Replace regular doorknobs.
Replace regular doorknobs with lever handles or purchase a rubber lever that fits over any standard doorknob. Lever handles are easy to operate - just push down with your hand, arm, or elbow. Or wrap several rubber bands around the largest part of the doorknob to increase its diameter. It will be easier to grasp.

Remove the bathroom door.
If the bathroom doorway is too narrow to accommodate a scooter or wheelchair, remove the door. Replace it with a tension rod and an opaque (or black) shower curtain for privacy. (This is an inexpensive solution to a temporary problem.)

Remove door jamb strips or install offset hinges.
If you need to get around your home in a wheelchair, widen doorways by 1/2 inch to 3/4 inch by carefully prying off the door jamb strips on one or both sides of the door. Or you can install offset hinges to increase the door opening 2 to 3 inches, allowing the door to swing out and away from the doorway opening. To find out how to purchase offset hinges, contact a hospital's occupational therapy (OT) or physical therapy (PT) department. The hinges cost approximately $10.

Keep doors easy to open and close.
Keep door hinges well oiled. If a door scrapes along a rug, try planning it to make it open and close more easily. Another way to plane the bottom of a door is to put a large piece of sandpaper on the floor under the door (padding it with newspaper if necessary to create a good contact surface) and then move the door back and forth a few times.

Make doors easier to close.
Make closing doors behind you easier using one of the following methods: (1) Tie some strings or cord around the doorknob. Grab hold of it as you move through the doorway, and the door will shut behind you as you pull the string. (2) Attach one cup-hook to the door near the knob and a second cup-hook to the door jamb on the hinge side. Tie a string or chain between the hooks and pull it as you go through the doorway. The door will close behind you.

Protect doors from wheelchair scratches.
Protect your doors from wheelchair scratches by installing a clear Lucite, chrome, or brass kick plate at their base. These are available wherever building supplies are sold or through home decorating catalogs.