AARP HomeFit Video: Entrances and Exits

Whether a residence is a house or an apartment, its exterior doorways should allow a smooth transition into and out of the property. Many homes have entrance steps, which can make the dwelling inaccessible to a person who uses a wheelchair, relies on crutches or has difficulty climbing stairs. 

The ideal is for all homes to have at least one zero-step exterior doorway.

If step-free access isn’t possible for the front of the home, a side door, back door or door located inside the garage may be a suitable substitute. Another solution is a ramp. (Scroll down to learn more about that option.)

Click here to share a link to this video.

On- and Off-Ramps

An access ramp can be permanently or temporarily added to a home or building that doesn’t have a zero-step entry.

• The Americans with Disabilities Act calls for a 5-degree incline or 1:12 slope. That means every inch of vertical rise requires 12 inches of horizontal length. 
  
  
• Since a three-step entrance, for instance, is about 22 inches high, a ramp would require a 22-foot horizontal length. 
  
  
• When an extended length of space isn’t available, a ramp can be built with switchbacks. Each section ends at a landing where users turn and continue moving up or down until the end.

TIP: A home ramp doesn’t need to be at the front door. It can lead to any suitable door, including one inside a garage, which provides the bonus of protection from inclement weather.

The AARP HomeFit Guide is Award-Winning

• 2021 EXCEL Awards, Gold Winner, Special Report
• 2021 Hermes Creative Awards, Gold Winner, Special Issue
• 2021 ClearMark Awards, Center for Plain Language, Winner, Spanish Language
• 2020 MarCom Awards, Platinum Award, Publications/Special Edition

_{Learn about the awards we've won and the organizations behind them.}