More and more people are looking into having a stairlift
installed in their homes to make life easier and more comfortable for
themselves or a family member. Stairlifts can make the difference
between being able to stay in your own home – the home you love – and
giving it up to live in a more accessible setting. The installation of a
stairlift can restore your access to all the areas of your home without
compromising the safety of people in your home who may have difficulty
navigating stairs. Why are stairlifts becoming so popular? Here are just
a few reasons.
Stairlifts Are Surprisingly Affordable
Many
people think that installing a lift is an expensive proposition. In
fact, depending on the style you choose, installing a stair lift can
cost less than a month’s rent in an assisted living facility. A
chairlift can allow you to remain comfortably in your home instead of
finding a more accessible – and likely more expensive – home.
Restore Access and Dignity
One
of the least discussed aspects of losing access to part of your home is
the loss of dignity that often accompanies it. In many homes, for
example, the toilet and bedrooms are on different levels. When climbing
stairs is difficult, the solution might be a bedside commode or moving
the bed to a room on the same level as the bathroom. Both of these
options diminish a person’s dignity and reduce their privacy. Stairlifts
offer another option by making it easier and safer of the person to
navigate the stairs between the two stories so he doesn’t have to give
up his dignity and privacy.
Retain Your Independence Longer
There
are many small chores and tasks that most people take for granted,
until they suddenly find that those chores have become difficult or
impossible because a flight of stairs has become a barrier. Imagine how
you would live if you couldn’t carry your groceries into your home, or
if you had to rely on someone else to get your washing to the washing
machine and dryer. Even those who can climb stairs may have trouble
doing the same thing when carrying a bag of groceries
or a laundry basket. An outdoor stairlift can make it possible to do
your own grocery shopping and take out your own trash without having to
rely on a friend, neighbor or relative to help out.
Difficulty
with stairs should not define your life. If stairs in your home are
making your life harder than it has to be, consider how much easier stairlifts could make your day to day living.
Monday, September 23, 2013
Monday, September 16, 2013
Six Reasons That Stairlifts Make Sense
Stairlifts
make life easier for everyone in the household. If you or someone in
your home is finding it difficult to navigate stairs, installing a
stairlift can help restore their independence while providing benefits
for everyone else in the family. Why do stairlifts make sense as a
mobility option? Here are six reasons to consider a stairlift for your
home.
Peace of Mind for Caregivers and Family
Do you worry about a loved one who is no longer stable on the stairs? When you provide a chairlift, you can stop worrying when you can’t be there to supervise travels up and down the stairs.
Affordable Alternative to Other Solutions
Stairlifts are far more affordable than many other solutions you might consider when stairs become an option. Compare the cost of installing a stair lift to the cost of moving to a one-story home, moving to an assisted living center or even adding a room to first floor. A stairlift makes much more sense financially than the alternatives.
Reduce the Chance of Broken Bones
Stumbles and falls on stairs are among the leading cause of broken legs and hips in older adults. Sadly, most older adults who suffer a broken hip or serious bone break never recover their full mobility. Installing a chairlift can help prevent falls, and help older adults stay mobile longer.
Save Your Strength for More Important Things
If you suffer from COPD or other conditions that make climbing stairs a challenge, stairlifts let you save your time and energy for more important things than sitting and catching your breath.
Reduce Strain on Joints
Climbing up and down stairs puts an enormous amount of strain and stress on your ankles, knees and hips. Riding a stair lift up and down the stairs can help preserve your joints and make your life less painful.
Help Restore Independence
Get your groceries into your house without help, or carry the laundry upstairs without waiting for someone else to get home. While chairlifts are designed for single riders, you can carry things up and down the stairs with you. In fact, you can even buy baskets designed to make it even easier to carry things up and down the stairs on a stair lift.
Don’t let a simple thing like difficulty climbing stairs cramp your independence or rob your life of its pleasure. Contact a local dealer and learn about the many kinds of stairlifts available to suit your needs and make your life easier.
Peace of Mind for Caregivers and Family
Do you worry about a loved one who is no longer stable on the stairs? When you provide a chairlift, you can stop worrying when you can’t be there to supervise travels up and down the stairs.
