Are you planning a home where you can spend the later years of life? Are you planning to move your elderly parents in with you? Or do you have any loved one in the family who has limited movements and needs to have the support of a wheelchair?

Facade of home with covered porch and door

If so, you need to make sure that you are doing everything needed so that they can live well and properly without having too much trouble and chances of an accident in the home.

Custom Home Building with Accessibility

In general, normal homes in Vancouver hardly have ramps for wheelchair accessibility, which is why you need the help of a custom home builder Vancouver to ensure that your home is easily accessible for everyone in your life. So, how are you going to design an accessible custom home? Read on to know more.

1. Access to the Entrance

Often in Vancouver, houses are designed a bit elevated from the ground. This is why normally, to reach the front door of the house, one needs to climb a few stairs. For someone in a wheelchair or with limited movements, the house will be virtually impossible to enter.

You can consult a custom home building company in Vancouver to install a ramp so that the wheelchair can be wheeled to the door easily. If you don’t have enough space for the wheelchair ramp, then you can install a stair-lift right beside the stairs that will take the person to the door.

Another factor to consider is the width of the door. It should be at least 36” wide to accommodate the width of a wheelchair.

2. Switches, Outlets and Features

This is a factor that goes often overlooked. If you are planning to build a house that will be more suitable for the elderly loved ones at your home or those with limited movements, you need to consider how you can place the switches, outlets, and features in the most accessible places so that these people can reach easily without any help. If that is not an option, you can go for remote or WiFi switches to be done easily.

A contemporary modern bathroom design. featuring a bathtub with a glass shower stall, toilet and his and her double sink vanity.

3. Pool Lift for Easiest Entry

When you are investing in a luxury custom home in Vancouver, it’s possible that you might have a pool. Pools are great for people with limited mobility, but to ensure their safety getting in and out of the pool, you should install a pool lift.

4. Access in the Bathroom

A very difficult place for people with limited ability is the bathroom. This is a place where dangerous accidents can happen too. So, if you want to make your bathroom look great and also remain safe for the members who don’t move normally, you can hire an expert agency like Roadhouse Homes.

They will install handrails around the toilet so as to prevent falling and to offer support. The flooring should be different, as normal tiles can become slippery and cause a higher risk for injury. You should install step-in tubs instead of the normal ones as tall tub walls can hinder and injure a person with limited movements. Hiring an expert team of builders can help solve these issues for you.

5. Open Floor Plan

When it comes to a wheelchair moving, it requires a space of about 5 feet to turn around and move. And that is why having an open floor plan will be the best idea for your home.

Your elderly or differently able family member doesn’t always need to sit alone. They can spend time with all the family members if the home is designed with an open floor plan. They can lounge, sit and eat and spend time with you all.

So, what are you waiting for? Now, that you know about these features, implement them in your home design to make an accessible home in Vancouver. Hire an experienced and licensed building company and discuss your project with them.