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Preparing Your San Mateo Home For a Wheelchair Person

Home entertaining has become extremely popular amongst people residing in San Mateo County because of its ease and convenience. However, this resurgence has also bought the complexities of accommodating all kinds of guests. Good hosts take all of their visitors into consideration. They are sensitive towards their political, cultural, and religious differences. But what if the guest is physically challenged or wheelchair bound, and needs additional accommodation?

Entrance

The first thing to consider for such guests is the entrance. If you reside in an apartment in San Mateo and do not live on the ground floor, an elevator will be a necessity for the guest. However, the elevator should be wide enough to permit wheelchair access. Most state-of-the-art elevators come with the width that permits wheelchair access.

A Ramp

In case you reside in a suburban area of San Mateo County and have a couple of steps onto the door of your house then you will need to put up a ramp. For a temporary slope, a wood sheet can suffice. You must buy a wooden plank that is about a couple of feet wider than the chair. The length must depend on the total number of steps you will be accommodating. It is advisable to measure the stairs and add an extra foot, for an initial advantage. As there will be no railings with such ramps, someone will require aiding the guest up the slope. Apart from this, you can also invest in more permanent and durable options. Choose to hire help to fix a permanent ramp to the house. Also, install a rail to the incline, to ensure that the guest can navigate independently.

Space

Once your guest is inside the house, he/she may feel conscious of the space, and might shy away from mixing with others. Encourage the guest to take part in the action by drawing out a wider route. Arrange your furniture in such a way that guests can mingle around the furnishings. And even through the furnishings, you could give a direct path towards the entryway. This can help the guest to exit the room, when he/she desires.

Table Chairs

In case you’ve hosted a dinner party, bear in mind that wheelchairs are much wider in comparison to table chairs. Make sure you leave the space of about two table chairs. Also, in case the table is square, seat the guest at the corner seat, preferably at the corner closest to the entry. This permits them to excuse themselves without causing problems for other diners.

Rugs

Take into consideration the textiles and fabrics of the house. If you possess a shag style rug, you might want to remove it for the party. This is because the wheels of the chair can conflict with such prominent materials. In case of marble floors, there is the problem of slippage and skids. Lay down a runner to prevent this from happening. Also, you may want to secure your floors with extra coat of waxing as wheels can damage the hardwood floors and other materials as well.

Pets

Hosts that have pets must consider the personality of their animals. If the pet is gregarious, it is important to keep it away from the motorized wheelchair. Electric wheelchairs can be difficult to stop for the sake of an over friendly animal. They can seriously get injured in such wheelchair accidents. San Mateo also has several animal boarding facilities where you can leave your pet for a day.

When it comes to being the perfect host, it is important that each one of your guests is taken care of, irrespective of their shortcomings. Remember, when accommodating someone on the wheelchair, safety is essential. Safety for your pets, the guest, and your San Mateo house should be your priority. Providing accessibility and security to the visitors will make the evening more relaxed and enjoyable.

Tags: wheelchair accessibility, table chairs