Stair Lifts Can Be a Safe and Beneficial Addition to Your Home

Do you have an elderly or disabled family member who has difficulty moving up or down the stairs in your home? Stairs can be a huge obstacle and a place of real concern for an elderly person or a person with a disability. Every year, people fall trying to go up or down the stairs. More times than not, these falls result in serious injuries, and sometimes a fall can even be fatal.

If you are in a situation where the stairs pose a threat to you or your loved one, there is a solution to your problem. Stair lifts or sometimes referred to as chair lifts, can be a very beneficial addition to your home. Stair lifts can be installed along the staircases of your home to help you or your loved one get up and down the stairs safely.

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Stair lifts can be battery operated or wired directly into your home’s electrical system. Both have their advantages. The advantage of the stair lift that is wired directly you’re your home is that you will not ever have to worry about the battery going out. However, the battery operated ones that are on the market today are equipped with continuously charging batteries. One advantage these type battery operated stair lifts is that if a storm were to knock out the power to your home, the battery operated stair lifts would not immediately be affected. You will still have your mobility in getting safely up and down the stairs.

There are many types of stair lifts on the market today. Some of those brands include: Acorn Stair Lifts, Bruno Stair Lifts, and Sterling Stair Lifts. Many of these stair lifts have safety sensors with smooth start and stop functionality.

There are many companies that install stair lifts out there today. However, it is very important to look around for a reputable company that has a lot of experience installing stair lifts. This is a big home modification and you definitely want it to be done right. Once you find a company that installs stair lifts, they will more than likely come out and inspect your home and give you a free estimate.

While the home modification people are there, it may be a good idea to get them to do a thorough safety inspection of the entire house. You may have other areas of safety concern that you could get modified as well. Often times you will be able to get a discount on extra modifications. This could save you money and ensure added safety in your home so that you will be able to get around and stay living in the comforts of your own home.

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Questions to Answer Before Getting Home Modifications

If you or someone you know is an elderly or disabled person that is considering having home modifications done on their home, there are certain things you should consider before you jump right into the modification process. You need to go through every room of your house and evaluate both your current needs as well as your future needs. If you are not sure of exactly what those needs might entail, a reputable home modification company will come out and access your needs for you.

Below are some questions you may need to ask yourself or the person that has specific needs. Remember that these questions should be based on what your present and your future needs may be.

Kitchens and Bathrooms
Are the cabinet doorknobs easy to use?
Are the cabinets at a height that is easy to access?
Are stove controls easy to operate and clearly marked?
Can the refrigerator be opened easily?
Do you need grab bars to aid in getting around safely in the bathroom?
Is the toilet seat too low?
Can you get into the shower or tub safely and easily?
Is the kitchen counter at a good height for you?
Is the water temperature at a safe temperature to prevent scalding or burning?
Can you sit down while working in the kitchen?
Would a dishwasher, trash compactor, or garbage disposal benefit you?
Would a seat in the shower and a hand held shower head help you?

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Doors and Windows
Are your doors and windows easy to open and close?
Are your doors wide enough for a wheelchair to get through?
Is the step down or step up at the entrance of your home a problem?
Is there enough space for you to move around while opening or closing your door?
Are your door locks sturdy enough? Are they easy to operate?

Closets and Storage
Are your closets in a convenient location?
Are the shelves at a good height for you?
Do you have enough space?
Are they lighted well?

Floors
Are the floors all the same level?
If not. Are all of the step ups or step downs marked or distinguishable?
Do you have rugs that could cause a fall?
Are your floors slippery in some areas?

Lighting
Do you have night-lights where they are needed?
Is each room bright enough to see well enough to ensure safety?

Stairways
Are your stairs big enough for your whole foot?
Are there handrails on both sides of the stairs?
Would a ramp on the outside of your home be beneficial?
Would a stair lift be a good idea to install in your home?

Electrical Outlets and Switches
Are light switches easy to turn on and off?
Are electrical outlets easily accessible?
Are outlets properly grounded?
Are extension cords in good condition?

Safety Devices
Do you have working smoke detectors throughout your home?
Do you have an alarm system?
Is your telephone easily accessible?
Would it be a good idea to have a device that you could wear to call someone in case of an emergency?

These questions will help you know what modifications are needed to make your home a more convenient, more comfortable, and safer place to live.

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Chair Lifts Can Give You Mobility

If you or someone you know or love has trouble getting up and down the stairs in your home, maybe it is time you considered purchasing a chair lift. Chair lifts can provide someone with the mobility as well as the security to get up and down the stairs safely.

When it comes to buying a chair lift, there are a few things you must consider. First of all, which type chair lift do you need? There are two common types – the vertical chair lift and the inclined chair lift. Let’s look at the difference between the two.

The vertical chair lift is similar in design to an elevator. This type is for people that are dependent upon wheelchairs. The wheelchair can simply be rolled into the chair lift and taken up the stairs. This type chair lift requires a lot of space and a fairly extensive budget as well.

