggling to turn over or sit up in bed, bed ladders or rails can be helpful solutions. I like my bed low to the ground so my feet touch the floor when I’m sitting on the edge, but risers can help if you need an elevated sleep surface to make getting into and out of bed easier.

If your bladder wakes you in the night, night lights are a must. Keep a mobility aid bedside, so you’re not fumbling in the dark. There are overbed desks for high-fatigue days and elevated back rests that operate by remote control and are sleeker and more cost-effective than a hospital bed.

Swapping your towel rack and toilet paper holder with options that can double as grab bars is a discreet way to surround yourself with support in the bathroom, where slick, wet surfaces can create a fall risk. I love my anti-slip slate bathmat, shower mat, and bath bench. Seated shower options range from fold-down seats that require installation to freestanding seats to bath lifts that lower the user into the tub. 

If your bathroom is big enough, adding a chair to undress from makes things easier; I use the edge of the bath bench. I have a handheld shower attachment, and as mentioned above, I find that lever-handle faucets are easier to use than those that twist. A long shower towel or scrubber can help you reach your feet and back with ease. 

There are myriad handrails, toilet rails, seat risers, and more comfortable toilet seats. An attached bidet or wipe extender can help with dexterity or twisting issues.

With limited mobility, it can feel easier to stay inside than to face the unpredictable world. If you use a wheeled mobility device (or if you find stepping up a challenge), threshold ramps can turn a step up to a door into a smooth slope. Some are adjustable in height, and many can be used both indoors and outdoors. Having a grab bar next to the door can help with balance as you unlock the door, open it, and cross the threshold. 

Swapping your round doorknobs for a lever style and using key turning aids can help those struggling with dexterity, and smart locks that work with an app on your phone can eliminate the need for keys altogether.

Driving (or even being a passenger) can feel intimidating, but there are lots of adaptations that can make car travel easier. Swivel seats and swivel car seats can make it easier to get yourself or your children into and out of the car. There are also removable handles that can help with getting out of vehicles. My car has a rain sensor that automatically turns on the windshield wipers. 

An occupational therapist can point you in the right direction to try driving accommodations. I drive with hand controls and a steering ball, but there are other setups with keypads or accelerators under or over the steering wheel. There are devices to help release the handbrake, buckle and unbuckle a seat belt, and hoists, lifts, and roof racks to bring mobility aids along for the ride.

If you use a cane, a crutch, or trekking poles, I recommend getting a walking stick holder where these tools can live without falling over. You may even want multiple throughout your living space. I use bright pink neoprene grips on my forearm crutches to prevent rubbing or pain in my hands. There are also lots of options for the feet of canes and crutches to make them wider or squishier, or easier to use in the snow. There are also canes with a built-in folding seat for times when standing for too long becomes fatiguing.

If you use a wheeled mobility aid like a rollator, wheelchair, or scooter (I use all three, depending on the day), the stroller section is a great area to put accessories like a drink holder, phone holder, and detachable bar bags. Bike lights make it easier to navigate at night and make me more visible to cars.