CareHomeDeskCareHomeDeskFrom ramps and handrails to bathroom adaptations -- what buildings must provide and how to assess gaps.
Care homes are subject to the Equality Act 2010, which requires service providers to make 'reasonable adjustments' to remove barriers that disadvantage disabled people. For a care home -- which exists specifically to serve people whose needs include physical and cognitive impairments -- the accessibility standard expected is high. CQC assesses the physical environment under the 'responsive' and 'safe' domains.
A formal access audit by a qualified access consultant (ideally NRAC or CAE registered) will systematically review the building against the criteria in BS 8300 (Design of Buildings and Their Approaches to Meet the Needs of Disabled People). The audit produces a prioritised schedule of works identifying non-compliant elements and recommended solutions.
For existing care home buildings, the most common priority adaptations are: level or ramped access at all entrances (gradient not exceeding 1:20 for unassisted wheelchair use), handrails on both sides of all stairs (contrast colour, correct height 900-1000mm), adequate corridor widths (minimum 1500mm for wheelchair passing), contrasting floor surfaces at threshold changes and top/bottom of stairs, and adequate bathroom turning circles for powered wheelchairs.
Adaptation works can be significant in older care home buildings. Prioritise life-safety and CQC-critical adaptations first. Disabled Facilities Grants (DFGs) are available for eligible adaptations but have long waiting lists. Capital planning should include a rolling programme of accessibility improvements informed by the most recent access audit.
CareHomeDesk gives you compliance checklists, maintenance logs, and contractor management tools built around exactly this kind of knowledge.