Make Your Home Accessible and Welcoming This Christmas

The festive season is fast approaching, and one of the best aspects is getting to welcome friends, family and loved ones into our homes. We share good times, make great memories and reconnect after a busy year. If it's your turn to play host, naturally you’ll want to make your home as welcoming as possible for all. And that can mean addressing accessibility issues if you have guests expected with limited mobility. There are ways to make your home accessible.

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[ctt template=”4″ link=”b69lX” via=”yes” ]The festive season may mean addressing accessibility issues if you have guests with limited mobility. There are ways to make your home accessible.[/ctt]

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You’d never want someone to feel excluded or as if they couldn’t stay on account of a disability – but you can’t invest in a load of expensive disability adaptations just for a few days stay. So, what do you do to make your home accessible and welcoming? Well, luckily there are a few things you can do that don’t have to be permanent and won’t break the bank, but will still ensure disabled guests feel welcome this Christmas and New Year.

Think About Access

Access is a simple issue, and it can be one of the main ones for anyone with a mobility issue. Consider the layout of your home. Are there lots of level changes? Is there a bathroom on the ground floor? Do you have steps to get up into the house? We are so used to these things, we don’t even ‘see’ them, but they represent a huge challenge. You may be able to carry your guest up a short flight of steps, but do bear in mind that some individuals will not like this and will see it as demeaning. Talk openly to them about their needs and requirements and how they would like it be handled. You could also get an aluminum ramp if your guest uses a wheelchair – these are lightweight and easy to move around the house to allow access – so you can get on with the Christmas cooking!

Bathroom Adaptations

If your guests are staying for more than a couple of hours, or overnight, you need to consider the bathroom facilities. You can rent or purchase an inflatable bath lift and bathing cushion to allow your guest to use the bath  – they can be used in any standard bath and allow comfortable entry and exit without being a permanent adaptation. The cushion inflates with a battery-operated pump, the user sits on it, and it then deflates to lower them into the bath, then re-inflates level with the bath top for no climbing. You could also look into purchasing a plastic freestanding shower seat for temporary use in the shower if your guest prefers. A walking frame with lockable wheels can stand in place of a permanent grab rail to help guests lower themselves to the toilet. 

In General

Sometimes the simplest things have the biggest impact. Making sure all areas of your home are well lit, that hallways, stairs and floor space are clear of trip hazards (especially if you have kids who leave toys everywhere!) and that any electrical cables are secured out of the way can go a long way. Just a little care, consideration and an honest conversation or two about their needs can help make your guest feel very welcome for the festive celebrations.

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Make Your Home Accessible and Welcoming This Christmas