As the holidays approach, many of us begin thinking about family gatherings, holiday meals, decorating, and welcoming friends and loved ones into our homes. We look forward to sharing a meal, catching up, laughing, and making memories together, but have you ever stopped to think about how welcoming your home is for everyone who might come through your door? This is where the concept of visitability comes in.
Visitability is about making homes easier for people of all ages and abilities to enter, move around in, and enjoy. It recognizes that everyone deserves the opportunity to visit family and friends without unnecessary physical barriers. Whether someone has difficulty navigating steps, uses a walker or a wheelchair, is recovering from surgery, or simply has trouble getting around as they age, the design of our homes can make a tremendous difference.
What Does a Visitable Home Look Like?
A visitable home doesn't necessarily mean a fully accessible home or an expensive renovation. In fact, a few thoughtful design features can make a home much more welcoming.
Three basic features are often associated with visitability:
A no-step entrance: At least one entrance that allows someone to enter without navigating stairs or steps.
Wider doorways: Doorways that provide adequate clearance for someone using a wheelchair, walker, or other mobility device.
A usable main-floor bathroom: A bathroom that can be accessed and used by guests with varying mobility needs.
Beyond these basics, there are many other details worth considering, such as clear pathways, good lighting, supportive handrails, accessible seating, and enough room to comfortably move throughout gathering spaces.
Think About Your Home Through the Eyes of Your Guests
As an occupational therapist and kitchen and bath designer, I often look at homes from two perspectives: how people function in their everyday environments and how thoughtful design can support their independence, comfort, and safety. One of the things I love about the concept of visitability is that it encourages us to think beyond our own needs.
Think about your family and friends at your holiday gatherings. Is there a step at the main door without a rail or a grab bar that might make it difficult for a person to enter? Is there enough room for someone using a walker to comfortably move around the kitchen or dining room? Can a guest easily access and use the bathroom? Is there a comfortable place for someone to sit and visit without feeling isolated from the rest of the group? Sometimes, the smallest barriers can make someone feel that visiting isn't worth the effort and sometimes, a simple change can make all the difference.
Visitability Benefits Everyone
While visitability is especially important for people with disabilities and mobility challenges, its benefits reach far beyond those groups. Consider a friend recovering from knee replacement surgery, a family member using a walker, an aging parent who struggles with stairs, or a young parent maneuvering a stroller through the front entrance. Our needs change throughout our lives. A home that is easier to navigate can make visits more comfortable, reduce the risk of falls, and allow everyone to participate more fully. Visitability is more than accessibility. It's about connection and making sure that the people we care about can continue to be part of our lives and our celebrations.
A Few Things to Consider Before the Holidays
As you prepare your home for holiday guests, take a few minutes to look around with fresh eyes.
Keep entryways and walkways clear of clutter, decorations, cords, and throw rugs.
Make sure entrances and hallways are well lit.
Make sure to have a handrail or a grab bar if you have steps at your main entrance.
Arrange furniture to provide comfortable pathways.
Offer stable chairs with arms to make sitting down and standing up easier.
Keep frequently used items within easy reach.
Make sure guests can access and use the bathroom comfortably.
Consider whether an alternate entrance might be easier for someone who has difficulty with steps.
These simple considerations may not require a remodel, but they can make your home feel more welcoming and comfortable for everyone.
A Home Should Be a Place Where Everyone Belongs
The holidays remind us how important it is to spend time with the people we love. Our homes are often the center of those memories, and I believe we should design and maintain them with those connections in mind. Visitability encourages us to look at our homes a little differently. Instead of only asking, "Does my home work for me?" we can also ask, "Does my home welcome and work for the people I love?"
As an occupational therapist and kitchen and bath designer, I believe good design is about more than beautiful finishes, stylish spaces, and functional layouts. It's about creating environments that allow people to live, gather, participate, and connect. This holiday season, consider giving some thought to visitability because the best gift we can offer our family and friends is a place where they feel welcome, safe and at home.
Photo Credit: Brett Sayles Photography, pexels.com