A Look at How to Make the Stairs Safer for Seniors

For the elderly, the stairs can provide a large hurdle and are the site of many accidents and falls. Due to the heights and hard surfaces involved, staircase falls are a leading cause of hospitalization among senior citizens, so finding a way to reduce the risk of a fall is very important. This can mean installing a stair lift or other senior lifting aid, but it is important to first determine the abilities and needs of the senior, while finding a safety solution that will meet these needs.

Addressing the Safety Risks Presented by the Stairs

There are a number of devices that are used to help improve accessibility for the elderly, which address many areas of the home and daily life. However, the stairs often present the greatest risk to those who have difficulty walking, especially the elderly. Each year, falls account for the leading number of serious injuries among the elderly, with falls on the stairs being some of the most dangerous. So, it is incredibly important to prevent these types of accidents from occurring.

Cutting Through the Pitch: A Consumer Guide to Buying Stair Lifts Part 1

When choosing a stair lift, it is easy to make the mistake of calling a stair lift seller without first researching the different options available and learning about the different types of home medical lifts. This is because you are very likely to end up talking to a commission based salesman who is more interested in making a sale than helping you find the best stair lift. Of course, there are exceptions to this rule and not all stair lift sellers are sharks, but the home medical industry is well known for high pressure sales pitches.

So, it is far better to research the different options available first, to better arm yourself against the salesman. This involves first evaluating the needs of the user, than determining what type of lifting aids will work in your home, and finally considering the costs of the different types of stair lifts and home lifting aids.

Senior Fall Prevention: Evaluating the Seniors Abilities

Seniors are more at risk for a multitude of diseases and conditions, many of which have an impact on their ability to safely interact with their living environment. As a result, it is important to ensure that their home is as accessibility and easy to use as possible. There are a number of areas that should be addressed, such as adding grab bars to the shower area, but first it is essential to evaluate the abilities and limitations of the senior.

An Introduction to Senior Fall Prevention

Numerous studies have shown that senior falls are very difficult to recover from and increase the risk of the need for permanent assisted care. Learning how to prevent senior falls is very important and should start at home, as this is the place that most seniors spend most of their time.

There are many areas of the home that can be dangerous, including the bathroom, so each room should be addressed and things that increase the risk of a fall removed.

Exploring Your Options and Choosing the Right Type of Stair Lift

The stair lift is a type of home medical equipment, which is a good deal less expensive than elevators and requires much less modification to the home. Stair lifts are often used by the elderly, but they can be used by people of all ages who have difficulty safely using the stairway. Selecting the right stair lift might seem difficult, but when you know how they work and the different types available, it is much easier.

Stair Lifts: An Important Tool for Preventing Falls

For elderly patients, there are many types of mobility aids and a number of different types of home medical equipment that can be used to improve safety and accessibility. When preventing senior falls, one of the most important areas of the home to address is the staircase, as this is the site of the most serious and common injuries. As such, a stair lift can be one of the most important tools for seniors and caregivers wishing to improve their ability to preform activities of daily life.

Preventing Senior Falls: Ensuring the Senior can Interact with Their Environment

Senior falls are very serious and often hard to recover from. In numerous studies, it has been found that recovering from a fall often requires the elderly to move to an assisted living facility, as well as causing a dramatic reduction in the ability to independently preform activities of daily life, such as bathing or cooking. Preventing these falls often starts at home, with attention paid to ensuring the living environment is safe and the senior is able to interact with their environment safely.

Deciding When to Buy a Stair Lift and When NOT to Buy a Stair Lift

Knowing when not to buy a stair lift is just as important as knowing when to buy a stair lift, if not more so.

Before buying a stair lift, it is very important to spend some time evaluating the ability of the senior to preform the activities of daily life(ADL), which include things like bathing, cooking, and general mobility. Further, it is also important to consider the condition of the staircase and only consider a piece of home medical equipment, such as a stair lift or elevator, after ensuring that it can be safely used and is the correct type of treatment to improve the accessibility of the home.

A Stair Lift Primer

There are many areas in a home that present a risk to the elderly, but in regards to falls, most serious elderly falls, such as those requiring hospitalization, occur on the stairs. Falls and serious injury pose a very serious health risk to seniors, as numerous studies have shown that it takes much longer for a senior to recover from an injury. One way that the safety of the stairs is increased is by using a stair lift, which is a special type of tool used to safely move a senior up and down the stairs.