Take The Stress Out Of Christmas With These Accessibility Tips For Relatives With Mobility Needs
By Mike Lord, Stiltz
Christmas is a time of joy and family togetherness, but for relatives with mobility challenges, the festive season can come with additional hurdles. Ensuring everyone feels included and comfortable in your home doesn’t have to be difficult – it’s about thoughtful planning and small adjustments to create an accessible and welcoming environment.
Stiltz Homelifts understands the importance of making Christmas a time for every generation to be able to celebrate without barriers. Here are some practical ideas to help you host a festive gathering that prioritises safety, comfort, and inclusivity for loved ones with mobility needs.
1. Prepare Your Home for Accessibility
Before your guests arrive, take a moment to evaluate your space. Simple adjustments can go a long way in making your home safer and easier to navigate for those with mobility challenges.
Key Preparations:
- Declutter Walkways: Ensure hallways, entrances, and communal areas are free from tripping hazards like loose rugs or cables.
- Enhance Lighting: Brighten up dim spaces to improve visibility, especially near stairs and outdoor areas.
- Add Support Aids: If needed, install temporary handrails or grab bars to provide extra stability.
- Secure Non-Slip Mats: Place these in high-risk areas like bathrooms and doorways.
Taking these steps can help your nearest and dearest move around with ease and reduce the risk of accidents.
2. Plan for Comfortable Seating
Your living room often becomes the heart of Christmas gatherings. Create a space where everyone, regardless of mobility, can sit comfortably and participate fully in the celebrations.
Tips for Comfort:
- Provide firm chairs with armrests to make standing easier.
- Use cushions to adjust seating height if needed.
- Keep a table within easy reach for items like drinks and snacks to be accessed independently.
3. Rethink the Dining Area
A Christmas meal brings everyone together, but mobility limitations can make traditional dining arrangements tricky. Adjust the setup to avoid anyone being left feeling awkward, ensure the dining area is inclusive and comfortable for all.
Making the Table Accessible:
- Allow enough space for wheelchair users or those with walkers to move freely around the table.
- Use a dining table and chairs of appropriate height for everyone.
- Assign someone to serve food or drinks so guests can relax and enjoy the meal.
4. Adapt for Overnight Stays
If your loved ones are staying overnight, prioritising their comfort and safety will make their visit more enjoyable. Small changes to sleeping arrangements can make a big difference.
Ideas for a Restful Stay:
- Check how comfortable less mobile visitors might be using the stairs. Provide a short-term, single-floor alternative for them if needed,
- Provide extra blankets and pillows for added comfort.
- Keep essentials like water, medications, and a torch within arm’s reach.
5. Enhance Outdoor Accessibility
Christmas isn’t limited to indoor activities—if your plans include time outdoors, make sure those spaces are just as accessible.
Outdoor Safety Tips:
- Clear snow, ice, and wet leaves from pathways.
- Use portable ramps for any steps or uneven surfaces.
- Add outdoor lighting, which is a must for evening gatherings in mid-winter.
6. Make the Festivities Inclusive
Mobility or cognitive issues can sometimes leave older relatives feeling sidelined during busy celebrations. Focus on activities that everyone can enjoy together, ensuring no one feels excluded.
Inclusive Activity Ideas:
- Decorate Together: Involve everyone in hanging ornaments, setting the table, or arranging festive flowers.
- Host a Game Night: Choose seated games or puzzles that encourage interaction and fun. Be on hand to offer support and encouragement.
- Share Stories: Use the opportunity to swap memories, watch classic Christmas films, or look through family photo albums.
7. Discuss Needs in Advance
Open communication can help you prepare effectively and avoid any last-minute stress or awkwardness. Ask your relatives about their preferences and specific requirements before they arrive. See if they would like additional help or are happy to manage on their own.
Questions to Consider:
- Are there any mobility aids they would like to bring or borrow?
- Do they have dietary requirements or preferences for the menu?
- Is there an activity or tradition they’d especially like to participate in?
8. Invest in Long-Term Accessibility
If you frequently host relatives with mobility needs, making permanent changes to your home could be a worthwhile investment. Features like ramps, stairlift or even better, a homelift, can transform your home into a more inclusive space.
Stiltz specialises in homelifts designed to blend practicality with style. The lifts provide a safe and convenient way for relatives to navigate between floors, ensuring every corner of your home is accessible.
9. Prioritise Wellbeing
Christmas can be exhausting for everyone and even more so for those with mobility challenges. Encourage your loved ones to rest when needed and adjust the pace of celebrations to ensure nobody is becoming weary , stressed or overwhelmed.
Wellbeing Tips:
- Plan breaks between activities to avoid fatigue.
- Offer a quiet space for relatives to relax if the celebrations become too lively.
- Provide water and nutritious snacks throughout the day.
Celebrate Together with Confidence
Christmas is about cherishing the time spent with our nearest and dearest, and with a little forethought, your home can be welcoming and accessible for all. By focusing on comfort, safety, and inclusion, you’ll create an environment where everyone can relax and enjoy the festive magic.
Whether it’s a small adjustment like clearing walkways or a larger investment like installing a homelift, these changes show your commitment to family and togetherness.
Stiltz is here to help make your home a place where everyone can celebrate with confidence and joy.
Let’s make this Christmas truly special for every member of the family. For more inspiration and mobility solutions, visit https://www.stiltz.co.uk/.
