We often don’t realize how much we take for granted in our daily lives. Tasks that seem easy to many people can be incredibly hard for those living with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). This progressive neuromuscular disorder causes muscle weakness and mobility issues. Children, teenagers, and adults with DMD may find it challenging to move around the house, open doors, or use stairs. If you’re a caregiver for someone with DMD, you may have to find new ways to make your home more accessible.

This article covers eight ways to make your living space more DMD-friendly. These home modifications can help your child or loved one live more comfortably and improve their quality of life.

Mobility Issues and Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy

DMD is a genetic disease caused by changes in the dystrophin gene. The dystrophin protein helps hold muscle cells together. People with DMD don’t make enough dystrophin, so their muscle fibers become damaged and are replaced by fat or scar tissue. This is why your child or loved one loses muscle mass, which affects their ability to walk, climb stairs, and lift their arms.

Eventually, people with DMD will need to use a mobility device like a wheelchair or an electric scooter to get around. The sooner you make accessible changes to your home, the easier it’ll be for them to adapt when the time comes.

Here are eight ways you can make your home more accessible.

1. Install Ramps or Buy a Portable Ramp

Stairs can be difficult to climb when living with DMD, and using a wheelchair or scooter may limit where your child or loved one can go. Consider getting a ramp installed if you have steps leading into your home.

You can look for an Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA)-compliant ramp at your local hardware store and have it installed by a professional. They can help you find the right length ramp to ensure it isn’t too steep. Permanent wheelchair ramps tend to be pricey, averaging close to a couple thousand dollars for a ramp and installation.

You can look for an Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA)-compliant ramp at your local hardware store and have it installed by a professional

For a cheaper option, you can try a portable wheelchair ramp, which may cost only a few hundred dollars. These ramps come with handles and fold for easy transport and use. Be sure to check the ramp’s weight limit, especially if it will need to support an electric wheelchair.

2. Choose Low-Pile Carpeting or Hard Flooring

Plush rugs may add a comfy touch to your home, but they can be difficult for wheelchairs and scooters to roll on. Choose appropriate flooring to make it easier for your child or loved one to move around. Low-pile carpeting, hardwood or laminate flooring, and tiling are all great options.

When making flooring modifications, be sure to tape down or cover cords for lamps and electronics. It’s also a good time to clear away any clutter in your child’s or loved one’s path.

3. Rearrange Your Kitchen Cabinets

If you keep cups or bowls your child or loved one often uses in the top kitchen cabinets, it might be time to reorganize. Store these items in lower cabinets and drawers for easier reach if your child or loved one uses a mobility aid or wheelchair. Pots and pans can go in upper cabinets.

Consider getting rolling organizing trays that slide out if you have deep cabinets or a lazy Susan corner cupboard. You’ll not only make these areas accessible, you also may be able to fit more in these spaces.

Other kitchen additions that can be helpful for people with DMD include:

• A side-by-side refrigerator, so both refrigerated and frozen items can be seen and accessed at lower heights
• A side-opening oven, which is easier to use by someone in a wheelchair
• A roll-under stove top and sink
• Touchless kitchen faucets

4. Make Easy Door Modifications

Traditional doorknobs require hand strength to grip and turn. People with DMD lose their grip strength over time, making it difficult to open doors. You can easily replace doorknobs with long lever-style handles that can be pushed down using a hand or elbow.

People with DMD lose their grip strength over time, making it difficult to open doors. Replace doorknobs with long lever-style handles that can be pushed down with a hand or elbow.

Take a closer look at door hinges, too — they may take up valuable space your child or loved one needs to go through the doorway. The ADA states that doorways must be at least 32 inches wide to accommodate wheelchair users. To gain a few inches, replace traditional hinges with offset hinges. They’re available online or in stores for $15 to $20.

5. Raise Chairs and Furniture

As their DMD progresses, your child or loved one will continue to lose muscle strength and control. This progression can make it hard to get in and out of chairs, couches, and even bed. The Muscular Dystrophy Association notes that raising the height of furniture around your home can make a big difference for your child or loved one.

Check your local hardware store or online for furniture risers. These plastic pieces are easily added to the bottom of chair legs and bed frames to lift them a few more inches off the ground. Furniture risers are a relatively cheap, adaptive home modification, costing around $20 for two sets of four risers.

6. Install Grab Bars and Handrails on Stairs

If the stairs in your home don’t already have handrails for safety and support, adding them can help your child or loved one safely get up and down. Carpeting or nonslip rubber mats on stairs help prevent slips and falls as well.

Grab bars are also a great addition to help people with DMD balance when standing up or sitting down. Your child or loved one may rely on nearby furniture or another person, but that might not always be safe or convenient. Grab bars can help them maintain their independence.

Grab bars are a great home addition to help people with DMD balance when standing up or sitting down.

Good places to install railings or grab bars include:

• In the bathtub or shower
• Next to the toilet
• Next to your child’s or loved one’s bed
• In the kitchen or near the dining room table

Because railings and grab bars must support a person’s weight, they’ll need to be installed securely into wall studs. Consider hiring a contractor who has experience in installing these assistive devices and is familiar with ADA requirements. With labor and materials, it can cost a few hundred dollars to have grab bars installed.

Although they’re expensive, stair lift chairs are also an option, providing an electronic seat that moves up and down the stairs along a rod. Stair lift chairs allow people with DMD to use the stairs and help reduce the risk of falling.

7. Upgrade Your In-Home Tech

Advancing technology and assistive devices now make it easier than ever to turn on lights (motion sensor lights), play music, and even lock doors. Visit your local electronics store and ask about ways you can upgrade your home to be more hands-free.

You can connect many devices to your home’s Wi-Fi and control them with a home assistant, like Amazon’s Alexa, Google Nest, or Apple’s HomePod. All can be programmed to respond to voice commands. You can also set up apps on a smartphone or tablet for your child or loved one.

The prices of these systems vary, and the best option may be one that works with other tech already in your home. While it’s an upfront investment, your child or loved one will appreciate being able to easily control their bedroom lights and TV volume.

8. Modify Your Bathroom

Some bathroom modifications might also be helpful. In addition to installing grab bars around the toilet and in the shower, consider the following alterations:

• Raising toilet seats or buying a toilet seat riser
• Adding a seat to the tub or shower
• Installing a roll-in shower, which could be set up in the kitchen
• Putting in a nonskid floor to help prevent falls

Consult Your DMD Care Team

When you’re considering home modifications for a family member with DMD, your DMD care team can be a valuable resource. Ask a health care provider for guidance on making your home more accessible as needs change. These modifications will go a long way toward maintaining physical ease and independence, as well as mental health and well-being, for your child or loved one.

Talk With Others Who Understand

At myDMDcenter, the online support group for people with Duchenne muscular dystrophy and their loved ones, people come together to gain a new understanding of DMD and share their stories with others who understand life with DMD.

What changes have you made to make your home more friendly for your child or loved one with Duchenne muscular dystrophy? How have the changes helped to improve their quality of life? Share your experiences in the comments below.