Whether you are asking the for yourself or a loved one, “is it time for a stair lift?” can be important and sometimes difficult question to address. There are a number of factors to consider, including safety, alternatives, and cost.
Safety
Safety is the most important consideration. According to the National Safety Council, falls are the #1 cause of preventable death for ages 67+ and lead to over 3 million emergency room visits per year for older adults. As you or a loved one ages, falls not only become more likely, but they also become more difficult to recover from. One of the best solutions for falls is prevention. There are many ways to prevent falls around the home. Better lighting, securing rugs, rearranging furniture, and adding grab bars can prevent falls throughout the home. However, one part of the home presents a unique challenge – the stairs.
Stairs present a safety challenge for many. Even a slight misstep can lead to fall. Stairway falls are especially dangerous because rather than landing on a flat surface such as the floor, a fall on the stairs often leads to multiple impacts on hard, uneven surfaces. While better lighting and handrails can help, they still require walking up or down the steps.
Stair lifts offer a unique solution that removes the need to physically walk up or down the stairs. Instead they provide the user with a safe experience of riding the steps while seated. A seat that swivels and locks at the top allows the user to turn and place their feet on the landing to enter/exit the chair. This further reduces the risk of falling.
A stair lift can also offer additional benefits. Since every lift comes with a set of 2 remotes, the stair lift can also be used as a “dumbwaiter” to transport laundry, groceries, boxes, and other items along the stairs. This means you won’t have to precariously carry large items while walking the stairs with limited vision.
Alternatives
You may be wondering – what alternatives there are to stair lifts? If you wish to stay in your current home, unfortunately there are only a few options. Moving to a single story home or nursing home is always an option. Another route is to remodel your home to have a bedroom, kitchen, laundry, and bathroom on a single level. However, none of these options allow you to have full access to your current home and each is quite costly.
Cost
Cost is an important consideration when deciding if it is time for a stair lift. Compared to the cost of a nursing home, moving, or remodeling, a stair lift is often considerably less expensive. According to the Missouri Department of Insurance, on average a nursing home costs $4,800 per month and assisted living costs $2,700 per month as of 2017. Business Insider has found the average closing costs before taxes when purchasing a home to be upwards of $3,400. That means for many homes, you could have a stair lift installed for considerably less than the cost of one month in a nursing home. We have included more information on the cost of stair lifts at the end of this article.
Is It Time?
Whether you are trying to prevent falls, have fallen before, or want to make the stairs easier to navigate so you can stay in the home you love, it may be time to as the question “is it time for a stair lift?” Options HME would be happy to help you answer that question. Below are some links to information that can further aid in the decision. If you have questions that were not answered in this article, feel free to give us a call! If you are ready to take the next step in gathering more information about a stair lift, contact us by phone or fill out a form to schedule your free, in-home consultation.