Wheelchair accessibility is a huge factor for the elderly and disabled. The hotel industry must consider what their clients need when they stay at hotels. Here are six ways that you can help your disabled clientele in your establishment:
Provide a Handicap Accessible Entrance and Parking
In an increasingly mobile society, the elderly and disabled need a way to access hotels. The first step in making your hotel more open is removing any physical barriers present on-site or at nearby bus stops, train stations, airports, etc., which could impede someone with limited mobility from accessing them easily. You should also ensure there are ramps available if you have stairs.
Ensure All Hotel Rooms are Wheelchair Accessible
Hotel rooms may be difficult to navigate, and disabled guests find out the hard way. If possible, always leave some extra spacious rooms for people with disabilities. That way, they do not have to collide with closets and bedposts when maneuvering around hotel rooms.
Offer Express Check-In
Having an express counter for any disabled guest to check-in without queue is an important consideration. While most people normally allow a disabled person to skip the line, this is not always true. To avoid a showdown that could humiliate your disabled patients, consider setting apart an exclusive counter to make their check-in faster and hassle-free.
Install an Automatic Door
Opening and closing doors can be hectic for someone in a wheelchair. The handles may be beyond their reach, and they might have to wait for assistance, delaying their movement. Automatic doors that use motion sensors or access cards are an excellent way to help people with disabilities enjoy their stay at your facility. They will be able to enter and exit rooms with much ease.
Make Sure All Bathrooms are Wheelchair Accessible
Hotel bathrooms are hard to navigate, especially for the disabled and elderly. If you want your hotel to be friendly and accessible to these populations, consider adding handicap-accessible showers with grab bars inside the shower stall and an adjustable hand-held shower head on a long hose attached directly outside the tub or shower area if possible.
Provide Room Service for Disabled Guests
Disabled guests may have difficulty leaving their rooms or carrying heavy items around. Ensuring they have room service access goes a long way to ease their movement headache. They do not have to go to the lobby to get help or go to the dining hall to have their meals. In addition, having someone check on such guests will ensure they can receive timely assistance.
The hospitality industry is often criticized for not being friendly to the disabled and elderly. But it doesn’t have to be that way. If you are disabled, you stay with ease and comfort at an NDIS accommodation, no matter what you need from an accommodation standpoint. You can make your hotel more accessible without breaking any codes or regulations, as highlighted in this article. You can make your hotel more accessible without breaking any principles or rules, as highlighted in this article.
