Ambient Assisted Living

Movement areas for wheelchair users in door areas

In most cases, room doors are designed as so-called swing doors with manual operation (manual opening and closing). With such doors, wheelchair users need a movement area of ​​150 cm x 150 cm on the side to which the door opens (direction of opening). On the other hand, a movement area of ​​120 cm x 150 cm is sufficient. The different requirements for movement area on the two sides of the door result from the fact that no maneuvering is necessary when the door is driven through in the opening direction with the wheelchair, which is why the area on this side can be a little smaller. So that the door can be easily pulled shut by the wheelchair user, the door should be equipped with a cross bar, which should be at a height of 85 cm.

With sliding doors, a depth of 120 cm on both sides of the sliding door is sufficient for wheelchair users. Maneuvering is required so that the door can be opened and closed. The width of the movement areas on both sides of the sliding door should therefore be at least 1.90 cm.

Lighting and light in the barrier-free bedroom

Sufficient lighting is very important in the barrier-free bedroom. The ceiling light should be operated from the bed, which is possible, for example, with a light switch that is easily accessible from the bed.

The bedroom should be completely illuminated and, if necessary, be equipped with several light sources. Good lighting is an important factor in preventing falls, as potential “tripping hazards” can be better identified and the risk of a fall is significantly reduced. If lighting that is too bright causes problems with falling asleep again, for example after using the toilet at night, a light orientation system close to the floor can be used to safely illuminate the route to the bathroom in order to avoid the too bright light at night. Another alternative can be dimmable light sources, whereby the safe orientation ability should be guaranteed in any case.

In addition to light switches, lighting solutions with acoustic switches (controlled by sounds) or motion detectors can also be used as an alternative.

In general, glare-free lighting should be ensured in the bedroom.

Illuminated light switches make orientation easier, especially in the dark. Large switches are generally recommended.

So that wheelchair users can easily reach operating devices such as light switches, sockets or shutter controls, they should be installed at an appropriate height (85 cm).

Instead of a bedside lamp, a permanently installed wall lamp (glare-free) is preferred. This should also be able to be switched on and off easily and simply from the bed.

Walk-in closets or wardrobes should have their own lighting or interior lighting and be well lit.

Lower-lying windows with a maximum parapet height of 60 cm allow an easy view outside. The window handles should be at a height of between 85 cm and 105 cm. Alternatively, at least one window in the room can be equipped with an automatic opening and closing system.

Room climate in the barrier-free bedroom

In general, a room temperature of 16 ° C to 18 ° C is recommended for bedrooms. Older people and people with disabilities, however, very often have a higher demand for heat. An additional radiator is required to cover this. In this context, it should be noted that radiator valves should be at a height of between 40 cm and 80 cm so that they are easy to use.

The room should be well insulated so that it is not too warm on hotter days in summer. An air conditioning system may be useful in order to be able to optimally meet the individual needs of the resident.

For a healthy indoor climate, it is important that adequate ventilation of the bedroom is possible.

The optimal room humidity in the bedroom should be between 40% and 60%. Since adequate air humidity has a positive effect on health and well-being, it should be possible to influence or at least control the air humidity in order to be able to act if necessary – e.g. by setting up a humidifier or dehumidifier.

Bedroom furniture for barrier-free rooms

In principle, flexible furnishing in a barrier-free bedroom is an advantage. If necessary, a conventionally used pure bedroom can easily be converted into a care room.

The furniture not only plays a functional role in the bedroom, but also has a major influence on the room atmosphere. When choosing furniture for the barrier-free bedroom, care should therefore be taken to ensure that it not only optimally meets all the necessary requirements, but also meets the needs of the resident visually. This is the only way to create an ambience in the bedroom that has no hospital character and invites you to relax and unwind.

Ambient Assisted Living