The Front Door
Wouldn't it be nice to have a butler and a maid waiting for you when you came home each day? They would stand at the front door ready to fulfill your every need. He would open the door for you. She could take your packages. He might hold an umbrella to keep you dry. If you used a wheelchair, they would be there to wheel you inside.
Very few of us can afford this luxury. But you can design your front door so it works for you. Here's how.
- Make sure the doorway is wide enough. You'll breeze right through a doorway that gives you 32 inches of clear space. A friend in a wheelchair also can roll in easily. Want extra space to move big items in and out? Make the front doorway 36 inches wide.
- Buy lever handles for your doors. Press down on the flat surface of these handles and your door opens. No need to twist or grab.
- Leave an open space just inside and outside of your front door. The area should measure at least 5 feet by 5 feet. This space is useful to people who use a cane, walker or wheelchair. It gives them plenty of room to move up to and through the front door. Leave two feet of open floor space on the side of the door where the lock and lever handle are. That way, someone in a wheelchair can reach the door handle.
- Build an overhang above the door. Once you are out of the rain or snow, you can take your time opening the door. A roof also keeps ice and snow from building up outside the front door.
- Build an outside shelf near the door. Put your packages on the shelf before you start fishing for your keys.
Look Ma, No Key!
It would be a lot easier to get into your front door if you didn't have to unlock the door. Imagine. No stopping to find your keys. No struggling to fit the key into the keyhole. No straining your hands to turn a stiff lock. Of course, nowadays you can't leave your doors unlocked. But you can lock your door without a key. All you need is a keyless locking system.
Not all keyless systems are the same. Some run on batteries. Others are wired into your home's electric current. How you actually unlock the door will depend on the keyless model you choose. You might punch a code into a keypad. On some, you press a remote control button on your key ring. Others open the door when you stick a plastic card into a slot.
Mount your system where everyone can reach it. And, make sure you can use a regular key if the system isn't working.
Who's at the Door?
Don't open your front door until you know who rang the bell. There are a few ways to find this out.
- You could take a peek at your visitor through small windows that you install on the side of the door.
- You could get a glimpse of your guest by looking through small peep holes in the door. Put these peep holes at two levels so both children and adults - and someone who is sitting down - can reach them.
- You could also install a doorbell that works like an intercom. Intercom doorbells let you talk to your visitor without opening the door. You use a speaker/receiver inside the house. Your visitor uses one that is outside the front door. You answer the doorbell by pushing a button on your unit. This lets you talk to the visitor. The visitor pushes a button that lets him or her talk back to you. Some units even have a camera so you can also see who is at the door.
Buy two or three intercom units for inside your home. Put one on each floor. That way, you'll always be near a unit when someone comes to the front door. You only need one intercom unit outside. You can also buy an intercom doorbell that work through your phones. These intercoms send a special ring to every phone in your house. Pick up the phone nearest you, and start talking to your guest. Some intercom units even let you unlock the door and let your guest into the house. This is helpful if you can't get to the door.
Other Safety Features
Make sure your front door is as safe as it can be. Shine plenty of lights on the doorway, lock, porch, and walkway. Prune shrubs and trees so your neighbors can see your front door. This will help them see - and report - any suspicious activity.
AARP Resources
This Bold House
Take a tour of the world's most accessible house.
Other Resources
Accessible
Entrances
The Paralyzed Veterans of America web site offers suggestions on
how to make the entrance to your home accessible.
Creating
an Easy-to-Visit Home
The Iowa State University Extension tells you how to create a
retirement home that is easy-visiting, easy-living, and easy on
the budget.
