People living with disabilities often have a hard time finding apartments. The reason is that, as a disabled person, you need several unique components to move around comfortably and tackle all day-to-day tasks.
Moreover, locating suitable accommodations can be challenging if you don't know what to look for. That is why you must familiarize yourself with everything accessible facilities should have before setting out.
This piece will introduce you to several vital features to look for in an ideal handicap-accessible apartment, so read on to learn more.
Handicap-Accessible Apartments: The Must-Haves
Below is a list of essential amenities that an ideal handicap-accessible apartment should have. These make life easier and navigation possible for disabled renters.
1. Accessible Ramps
Handicap-accessible buildings need wheelchair ramps for mobility-impaired renters living in ground-floor apartments.
These components help people with physical disabilities and older adults who use wheelchairs access their accommodations without unnecessary hassles.
Living in a building lacking ramps is inadvisable if you are disabled and use a wheelchair to move around. Remember, although you can go up a flight of stairs with your wheelchair, the entire ordeal is strenuous and incredibly dangerous, especially during harsh weather conditions.
2. Grab Bars
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requires all accessible toilet stalls to have grab bars. Why? First, these components improve bathroom safety and independent living for people with mobility limitations.
If you find an apartment with grab bars installed in the bathroom, requiring assistance when you want to relieve yourself or take a shower becomes unnecessary. Instead, you can use these sturdy bars to support yourself when you need to get in or out of the bathroom.
Besides, your visitors and loved ones can also use the grab bars in your apartment, even if they are fully mobile. By grasping these items, they maintain their balance more effectively and support themselves, avoiding slips, falls, and injuries.
3. Wide Doorways
Picture living in an apartment with narrow doorways that can't accommodate your wheelchair. Sounds quite inconvenient, right? After all, you likely use your chair at least once a day, meaning you need it close by at all times.
Important entrances in handicap-accessible buildings and apartments should be wide enough to let in people with wheelchairs. If you use this device, ensure you pick living quarters with at least 32-inch wide doorways.
Failure to pay close attention to doorway measurements may eventually mean living in an apartment without enough clearance for your wheelchair, complicating your life.
4. Low Counters
If you prefer preparing your meals, living without a kitchen shouldn't be an option. Luckily, most modern apartments have kitchen areas with essential appliances like refrigerators, stoves, and ovens.
Unfortunately, using your kitchen space can be challenging if it lacks the right components for disabled or mobility-impaired people. Take counters as an example. Low kitchen counters must be on your checklist if you have a disability that makes standing impossible.
In addition, ensure all workspaces in your kitchen area have adequate spaces below for your wheelchair and zero abrasive or sharp encumbrances.
5. Elevators and Lifts
Disabled people living in storied or high-rise buildings need handicap elevators to navigate floors easily. As the name suggests, handicap elevators are specially tailored for individuals who can't move up and down without assistance.
Besides elevators, disabled access lifts can also boost your mobility in multi-story buildings. Experts design these devices to handle significant weight amounts. That means they are safe even for individuals who rely on wheelchairs.
Get a Handicap-Accessible Apartment Today
Do you need a handicap-accessible, amenity-rich apartment in Central Illinois and the surrounding areas? If so, Robert Cottingham Property Management Co (RCPMCO) is here for you.
Our company's primary mission is to help people find top-tier, affordable accommodations. We provide many housing solutions and services, including income-based apartments and property management. Visit our website today to learn about our properties.
