Many of us will need to consider making wheelchair retrofits to our homes if we plan to remain in them as we age.

According to a 2014 U.S. Census Bureau report, about 10 million people – 66.5 percent of the country’s population over age 65 – have difficulty walking. The number climbs with age, and as we get older, we are increasingly likely to rely on mobility aids, including walkers, scooters and wheelchairs, to help us move around and maintain independence.

Plan Early for Wheelchair Retrofits

Unfortunately, most homes aren’t set up for wheelchair use. As I noted in my introduction to this Aging in Place series, only an estimated one percent of American homes are wheelchair accessible.

From stairs both inside and outside the home, to narrow doorways and halls, to inaccessible entryways, there are lots of things to consider when making a home wheelchair friendly.

And because some of these retrofits require significant renovation, it makes sense to plan for them before you or a loved one finds they need to use a wheelchair.

For many of us, it will make practical and financial sense to do a series of wheelchair retrofits over time. Here are some to consider:

Widening Hallways

Before committing to making wheelchair retrofits to your home, you’ll need to consider whether it can be adequately adapted. While many homes can be retrofitted, there are a few issues that may pose significant challenges.

One of the most common and problematic elements of many houses are narrow hallways. The minimum width for wheelchair access is 36 inches, but some hallways are narrower or contain sharp turns that require even more clearance for wheelchair access to rooms.

Because widening a hallway is a structural project, this is a wheelchair retrofit that requires careful consideration and consultation with an architect. It may or may not make sense to undertake a major structural remodel. If you and your architect decide it isn’t feasible to widen your hallways, you have several options to consider:

  • Using a narrower wheelchair that can fit in your hallways
  • Retrofit other areas of the home for use with a wheelchair, reserving areas off narrow hallways for non-wheelchair use
  • Moving to a more accessible home

Each option has its benefits and drawbacks, and you’ll need a realistic sense of the challenges, physical, practical and financial, of your choices. This may mean talking with your physician, case worker or financial planner as well as your architect to make your decisions.

Widening Doorways

If your hallways are wide enough or can be retrofitted for wheelchair access, the next issue to consider is the width of your interior doorways.

Standard American interior doorways range from 24 inches to 36 inches wide, with many homes using the narrower standard opening.

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requires interior doorway openings be a minimum of 32 inches. While this may be adequate for a narrow or standard-size wheelchair approaching straight on (i.e., not from an angle), architectural elements near the doorway, such as corners or turns, can create additional barriers that require a wider door opening.

Moreover, if you may need a larger wheelchair – such as a bariatric chair – you’ll want to plan for wider openings. It may make sense to plan for most doorways to be at least 36 inches wide.

For narrow doorways that can’t be adequately widened, offset hinges may help increase the clearance. In other cases, wheelchair retrofits for doorways may require removing the door itself and any trim to create an adequate opening.

Adapting Stairs

Stairways are a common barrier to wheelchair use in multi-level homes.

Small stairway runs can often be retrofitted with a ramp relatively inexpensively. The height and pitch of the stairs will determine how long the ramp will need to be – the higher or longer the staircase, the longer the ramp needed – so this may be an impractical solution for all but the smallest interior stairways.

For larger stairways, lifts can be a good option. There are two general types:

Stair lifts

These consist of a chair attached to a wall-mounted track that moves up and down the existing staircase. They require you to be able to safely transfer from a wheelchair to the lift and to have access to your wheelchair at both levels (either a second chair at the top or someone to help move your chair to the top of the stairs.)

The cost of installing a chair lift will depend on the height of the stairway and whether the stairway turns or curves. Longer runs are more expensive, as are custom-designed solutions for more complex stairways.

Wheelchair (platform) lifts

These lifts are appropriate for those who are unable to or prefer not to transfer into and out of a wheelchair. They use a platform that lifts the wheelchair from one level to another.

Wheelchair lifts come in two flavors:

  • incline platform lifts, which allow the wheelchair or scooter to roll onto the platform, which then moves along the wall-mounted rail to carry the wheelchair to the next level;
  • vertical platform lifts that function more like an elevator, moving the wheelchair vertically from one level to another.

Wheelchair lifts are more expensive than stair lifts but may be a better option for those with more limited mobility or who anticipate having minimal help for transfer.

Wheelchair-Accessible Entryways

Making your home’s entryway accessible for wheelchair users can be as simple as installing a threshold ramp or as complex as designing a series of ramps that allow a wheelchair user to maneuver through a multi-level entryway.

Retrofitting Thresholds

The threshold at an entryway can be a surprising barrier for wheelchairs.

Installing a threshold wedge or ramp is an easy and inexpensive solution. These can be purchased pre-made from mobility suppliers or constructed of plywood and installed in a simple DIY project.

If your threshold is relatively high or the wheelchair user is heavy, you may want to install a ramp with a longer run to make access easier.

Ramps

As with interior stairways, the size, length, and feasibility of installing a ramp at the entryway will depend on the height and design of the stairway. If your entryway stairs are high, you’ll want to talk to an architect or contractor about the best way to design an entryway ramp. High stairs can sometimes be accommodated with a series of horizontally oriented ramps rather than a single, long-run ramp. This, of course, may require significant changes to any porch, decking or landscaping near the entryway.

Sidewalk Repair

While you’re thinking about wheelchair retrofits for your entryway, take a look at the sidewalks (and driveway) around your home. Any significant cracks or holes can present a barrier for wheelchairs, in addition to being a general hazard. Have them repaired.

Also, check to see if curbs have cuts where you need them. City municipal codes have differing requirements for curb cuts that apply when building or remodeling a home. If the cuts aren’t where you’ll need them, you may want to invest in one or more portable curb ramps.

It makes sense to consult an architect or contractor with experience in wheelchair retrofits while planning to remodel your home (or building a new one) for aging in place.