Aging is inevitable and many of us will at some point start experiencing problems with mobility and reduced independence. To help mitigate this, people resort to a wide variety of mobility aids that can greatly improve your day to day life. Perhaps the most popular of these products and devices is the stairlift.
Installing a stairlift or any other sort of mobility aid can require significant modifications to your house, so it’s best to consider your options carefully beforehand. The easiest approach is to do your research online by comparing different stairlift companies.
How Do Stairlifts Work and What Are They?
A stairlift is a fairly simple mobility aid and most versions available today are comprised of two main parts: the track [1] and the chair. [2] The chair has a motor with wheels or gears that push you along a track and up staircases.
Stairlifts Help with Poor Balance and Mobility
Whether you’re a senior citizen or someone with mobility and balance issues, going up and down long staircases multiple times each day might not only exhausting but also very dangerous. In those circumstances, a fall could cause serious injuries, sometimes even life-threatening ones. Luckily, you can install a stairlift and navigate the stairs in your house without breaking a sweat or worrying about getting injured.
Stairlifts May Help Ease Numerous Other Medical Conditions
There are dozens of different mobility aids on the market today, but none are as popular as stairlifts. It’s common for people to realize how many smaller medical issues are mitigated and eased with a stairlift only after they install one in their home.
Senior citizens can often suffer from osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis – conditions that cause painful joint inflammation. Worst yet, they’re hard to treat and there’s no quick fix. But that’s why having a stairlift in your home is crucial as it will help you avoid painful trips up and downstairs.
Whether you need a straight or curved stairlift, [3] there is a solution that will bring you comfort and peace of mind for the user and their loved ones. Of course, the sum necessary to buy and install one such device is not small, but should you put a price on your safety?
What Kind of Stairlift Should I Buy?
Among the most important consideration when choosing a stairlift is to decide whether you need a swivel seat. These seats work like typical office chairs. You can rotate them left or right which makes sitting down and getting off a stairlift much easier. Those who end up contracting rheumatoid arthritis may develop symptoms early on and quite suddenly. On the other hand, the deterioration caused by osteoarthritis happens over a longer period and thus this condition is more common among senior citizens. If you or your loved one has severe pain from osteoarthritis that makes bending knees and sitting painful, there’s are also perch stairlifts available. [4] They transport you in a position that’s almost standing and they include a seatbelt for extra security.
[1] Stairlifts: Your Everything Guide. https://www.aginginplace.org/stairlifts-a-comprehensive-guide/#track
[2] Stairlifts: Your Everything Guide. https://www.aginginplace.org/stairlifts-a-comprehensive-guide/#seat
[3] Curved Stairlifts. https://www.ageukmobility.co.uk/product-group/curved-stairlifts
[4] Perch Straight Stairlift. https://www.ageukmobility.co.uk/product/perch-straight-stairlift