Affordable Alternative to Other Solutions
Stairlifts are far more affordable than many other solutions you might consider when stairs become an option. Compare the cost of installing a stair lift to the cost of moving to a one-story home, moving to an assisted living center or even adding a room to first floor. A stairlift makes much more sense financially than the alternatives.
Reduce the Chance of Broken Bones
Stumbles and falls on stairs are among the leading cause of broken legs and hips in older adults. Sadly, most older adults who suffer a broken hip or serious bone break never recover their full mobility. Installing a chairlift can help prevent falls, and help older adults stay mobile longer.
Save Your Strength for More Important Things
If you suffer from COPD or other conditions that make climbing stairs a challenge, stairlifts let you save your time and energy for more important things than sitting and catching your breath.
Reduce Strain on Joints
Climbing up and down stairs puts an enormous amount of strain and stress on your ankles, knees and hips. Riding a stair lift up and down the stairs can help preserve your joints and make your life less painful.
Help Restore Independence
Get your groceries into your house without help, or carry the laundry upstairs without waiting for someone else to get home. While chairlifts are designed for single riders, you can carry things up and down the stairs with you. In fact, you can even buy baskets designed to make it even easier to carry things up and down the stairs on a stair lift.
Don’t let a simple thing like difficulty climbing stairs cramp your independence or rob your life of its pleasure. Contact a local dealer and learn about the many kinds of stairlifts available to suit your needs and make your life easier.
Monday, September 9, 2013
Which Stairlifts Should You Choose?
There are many different styles and types of stairlifts
on the market. Choosing the right one for your home and your needs
requires a bit of research and some knowledge of your specific needs.
These tips can help you choose among the many models of stairlifs
available today.
Figure in Installation Costs
While today’s stairlifts are far less complicated and finicky than the chairlifts of yesteryear, they’re still complex pieces of machinery that must be installed properly for safety. It’s vital that you engage a professional with experience installing stair lifts to ensure that your lift will be safe for use. Many dealers and manufacturers pair with certified installers in your area, so take advantage of their knowledge and connections to find an experienced installer for your project.
Think in the Long Term
When choosing the best stair lift for your needs, always think ahead to the future. Will the stairlift you choose still be usable if your condition deteriorates further?
Bring in a Consultant
Many dealers will send a technician around to your home to examine your staircases and make recommendations about your options. The technician will help you decide which staircase is the best one to use, as well as giving you information to help you choose which model of stairlift will be best for your use. You won’t get that kind of service if you buy from someone with the intent of installing the chairlift yourself.
Options to Consider
There are many different options to consider when choosing among the many chairlifts on the market. For example, if you have trouble bending your knees, you can choose a platform stair lift, or a stairlift with a perch on which you can stand. A perch is also a good option for very narrow staircases if the person who will be using it is able to stand.
An outdoor stair lift can restore your access to your garden and yard, or simply allow you to get in and out of your home easily. Outdoor stairlifts are designed to withstand all types of weather, making them suitable for use anywhere in the country.
Be sure to inquire about weight limits if that will be a concern. Standard stairlifts will usually carry up to about 20 stone (260 lbs). There are also lifts available that will carry up to 25 stone.
A chair lift can make your life immeasurably easier, and restore your access to areas of your home that are difficult to reach because of difficulty with stairs. There are many different kinds and styles of stairlifts available, so it should be easy to find one that suits your needs perfectly.
Figure in Installation Costs
While today’s stairlifts are far less complicated and finicky than the chairlifts of yesteryear, they’re still complex pieces of machinery that must be installed properly for safety. It’s vital that you engage a professional with experience installing stair lifts to ensure that your lift will be safe for use. Many dealers and manufacturers pair with certified installers in your area, so take advantage of their knowledge and connections to find an experienced installer for your project.
Think in the Long Term
When choosing the best stair lift for your needs, always think ahead to the future. Will the stairlift you choose still be usable if your condition deteriorates further?
Bring in a Consultant
Many dealers will send a technician around to your home to examine your staircases and make recommendations about your options. The technician will help you decide which staircase is the best one to use, as well as giving you information to help you choose which model of stairlift will be best for your use. You won’t get that kind of service if you buy from someone with the intent of installing the chairlift yourself.
