59 msfocusmagazine.org hallways and outdoor pathways to help guide you. • Make sure you’ve got light switches (the rocker variety is a popular choice) at each end of hallways and opposite sides of a large room. Decide if their height levels need adjusting. • You won’t have to fumble around with light switches at all if you install motion-sensing lights, which come on automatically when triggered. 3) Flooring/Rugs • Wood, laminate, and tile flooring provide easy-glide surfaces for wheels. • Where there’s wood, make sure all floor- boards are even and secure. • For steps or areas where there is an abrupt change in level, brightly colored or reflective tape can be added for a reminder to proceed with caution. • If you want to use carpet, avoid plush and textured carpet. It can be difficult to move a wheelchair through and can trip up the legs of a walker or cane. • Carpet pads tend to increase resistance. If possible, don’t use them. • To satisfy both mobility and a feeling of warmth, go for low-pile carpeting (typically quarter inch thick). • Commercial grade carpet tends to be not only more stain-resistant, it’s also more durable against the wear and tear of wheel- chairs and walkers. • Ditch the throw rugs if possible; they’re a common cause of tripping. If you must have them, make sure their edges are secured to the floor with double-sided carpet tape. 4) Furniture • Space your furniture so that you have adequate room to move around. • Keep electrical cords and wires tucked behind furniture or mounted along base- boards to keep them free of your path. • If your bed frame, coffee or end tables, or any other furniture in your home have sharp corners, consider padding them to avoid a painful run-in. • Be sure that any bed skirts, comforters, or furniture slipcovers don’t hang too far to the floor in a way that could trip you. • Add risers to dining chairs, tables and other favorite chairs to make getting in and out of them easier. • A lift recliner will, with the press of a button, automatically put you in a convenient position to get moving with your mobility aid. Attention to these four areas can make your home safe and comfortable while using your mobility aid.