Adapting the Home After a Life-Changing Event: What Needs to Change and Why
- Haela Pattemore
- 4 days ago
- 4 min read
Imagine this: one day, you’re moving freely around your home - boiling the kettle, jumping in the shower, heading upstairs to bed without a second thought - and the next, everything changes.
A stroke, an accident, a sudden diagnosis. Life throws something unexpected your way, and all of a sudden you find yourself relying on a wheelchair or mobility aid to get around. That same home, once a place of comfort and ease, suddenly becomes full of obstacles.
At Homes Reimagined, we meet many individuals and families facing this reality - often with little warning. In these moments, people don’t just need practical support. They need someone who can help them make sense of what’s needed, walk with them through their everyday home activities, and rework their space so it fits their new life.
So what does need to change when someone suddenly finds themselves navigating life in a wheelchair or with limited mobility? Let’s break it down.
1. Getting In and Out of the Home
It sounds simple — until it’s not.
One of the first hurdles is often the front door. Steps become an immediate barrier. Doorways that once felt spacious are now too narrow. Even opening the door can be difficult without full strength or reach.
How we help:
We can install a ramp or a platform lift that makes the front of your home accessible again.
We might widen your doorways to give easier access, particularly for wheelchairs or walkers.
We can fit automatic or remote-controlled doors, especially if someone lives alone or has reduced upper-body strength.
It's about making sure the person can come and go with confidence — without needing someone else every time.
2. Moving Freely Through the Home
When every movement takes more effort, even the layout of your home can become challenging. Raised thresholds between rooms can trip wheels or pose a fall risk. Tight turns in corridors become awkward or even impossible. And if everything essential is upstairs — well, that can leave someone effectively living in one room.
How we help:
We look at reconfiguring the layout to create clearer, wider pathways.
Thresholds can be levelled out, making transitions between rooms smoother.
Depending on the property, we might install a stairlift, or in some cases a through-floor lift installation might be the answer - so the whole house remains usable, not just the downstairs.
Even repositioning furniture can make a huge difference to someone’s sense of freedom.
3. Bathroom Barriers
Bathrooms are often the biggest challenge, and the first priority. Think about how physical a bathroom is: stepping over the side of a bath, getting on and off the toilet, bending down to use the sink. For someone who’s just experienced a life-altering event, these can go from routine tasks to serious risks.
How we help:
Level-access showers (or wet rooms) remove trip hazards and allow space for a carer if needed.
We fit fold-down shower seats, grab rails, and anti-scald devices to keep things both accessible and safe.
Toilets can be swapped for wash-dry models, giving people greater independence and dignity.
Even the height and style of the sink can make a difference - a wall-hung basin at the right level makes washing much easier when seated.
We never underestimate the importance of privacy and control, especially in this space.
4. Making the Kitchen Work Again
The kitchen is the heart of many homes, but for someone adjusting to life with limited mobility, it can become a frustrating or even dangerous place. Cupboards are suddenly out of reach. Worktops are too high. Hobs and ovens feel unsafe or awkward to use.
How we help:
We design accessible kitchens with lower, open-underneath worktops so a wheelchair can roll right in.
Pull-down shelving, slide-out cupboards, and easy-grip handles make storage more reachable.
We can recommend smart appliances — like ovens with side-opening doors or voice-activated controls that make cooking possible again.
And for clients who love to cook? We adapt everything to make that passion possible again.
This isn’t just about meals, it’s about maintaining identity and independence.
5. Reclaiming the Bedroom
Getting into bed, getting dressed, turning off the light. All of a sudden, these every day activities can become a struggle and a real source of stress. If the bedroom is too tight for a wheelchair to manoeuvre, or the bed isn’t the right height, even rest becomes a challenge.
How we help:
We often introduce profiling beds, which adjust at the touch of a button.
For more complex needs, we can fit ceiling track hoists to support safe transfers from chair to bed.
We rethink storage too, adding pull-down wardrobe rails or easy-slide drawers.
And with smart tech, people can control lights, blinds, and even heating from bed — making night time routines much easier to navigate.
A well-adapted bedroom helps restore a sense of peace and restfulness.
6. Safety, Comfort, and Control Throughout
Every home is different — and so is every person. Some people need smart home systems with voice activation. Others benefit from environmental changes, like improved lighting or heating. And in many cases, families need a bit of help understanding how to make the home feel safe and personal again.
That’s why we always start with an Occupational Therapist home assessment. Our work is clinical as well as creative - designed not just to make things easier, but to restore dignity, confidence, and quality of life.
Bringing Life Back Into the Home
No one expects to have to turn their house into a wheelchair accessible home. It’s a world people usually only enter when something has gone terribly wrong. But what we’ve seen time and again is that thoughtful, well-designed adaptations can help speed up the adjustment process and change someone’s outlook completely. They make daily life less tiring and restore confidence, helping people feel human again.
If you or someone you care about has recently experienced a life-changing health event, we’re here to help. With expertise, understanding, and care - we’ll help reimagine your home to meet your new reality.
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