Today, most home doorways are 32 inches wide, but the opened door and its hinges reduce the actual opening to 30 inches. I don’t know how narrow your doorway is, but assuming the door has standard hinges, it might be possible to inexpensively increase your husband’s access to the full width of the doorway by using offset door hinges, also known as swing clear hinges to retrofit the door.
These Z shaped door hinges can swing the door clearly out of its frame, placing it flush against the wall. These hinges are often used in older commercial buildings to meet the Standards of Accessible Design set by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Perhaps an extra 2 inches will help your husband avoid bumping his elbows when he walks through the doorway. A pair of offset hinges can be purchased online for less than $15 at www.allegromedical.com or www.activeforever.com and are usually installed by using the existing screw holes.
If you should need to widen the doorway, you might consider the benefits of discussing the plan with a building contractor who is a Certified Aging-in-Place Specialist (CAPS). This certification indicates the completion of additional training in the needs of older adults and home modifications to allow aging-in-place. The National Association of Home Builders provides a web-based directory, which lists Certified Aging-in- Place Specialists.
For more information contact Senior Solutions at (954) 456-8984 or toll free at 1-800-213-3524
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