---
title: "What Is Wheelchair ramp? Home Care Glossary | HomeCare.com"
description: "A wheelchair ramp is a sloped surface that lets a person using a wheelchair, walker or scooter get over steps or a raised threshold. Ramps can be permanent..."
url: https://homecare.preview.multisites.ai/glossary/wheelchair-ramp/
publisher: HomeCare.com
phone: 800-974-3458
start: https://care.homecare.com/?source=homecare.com
---

Safety and home

# Wheelchair ramp

A wheelchair ramp is a sloped surface that lets a person using a wheelchair, walker or scooter get over steps or a raised threshold. Ramps can be permanent or portable. A safe ramp needs a gentle slope, a firm surface and handrails where needed.

## Why it matters for your family

Steps can trap a person inside the home. A ramp restores access to the street, the car and appointments. Slope matters. A steep ramp is hard to climb and unsafe to descend. AARP says Original Medicare typically does not pay for home modifications, though some Medicare Advantage plans may pay for permanent ramps in certain cases. Families often choose a portable ramp for a short need and a built one for the long term. A common mistake is to ignore weather. Wet or icy ramps are slippery. Ask a contractor or an occupational therapist to check slope and size. Local aging agencies may know of help.

Source: [aarp.org](https://www.aarp.org/caregiving/home-care/safety-tips/)

[Read more: Personal and advanced care](https://homecare.preview.multisites.ai/personal-care/)

## Related terms

-   [**Wheelchair**A wheelchair is a chair on wheels that lets a person move when walking is hard or unsafe.](https://homecare.preview.multisites.ai/glossary/wheelchair/)
-   [**Home modifications**Home modifications are changes to a house that make it safer and easier to use for an older adult or a person with a disability.](https://homecare.preview.multisites.ai/glossary/home-modifications/)
-   [**Walker**A walker is a frame with four legs that a person grips to steady themselves while walking.](https://homecare.preview.multisites.ai/glossary/walker/)
-   [**Home safety assessment**A home safety assessment is a room-by-room check of a home for hazards that could cause falls or injuries.](https://homecare.preview.multisites.ai/glossary/home-safety-assessment/)
-   [**Mobility assistance**Mobility assistance is help with moving around, such as standing up, walking, using stairs, and getting in and out of a bed, chair, or car.](https://homecare.preview.multisites.ai/glossary/mobility-assistance/)
-   [**Area Agency on Aging (AAA)**An Area Agency on Aging is a public or private nonprofit agency that a state designates to meet the needs of older adults in a local area.](https://homecare.preview.multisites.ai/glossary/area-agency-on-aging/)

[All glossary terms](https://homecare.preview.multisites.ai/glossary/)

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