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A Home Safety Checklist for Wheelchair Users
Stairways and corridors
- Handrails must be installed correctly, and comfortably able to support the full weight of the user
- This means they should never be bolted or screwed into any wall covering or plasterwork that cannot itself support this weight, and the fixtures themselves must also come up to standard
- Leave enough space between handrails and walls to allow for a full and firm grip around the entire circumference of the rail at all points
On staircases, allow additional length of handrails beyond the first and last step, to provide support once the user reaches the top and bottom of the steps
- Pay particular attention to lighting in stairways and corridors; both must be brightly lit in all areas, and any excessive glare or shadowing created by decor should be avoided
- Always keep stairways and corridors clear at floor level along their entire length
- Avoid placing mats, rugs, runners or other loose textiles at the top and bottom of staircases or along corridors, where they could cause slips or tripping hazards
The Actual Home Environment
Areas of common concern or particular difficulties frequently experienced in people’s own homes included:
- personal care, such as getting in and out of bed, washing or dressing
- food preparation and eating
- reaching up or down to access cupboards, shelves, washing lines etc
- difficulties relating to loss of sensation(s)
- handling and manipulating items such as knobs, levers, standalone objects or heavy/bulky equipment
General Home Layout
- Doorways may need to be wider than standard in order to make access easier for wheelchair or walker users - a width of at least 32” is considered suitable in most cases
- Turning circles inside rooms need to be considered, and suitable floor space left open for users to comfortably turn around and exit the space
- The following figures provide recommended min/max measurements for various areas of the home and grounds:
- Standard wheelchair footprint: 30x48”
- Minimum space to manoeuvre a standard wheelchair on the spot: 60x60”
- Corridors and access routes: 36”
- Interior openings for all doors: 32”
- Table/work surface height: 28-32”
- Typical knee clearance height for underside of desks and tables: 27-29”
- Maximum access ramp slope: 1:12
- Maximum general ground slope (parking spaces, driveways, aisles etc): 1:48
Kitchen Areas
- Kitchens can be especially problematic areas of the home for people who use wheelchairs or walkers; the layout and design of a wheelchair-friendly kitchen should always prioritise safety and mobility
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Countertops, including ovens and burners, must be placed at an appropriate height; most wheelchair armrests are around 29” from the ground, while standard kitchen counter height can be anywhere from 28-36”
- Remember that countertops with cupboards beneath them don’t allow most wheelchairs to get close enough to the work surface
- Where height-adjustable work surfaces aren’t available, recesses for knee space (30-32” wide) below worktops may be necessary in various areas of the kitchen
- Be aware of burner placement when installing, including where rings and controls are situated
- Ensure the user does not have to reach across flames or hot areas to access various areas of the oven or controls, either during or after cooking
- Wall ovens can be far easier to access than standard floor units
- Strategically placed mirrors can help a wheelchair user to view the contents of pots and pans while cooking
- Consider how easy or difficult the user finds it to transfer hot or heavy items (particularly fluids) to and from the oven area; counter-level ceramic rings can enable sliding pots and pans onto the heat, rather than lifting them
- Additional taps or filling stations can help reduce the need to transfer items from oven to sink; failing this, a hose attachment for sink taps can also be useful
- Sinks themselves should be shallow enough for the user to reach the bottom of them from a seated position
- Install lever-operated mixer taps for easier operation
- Adjust the height of other equipment to a suitable level from the ground; remember that the lower racks of dishwashers and fridges may need to be raised up
- Extendable or pull-out shelving, including lazy susans, are useful for accessing deeper cupboards
- Drawer runners should be sufficiently sturdy to allow for complete extension even when full
- Ensure floor coverings are non-slip
- Ensure there is always a suitable fire extinguisher available within easy reach
Bathrooms / Wet Rooms
- Spacious and convenient access to baths, showers, sinks and toilets is key to any wheelchair-friendly bathroom setup
- Always consider the height of any fixtures such as toilets, sinks and shelving, and adjust accordingly
- Install roll-in showers without a kerb or lip at ground level
- Handrails, transfer seats, benches and grab bars should be sturdy, and secured such that they will comfortably support a person’s full weight
- Again, be equally mindful of the strength of fixtures, fittings and wall areas when attaching support structures
- Choose surface coverings carefully to eliminate obvious sources of slipping or tripping on entry and exit to baths and showers, particularly on floors likely to get wet (or where mats and rugs are involved)
- Flushes, taps and other fittings can be difficult to operate from a seated position, particularly if the user has any difficulty manipulating items with their hands; use sensor flushes and lever taps wherever possible
- Check for any exposed plumbing or fittings that should be boxed in, to reduce the risk of scalding or burns when reaching across from various angles
- Always check whether or not the user requires anti-scald controls on taps and showers to mitigate any reduction in limb sensation
Other areas of the home and outside areas.
- Check for suitable gradients on any access ramps, both inside and outside the home; about 1” height per foot of length is close to the safe limit
- Apply the same rigour when installing handrails on ramps and access points as you would with a staircase
- Slipping or skidding is a significant hazard on all ramps and sloped areas; use non-slip finishes or coverings if working with wooden ramps, or lateral striations (a broom/rake finish running side-to-side across the slope) on concrete to increase grip
- Never use loose coverings such as gravel, sand or textiles on ramps and sloped areas; they can dramatically reduce wheelchair manoeuvrability and cause skids, tips or falls
- Ensure that suitable drainage is installed to help any wet surfaces dry quickly and effectively
- Regularly inspect ramps for any uneven areas, cracks, dirt build-up or other obstacles, and perform appropriate maintenance as required
- Keep access points free from accumulated clutter such as mail, litter, bicycles, pushchairs or any other blockages and obstacles (see fire safety)
- Be aware of clearance heights on barriers, gates and other obstacles
