Stairs

[Wotty]

Probably a silly question but humour me please. Looking at a house that has stairs up to the front door and down to a lower ground floor. Is it possible to adapt these entrances for older people with limited mobility, if necessary?

It depends on what you mean by limited mobility... In many cases, just adding grab rails on both sides can be sufficient. You can also redesign the steps if, for example, the step heights are uneven or too high. But if someone were in a wheelchair, that's another matter, and you might struggle to make it accessible. I know a couple of people in their 60's who have moved house in order to avoid issues with front steps and sloping ground.

Can the property also be accessed via the side / rear, where the ground may be flatter?

The stairs up to the front door could potentially be replaced with a ramp if there’s enough space. Inside stairs can be made safer with extra handrails or you can add a stair lift or even a through floor lift if you’ve got space (and money!)

Thanks v much. I'm actually thinking about relatives with very limited mobility.

A few houses round here have an external lift up to the front door

@ClematisBlue49 It's terraced so no side access unfortunately. It could be accessed from the rear if the private development behind the garden would permit access...

@Crazymadchickenlady Wow. Never heard of this! Googling now

I visit a patient in a work capacity that has MS and is a wheelchair user who has an external lift. It goes up maybe 5 or 6 steps height. No idea on cost or practicalities mind.

@Wotty quite a few houses around here have them as lots have steps to the front door.

Juts a thought- ramps do need a fair bit of length per height, so to speak.