The inclined chair lift is a chair lift that is made onto your stairs with a track that follows your stairway path from the bottom to top. This is the most common of the chair lifts. This type chair lift is great for anyone who needs help getting up and down stairs. This lift also requires a wide enough staircase for the lift to be installed and function correctly.

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A chair lift can give someone back their mobility and enable them to reside in their own home. There are many companies out there that sell chair lifts. It is extremely important that you find a reputable company that has knowledgeable and experienced in the installation of these lifts. This is very important for your safety and the look and longevity of the lift.

If you are considering purchasing a chair lift, you need to do your homework. Take a look around for a reputable company. Ask for referrals and then make a point of calling those referrals. Once you are satisfied that you have found a good company that has the experience and exceptional customer service then have the company come out and give you more information and a free estimate for the installation of a chair lift.

Be sure to let the home safety modification company you choose know of your specific needs. Don’t be afraid to ask questions. There is no such thing as a dumb question. This is a big investment and you need to know exactly what you are getting and how to operate it.

A chair lift is a great way to prevent falls from happening on the stairs in your home. It can give you back the freedom of maneuvering up and down the stairs of your home safely.

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Home Modifications Provide Safety and Independence

Studies have shown that most elderly people live in homes that are at least 20 years old. Over the years, as these homes and the one residing in it gets older, they become more difficult to maintain. A home that may be perfectly safe for a person that was 50 years old may be unsafe for someone in their 70’s or 80’s. Studies have also revealed that home safety modifications can prevent as much as 30 to 50 percent of all types of home accidents among seniors that take place in the home.

When it comes to home modifications for the elderly and disabled there are certain areas which must be covered. These areas are:

  • Accessibility

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Home accessibility is vital. Being able to move around comfortably, conveniently, and safely in your home is very important.  Improving accessibility in the home could involve making doorways wider, lowering sinks, countertops, and cabinets in the kitchen, installing walk-in showers and tubs, installing strategically placed grab bars in bathrooms, installing wheelchair ramps, installing stair lifts and more. All of these remodeling projects must comply with the Fair Housing Amendments Act of 1988, the accessibility guidelines of the Americans with Disabilities Act, and the regulations for accessibility by the American National Standards Institute.

  • Adaptability

Adaptability modifications are changes that can be made quickly to be able to accommodate the specific needs of the elderly or disabled person without necessarily having to totally redesign the home. For instance, installing grab bars in the bathroom to make the bathroom a safer environment would not mean that the whole entire bathroom would have to be changed. These type modifications are not as extensive as those listed to meet accessibility requirements.

Home modifications can give an elderly person or a disabled person more independence as well as help prevent them from injury. There are many home modification companies on the market today. Before letting someone come in and do modifications on your home, you need to make sure they are a reputable home modification company that complies with all rules and regulations.

If you or someone you know struggles with maneuvering safely at home, it is time you look into having a home modification company come out and speak with you about how they can help make your home a more comfortable, convenient, and safer place to live. Then they can make the necessary changes to give you back your independence so that you can stay living in your own home for years to come.

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Home Modifications Can Help the Elderly Stay in Their Homes

With age comes wisdom as well as a few minor set backs. You may have more knowledge, but you lack the mobility you once had. For some, getting around is difficult. And oftentimes, many elderly people have to leave the comforts of their own home because of their lack of mobility.

For elderly people, home can be a place that is filled with hazards. The bathroom, for instance, poses a great threat to even able bodied people. With its wet floors, low toilets, bathtubs that require stepping over into, and slippery shower stalls, a bathroom is a dangerous room for anyone. However, for an elderly person, this room is even more dangerous.

The bathroom is not the only safety concern for the elderly in the home. Narrow doorways and hallways, rugs that buckle or slide, slick kitchen floors, rooms that you have to step down into, and not to mention, stairways can also be an accident waiting to happen. Year after year, elderly people have serious falls in the home. And it is sad to say, but because of this, many do not get to return and live in their home again.

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For those who would like to be able to stay in their own home while at the same time be able to move around more safely there are companies today that can come out, give a safety inspection of your home, and then make the necessary home modifications to create a safer environment for you.

These home modification companies can do home modifications such as widening narrow doorways, installing strategically placed grab bars in the bathroom as well as walk in showers, and raised toilets. They can also install chair lifts that can take you safely up and down stairs, and wheelchair ramps on the outside of you home so that you can bypass climbing stairs altogether.

Many other modifications can be done so that those who would like to remain living safely at home could do so. Even small modifications such as installing pull handles on cabinets, levers that are easy to operate on sinks and hand held shower heads can add convenience and functionality to the home.

All of the home modifications mentioned here can give an elderly person back their freedom and mobility. If you are having trouble moving around safely at home, maybe it’s time to find a home safety modification company near you and give them a call. After all, home modifications may help you stay living in your own home.

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