Options to Consider
There are many different options to consider when choosing among the many chairlifts on the market. For example, if you have trouble bending your knees, you can choose a platform stair lift, or a stairlift with a perch on which you can stand. A perch is also a good option for very narrow staircases if the person who will be using it is able to stand.
An outdoor stair lift can restore your access to your garden and yard, or simply allow you to get in and out of your home easily. Outdoor stairlifts are designed to withstand all types of weather, making them suitable for use anywhere in the country.
Be sure to inquire about weight limits if that will be a concern. Standard stairlifts will usually carry up to about 20 stone (260 lbs). There are also lifts available that will carry up to 25 stone.
A chair lift can make your life immeasurably easier, and restore your access to areas of your home that are difficult to reach because of difficulty with stairs. There are many different kinds and styles of stairlifts available, so it should be easy to find one that suits your needs perfectly.
Monday, September 2, 2013
Yes, There Are Stairlifts for Your Stairs
Stairlifts
are the most obvious solution for people who have trouble navigating
the stairs in their homes but don’t want to leave them. Also called
chairlifts, stair lifts give you back access to your entire home by
providing a safe, easy way to navigate between stories in your home.
However, many people believe that they can’t find a stairlift to fit
their staircases. Nothing could be further from the truth. In fact,
skilled installers can usually fit a lift to nearly any flight of stairs
they encounter. It’s a very rare staircase that can’t support a lift.
Here are a few of the problems that installers see regularly, and know
exactly how to fit.
Stairs That Spiral
Curving stairlifts are designed to navigate corners and curves with ease. Since the rails for the lift fit on the stairs, not on the wall, there’s no worry about “cornering” the chair. It simply glides around the curve.
Stairs with a Landing
A landing is simply an especially wide stair. The design of your stairway will determine exactly how the lift installer deals with it, but there are a number of ways it can be done. In some cases, particularly if the landing is narrow and the user can transfer from one chair to another, the best solution is to install two separate lifts. In other cases, there are stairlifts designed to go around the corner and continue up the stairs.
Stairs with a Doorway at the Head of the Stairs
Cellar stairs and stairs from the outside often end at a doorway. Well-designed chairlifts can be fitted to rise above the top stair close to the door, allowing the user to open the door, swing the seat around and stand onto the upper landing.
Doorway at Foot of Stairs
In some cases, the rail at the bottom of the stairs might extend across a doorway or into a hallway where it can be a tripping hazard. The solution to this problem is a simple one: a hinged rail at the bottom of the steps. A hinged rail can be lowered when descending the staircase and lifted out of the way when the chairlift is not at the bottom of the stair.
While fitting and installing stairlifts is always a job for professionals, it’s doubly important to have experienced professional installers deal with stairs that are oddly configured or shaped. Safety should always be your first concern, so be sure to work with a company that provides experienced installers who understand how to manage unusual situations.
Stairs That Spiral
Curving stairlifts are designed to navigate corners and curves with ease. Since the rails for the lift fit on the stairs, not on the wall, there’s no worry about “cornering” the chair. It simply glides around the curve.
Stairs with a Landing
A landing is simply an especially wide stair. The design of your stairway will determine exactly how the lift installer deals with it, but there are a number of ways it can be done. In some cases, particularly if the landing is narrow and the user can transfer from one chair to another, the best solution is to install two separate lifts. In other cases, there are stairlifts designed to go around the corner and continue up the stairs.
Stairs with a Doorway at the Head of the Stairs
Cellar stairs and stairs from the outside often end at a doorway. Well-designed chairlifts can be fitted to rise above the top stair close to the door, allowing the user to open the door, swing the seat around and stand onto the upper landing.
Doorway at Foot of Stairs
In some cases, the rail at the bottom of the stairs might extend across a doorway or into a hallway where it can be a tripping hazard. The solution to this problem is a simple one: a hinged rail at the bottom of the steps. A hinged rail can be lowered when descending the staircase and lifted out of the way when the chairlift is not at the bottom of the stair.
While fitting and installing stairlifts is always a job for professionals, it’s doubly important to have experienced professional installers deal with stairs that are oddly configured or shaped. Safety should always be your first concern, so be sure to work with a company that provides experienced installers who understand how to manage unusual situations.
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