There are actually quite a few areas that can be dangerous to a senior or other person with limited mobility, but areas of different elevation are the most likely to cause a fall for seniors. Staircases lead the pack of dangerous areas for an elderly person, but things like curbs and uneven pavement can also present tripping hazards.
However, since most people don’t have a curb or broken pavement separating their bedroom from their kitchen, preventing accidents on the stairs is a much more important endeavor. In fact, each year senior falls on the stairs are the leading catalyst for hospitalization and even accidental death among those over 65.
The stairs are so very dangerous for a number of reasons, which work together, increasing the risk of a fall. For one, there is usually a long distance between the top of the staircase, so a fall can happen across a very large distance.
When using the stairs, it is also necessary to raise ones feet high enough to clear the step multiple times with each use, which can be especially difficult for someone with limited vision or a mobility related disease, such as arthritis.
Further, most staircases and staircase landings are compromised by many hard surfaces, from the steps themselves to the banister, even a small fall on the top step can hit a person in such a way to cause injury. If the senior has a disease like osteoporosis, which causes the bones to become weaker, this can easily cause a fracture.
Since using the staircase presents a rather clear and present danger to people of all ages, but most specifically the elderly, it is very important to make an effort to improve staircase accessibility. This is done in a number of ways, but from a cost and safety perspective, installing a stair lift often makes the most sense.
Stair lifts are a special type of patient lift, which carries its user up and down the staircase. Most provide a chair for the user to sit in as they are transported along the length of the staircase and can be referred to as stair chairs.
However, standing stair lifts are also available. Standing stair lifts, which can be referred to as perch lifts, have a much higher balance requirement though, so for the elderly, a sitting stair lift is almost always the best choice. The exception to this rule is when the senior is physically unable to safely sit in a stair chair, which can occur after the user has had a knee or hip replacement operation. However, due to the extra balance required to use a perch lift, it is not the preferred type of stair lift.
When choosing a stair lift, there are several factors to consider, but the type of power the stair lift uses is one important consideration. There are two basic options, AC Stair Lifts and DC Stair Lifts. The former, AC Stair Lifts, are plugged into the wall and powered from the electrical outlet.
DC Stair Lifts are also plugged into the wall, but this only serves to charge a rechargeable battery. The rechargeable battery of a DC stair lift does all of the work, so even if the power goes out, it is possible to continue using the DC Stair Lift.
Aside from the major difference, the other difference between AC and DC Stair Lifts is the cost. AC stair lifts usually cost a little less than DC stair lifts.
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