An accessible and attractive garden behind an ordinary British home

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Guides for making a difficult home easier

A better place to begin is usually the part of daily life that has become awkward. These guides look more closely at particular pieces of equipment, changing needs and the practical side of arranging work. They are written to help you ask better questions, not to steer you towards the most expensive answer.

Getting between floors

A second rail may be enough for somebody who remains steady but needs more support. If stairs are no longer safe, compare the transfer needed for a stairlift with the space and building work needed for a home lift.

Choosing a stairliftStraight and curved rails, transfers and quotations Home liftsSpace, building work, running and servicing When stairs become difficultSee all the main choices together Adapt or move?Compare the complete effect on daily life

Bathrooms, beds and chairs

Equipment has to fit the movement as well as the room. A shower seat that is too low, a raised bed that leaves feet dangling or a chair that tips a person forward can create a fresh problem.

Walk-in and level-access showersDrainage, seats, screens and usable space Choosing and fitting grab railsPosition, wall strength and safe fixing Adjustable bedsHeight, transfers, mattresses and controls Riser-recliner chairsWhat to try before buying

Different needs around the same home

Pain, sight, hearing and wheelchair use affect a house in different ways. The person living there should remain at the centre of the decisions, including choices about privacy and appearance.

Living at home with arthritisReduce twisting, grip and repeated strain Changes for sight lossLighting, contrast and predictable routes Changes for hearing lossAlarms, doorbells and clearer rooms Using a wheelchair at homeRoutes, transfers, reach and storage

Changes in circumstances

Coming home from hospital may create an urgent short-term need. A tenant may have to involve a landlord before any permanent alteration. Both situations need a route that is practical and properly agreed.

Returning home from hospitalWhat should be ready before discharge Adaptations in a rented homePermissions, assessments and shared areas Making the garden easierPaths, seats, steps and raised beds Assessments and fundingWho to contact before work begins

Arranging the work

Clear specifications and comparable quotations are more useful than vague promises. Allow for preparation, disposal, electrical work, decoration and future servicing instead of looking only at the main item.

If the subject you need isn't shown, use the broader room guides in the main menu. A problem may cross several categories. Difficulty reaching the garden could involve the back-door threshold, a step, the path surface and somewhere to rest. Likewise, getting out of bed safely may depend on bed height, lighting and the route to the toilet.

Follow the connected task instead of treating each fitting separately. Keep notes of measurements, demonstrations and advice so that one supplier doesn't have to guess what another has proposed. Where health or movement is changing, review the plan before committing to irreversible building work. A short-term item can sometimes make the home usable while the longer answer becomes clearer.

Choosing a contractorQuestions, quotations and payment Find the right starting pointOfficial sources and practical routes to help