Tips to Make the Stairs Safer for Seniors

Published by Stephen on November 30, 2008 under fall prevention

There are many aspects of the home that can present a real danger to a senior, but among them, the stairs ranks highest as the most dangerous place. Every year, more seniors have a serious accident while on the stairs than in any other part of the home.

There are several steps that should be taken to help prevent falls on the stairs. Some of these involve fixing the environmental factors, while others deal with learning how to prevent accidents before they happen.

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Buying Used Stair Lifts

Published by Stephen on November 19, 2008 under stair lifts

There are many things that can and should be bought used, but it is usually a good idea to inspect the item before you purchase it. In today’s marketplace, people sell just about anything on the Internet and you can often get a great deal by buying online.

There is also a lot of medical equipment available, but this is something that should be bought very carefully and only from trusted sources. Stair lifts are one type of device that can be bought used, but one should be very careful doing so.

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Does Medicare Cover Stair Lifts?

Published by Stephen on November 18, 2008 under stair lifts

Medicare is a program that is provided by the federal government to certain individuals. It helps pay for health related expenses, such as doctors visits and hospitalization. Those that are over sixty-five are generally eligible to get Medicare coverage and there are also some diseases, like acute kidney disorders, that enable a younger person to receive Medicare Insurance.

Aside from things like Doctors Visits, Medicare also helps to cover the cost of some prescription drugs and durable medical equipment. Durable medical equipment consists of things like wheelchairs and adjustable beds. Usually Medicare will cover up to eighty percent of the cost of durable medical equipment, but currently they do not cover stair lifts.

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The Advantages of Owning a Stair Lift

Published by Stephen on November 14, 2008 under stair lifts

Many find that with age, the stairs become very difficult to climb. This is commonly caused by diseases like arthritis, which causes joint discomfort. This is one of the reasons that people who are over sixty five are much likelier to have an accident climbing the stairs.

One cost effective way to allow access to a home with stairs is by installing a stair lift. Stair lifts are a type of medical device that is installed alongside a set of stairs. Instead of having to climb the stairs and potentially face an accident, they can simply ride the stair lift safely to the top of the stair case.

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Improving Accessibility in the Home

Published by Stephen on November 11, 2008 under wheelchair lifts

Those who use a wheelchair or mobility scooter are not able to easily access areas that are divided by stairs. In most public areas, this is not necessarily a concern, but because most homes have a front porch, many people must find ways to improve accessibility around their home.

One way that they do this is by using a vertical platform lift. Vertical platform lifts, or wheelchair lifts as they are called, carry a person, including their mobility vehicle, up the stairs. They are in essence mini-elevators and must be installed next to a staircase, because they move vertically up the stairs. This differs from a stair lift, which will move horizontally or lengthwise up the stairs.

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Elevators vs Stair Lifts

Published by Stephen on November 8, 2008 under stair lifts

There are a lot of lifting aids available to help make it easier to get around the house and outdoors. One such device is the dumbwaiter, which functions as an elevator and quickly moves items between floors.

Dumbwaiters, while similar to elevators, do not allow for the transportation of a person, so if you have difficulty using the stairs, you would not be able to use a dumbwaiter. Instead you would need to invest in a stair lift or residential elevator.

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Mobility Lifting Aids Compared

Published by Stephen on November 4, 2008 under stair lifts

There are a lot of people that are at increased risk of a fall on the stairs, but it is seniors who are the most at risk. Those over sixty-five are much more likely to have an accident on the stairs that results in hospitalization. There are many mobility lifting aids that are available to make the stairs safer.

The three most common are the stair lift, vertical platform lift, and residential elevator.

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Ten Tips for Seniors to Prevent Falls

Published by Stephen on November 1, 2008 under fall prevention

Falls can be very dangerous to anyone, but often a senior is at increased risk of injury because of diseases like osteoporosis, which causes the bones to be weak and brittle. As a result, even a small fall can cause a serious injury.

To help prevent falls, there are many things that can be done. This article describes ten tips to help prevent falls.

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