Aging is inevitable and many of us will at some point start experiencing challenges with mobility and reduced independence. To help mitigate this, people resort to a wide variety of mobility aids that can greatly improve day to day life. Perhaps the most popular of these products and devices is the stairlift.
Setting up a stairlift or any other sort of mobility aid can require significant modifications to a house, so it’s suggested to consider all options carefully beforehand. The easiest approach is to do 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 the user along a track and up staircases.
Stairlifts Help with Poor Balance and Mobility
Whether it’s 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, it’s possible to set up a stairlift and navigate the stairs at home without breaking a sweat or worrying about getting injured.
Stairlifts May Help Ease Numerous Other Medical Issues
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 set one up in their home.
Senior citizens can often be encumbered by osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis – issues that cause painful joint inflammation. Worst yet, they’re hard to treat and there’s no quick solution. But that’s why having a stairlift at home is crucial as it will help avoid painful trips up and downstairs.
Whether the need is for a straight or curved stairlift, [3] there is a solution that will bring comfort and peace of mind for the user and their loved ones. Of course, the sum necessary to purchase and configure one such device is not small, but should it be necessary to put a price on safety?
What Kind of Stairlift Should I Purchase?
Among the most important consideration when choosing a stairlift is to decide whether a swivel seat is needed or not. These seats work similar to typical office chairs. 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 symptom is more common among senior citizens. If the user or a loved one has significant pain from osteoarthritis that makes bending knees and sitting painful, there’s are also perch stairlifts available. [4] They transport the user 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