We here at Liberty In Home Care have brought to you another interesting home care article. If you are thinking of having a stair lift fitted make sure you choose a highly reputable company, as your life could be in their hands.
For people with limited mobility, getting around even the best of floor plans can often present challenges. Most people with limited mobility do not even attempt to navigate inclined surfaces or stairs. Further, the ones that do – are several times more likely to slip and fall, which can result in debilitating injury, especially in the elderly population. People over the age of 65 are more susceptible to falls than any other age group, despite using mobility aides such as walkers and canes. Many times these devices themselves act as stumbling blocks and are the partial cause for the injuring falls. Sadly, the elderly population is also the age group that is least likely or able to completely recover from injuries sustained in a fall.
One option for making navigating stairs safer and less cumbersome for the mobility challenged is by installing a stair lift. A stair lift is a motorized platform or chair that is attached to the stair railing. The person either sits on the chair or stands on the platform and the mechanized lift hoists the person up the railing to the next floor level.
Choosing the right kind of stair lift to meet specific needs is very important. There are a number of factors that play important role in getting the best fit. The most important factor is the size of the lift. Some lifts are designed to transport larger people while others work best to accommodate people with smaller frames. Some models are equipped with lap or shoulder restraints. These restraints may be helpful for transporting people who are confined to wheelchairs or those who lack the upper body strength for stabilizing themselves. Stair lifts can be customized to fit any kind of stairway – including spiral staircases and bi-level ones with a landing between them.
There are two kinds of stair lifts – AC powered and DC powered. The AC powered stair lift is powered by plugging the lift into an electrical outlet in the home. Although this type of stair lift is the least expensive of the two, if the home is not equipped with a suitable outlet, an electrician would be required to install one. The DC powered stair lift operates on battery power and cost significantly more than the AC version. Because they are powered by a rechargeable battery, the DC lifts are the most reliable due to being able to operate in the event of a power outage. For more information about stair lifts and installation, contact a local medical supplier for a referral to a qualified stair lift technician.
If you need some mobility advice, no matter the kind of house you live in, please contact Liberty In Home Care to see how our caregivers can help you. We serve Devon, Paoli, Malvern, Main Line and the surrounding areas.
