You can make your home more accessible and better adapted to your future health condition to extend your autonomy at home. Using daily living aids and adapting certain aspects of your home will help you maintain a better quality of life for longer and a positive outlook on your situation.
Here is a non-exhaustive list of adaptations that could help you. You may also be able to get help from an occupational therapist who will help you with home adaptations.
There are also different financial aid programs to help you carry out this work.
Exterior adaptations
- Be sure to clear the path leading to the house from any obstacles
- Make sure your stairs and balcony are well lit
- Securely attach a handrail along the walkway and on each side of the stairs and make sure it goes down a little lower than the end of the stairs (ideally 30.5 cm (12 in))
- Cover the steps and balcony with a secure and even non-slip finish (self-adhesive strips or paint containing sand, but never rubber sheets) and make sure they are well cleared in winter (snow, ice, etc.)
- Adjust the steps so that they are all the same height and depth
Ideally, an entrance without steps is preferable. If this is not the case, more extensive renovation work should be considered, for example:
- Install an access ramp with a slope no greater than 5% or a lifting platform
- Provide a minimum 1.5 m (60 in) diameter area in front of the entrance door and the beginning of the ramp to allow a wheelchair to swivel
- Widen the entrance door to allow wheelchair access
- All doors and corridors should be at least 90 cm (36 in) wide to allow wheelchair access
Interior adaptations
Many changes can be made at home to make daily life more pleasant and safe. They can be made both with respect to the layout of your home and to your daily routine.
To find out how to improve your daily life in the kitchen, bedroom and living room, download Parkinson Québec’s interior layout guide.