As you age or recover from an injury you might find your current home is difficult to navigate. Maybe there are too many stairs, narrow doorways, switches in the wrong place, slippery floors, narrow access to bathrooms, no support rails and more.

You don’t necessarily need to move to a new house, because many existing homes can be modified to suit your changing requirements. Home modifications can be a simple refurbishment, such as the installation of some handrails, or complex, such as a renovation that reconfigures the layout of the home. It all depends on what needs to be modified to allow you and your family to live independently.

How Revive can help you modify your home

At Revive Building Solutions we’ve helped many individuals and families modify their homes so they can continue to live in them for longer. Our home modification services enable you to remain independent, mobile and safe in your existing home for longer, or while recovering from major health issues and adapting to their new accessibility needs.

Here is a list of some of the most common modifications that we can help you with so you can stay in your own home for longer:

Ramps provide great access

Ramps can be installed inside and out in most homes. A ramp at the entrance to your home will make it more accessible if you have difficulty going up and down stairs or use a wheelchair. External and internal ramps can be built cost-effectively and be fixed or portable. Portable options can be made in lightweight and durable materials so they can be moved around your house as required.

Stair lifts solve problems

Stairs are reported as one of the biggest impediments to less-mobile people staying in their existing homes for longer. Installing a stair lift can relieve the stress and discomfort of having to climb the stairs. Most are a simple chair lift that can be installed by our qualified tradespeople without making any structural building changes.

Widen doors to increase access

Most homes feature standard size doorways throughout and do not allow for a wheelchair or other mobility devices to comfortably fit. In many cases, doorways can be widened to allow you to move more easily around your existing home.

Depending on structural walls, renovations can also be carried out to open up older homes into larger rooms to make it easier to move around. This type of modification fits more into the renovation category and needs to be undertaken by a qualified builder such as Revive Building Solutions. Adding handrails can also assist with access around your home.

What can be modified in the kitchen?

Your kitchen can be a challenging place to negotiate as you age or learn to live with a disability, but there are modifications you or a professional builder, such as Revive Building Solutions can make to ensure you live as independently as possible.

It could be as simple as re-ordering the kitchen to make sure the cabinets are organised so everyday items are easily accessible. Modifications to make your kitchen more functional include improved lighting, lower benches, soft closers on cabinets and doors and wider access. 

All these things can make everyday tasks like cooking simpler and less stressful. To help avoid any slips in the kitchen, upgrading your floor to non-slip covering can help prevent a nasty injury from falling.

Bathroom modifications are essential

Bathrooms can be difficult to navigate if you have limited mobility, but several things can help, such as rails, showerheads, lighting and non-slip areas. Installing grab rails in your bathroom can provide additional support when getting up out of the bath, shower, or toilet. However, they need to be installed correctly to work effectively and they need to be sturdy.

A handheld showerhead (such as a shower rose) can be a quick and easy solution to showering comfortably without the need for assistance and the use of a shower chair will also be of great help. Non-slip mats and strips can assist greatly in ensuring the wet areas of the bathroom are less dangerous if you are less mobile. You should also make sure that all products are in easy reach to avoid over-stretching and potentially falling.

Depending on your shower set up, it may be possible to also remove the hob or shower screen altogether. Doing so can make it much easier for the elderly to get in and out of the shower, especially if they are using a wheelchair or a walker frame. It also makes it easier for nurses, carers, friends and family to access the patient and provide assistance when it’s needed.

Good lighting and accessible switches

When modifying your home to make it more accessible it’s important to consider good lighting, particularly in key areas like kitchens and bathrooms. The location and size of switches and powerpoints should also be considered and some may need to be relocated.

Install a medical alert system

Medical alert systems are a common feature in aged care facilities, but they can also be installed in private homes providing peace of mind in emergencies.

Technology can also help

More and more technological aids are being brought to the market. Smart devices and even phone apps are easy to use and can allow you to use voice control to activate many features in your home, such as lights, calling friends and family, or listening to music.

Funding support for your home modifications

The good news is that there are several places you can apply for funding for home modifications, including My Aged Care and the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS). 

If you are over 65 years of age, you can apply for a home modification subsidy from My Aged Care. For those who are under 65, the NDIS offers funding for the design and construction of modified homes as part of a package, which is tailored to suit each individual's needs and requirements.

Revive Building Solutions is a southwest Sydney-based business that offers comprehensive professional building services all under one roof. We are a convenient one-stop building services provider that delivers substantial cost and time savings to homeowners (including those who require their home to be modified), property managers and facilities managers. Contact us today for a free quote.