A home for elderly parents: lifts, accessibility, a barrier-free bathroom and a doctor nearby — what to look for and what to change

Many families face this question unexpectedly — after a fall, an operation, or simply when a third floor with no lift becomes too much. The search then happens fast, and often looks only at price and size. For an older person, though, other things matter most: how many steps to the front door, whether they can use the bathroom alone, and how far it is to the doctor.

First: what will be needed in 5–10 years

Choose a home not for today's situation but for the years ahead. Someone who walks unaided now may later need a stick, a walker or a wheelchair. So think about:

• step-free access, or as few steps as possible;
• room for a carer — a second bedroom, or at least space for a bed;
• being close to you — distance to family often matters more than the neighbourhood.

The entrance and the lift

• How many steps to the lift? In many Bulgarian blocks the lift starts from a half-landing. Half a flight of stairs can be impassable with a wheelchair.
• Car and door sizes — will a walker or wheelchair fit?
• Does the lift work reliably, and is there a maintenance contract?
• A low floor without a lift can be better than a high floor with an unreliable one.

If the entrance has steps, the condominium can decide to install a ramp or platform lift. Creating access for people with disabilities is expressly within the powers of the general assembly. As a rule the decision needs more than 50% of the ideal shares represented, and the assembly can decide that such matters be voted on by a majority of units instead. How the assembly is called and run is covered in our guide to the general assembly of a Bulgarian apartment block.

The bathroom: the most important room

The bathroom is one of the riskiest rooms for falls — wet floors, hard surfaces, little space. What to change:

• A level-access shower instead of a bath — no edge to step over.
• Slip-resistant flooring — matt tiles with a high slip-resistance rating.
• Grab bars by the toilet and in the shower, fixed into a solid wall, not unreinforced plasterboard.
• A shower seat — folding, wall-mounted.
• A raised toilet or toilet riser.
• A thermostatic mixer — protects against scalding.
• A door that opens outwards or slides — if someone falls inside, the door must not be blocked.

Replacing a bath with a shower is usually internal work, but if you move wet rooms or touch the risers, check the rules — more in our guide to renovating a flat in a block.

The rest of the home

• Remove thresholds between rooms or replace them with gentle transitions.
• Good lighting — especially on the way from bedroom to bathroom; sensor night lights.
• Switches and sockets at a comfortable height, lever handles instead of knobs.
• A kitchen where everyday items sit between waist and shoulder height — no climbing on chairs.
• No sliding rugs, and no cables across the floor.
• Steady heating — older people are more sensitive to cold.

Around the home

• GP, pharmacy and a shop within walking distance.
• A public transport stop nearby, ideally without underpasses or stairs.
• Benches and level pavements — it sounds minor, but it decides whether a person goes out.
• A hospital or emergency centre within reasonable reach.

State support

People with permanent disabilities are entitled to financial support for adapting their home under Bulgaria's Persons with Disabilities Act, according to their individual needs assessment. It is applied for at the local Social Assistance directorate.

Separately, the National Programme for an Accessible Housing Environment and Personal Mobility funds accessible features in existing residential buildings — at the entrance, for example. The programme is designed to run annually within the available budget. Check with the Agency for People with Disabilities whether a call is open.

In new construction, accessibility requirements are mandatory for new multi-family residential buildings — one more reason to look at new builds too.

Whose name the home should be in

Buying in your name, your parents' name or jointly affects inheritance, tax and who makes decisions. A common solution is for the home to be yours while your parents hold a right of use — more in our guide to the reserved usufruct. Discuss the options with a notary or lawyer before signing.

In short

• Think about the next 5–10 years, not today.
• Check the steps to the lift and the size of the car.
• Bathroom: level shower, grab bars, slip-resistant floor, thermostatic mixer.
• A ramp at the entrance is a general assembly decision.
• With a permanent disability there is support for adapting a home.

Call us

We know how emotional this decision is. We will search with you for a home where your parents can live calmly and independently. Browse homes for sale, call us or come into the office.

This is general information, not legal or medical advice. Verified as of October 2026.