No matter how you look at it, limited mobilityis no walk in the park. But walking in the park may be the least of your worries. For millions of Americans just getting up and down the stairs in their own home can be a challenge. While climbing the stairs poses a challenge to many as they age and conditions like arthritis set in, it is not exclusive to the elderly.Anyone can face mobility issues that makes climbing the stairs difficult. Whether you are suffering from a permanent condition that challenges your ability to remain in your own home or have a temporary condition from an injury or illness, installing a stairlift in your home can open new opportunities and improve the quality of your life. Consider these benefits of adding a stairlift to your home.
What are the benefits of installing a stair lift in your home?
It is common for some to put off installing a stairlift in their home by rationalizing that they don’t really need a stairlift because they can still manage stair climbing on their own. While this is a noble thought, putting off installing a stairlift until you cannot manage the stairs on your own may not be in your best interest. Struggling to maintain your independence by stubbornly taking on the challenge everyday may be doing you more harm than good. Putting unneeded stress on ailing joints may further joint damage and make life more difficult for you in the future. Being proactive now and installing a stairlift in your home may prevent further damage or deterioration and is sure to provide you with a host of other benefits of adding a stairlift to your home.
- Personal Safety: Struggling to make your way up and down the stairs puts you at risk of slips and falls that can lead to serious injuries. Installing a stairlift improves your safety by preventing falls. This is especially important for those who live alone as a serious fall may leave you waiting in pain until help arrives. Installing a stairlift gives you and your loved ones the peace of mind of knowing you can go up and down the stairs when needed without the risks of slips and falls.
- Transporting Items: Carrying heavy objects, like that load or laundry or stash of new books, can be a challenge for anyone, but when you already struggle with stair climbing carrying objects can become nearly impossible. With a stairlift you can move that load easily without putting additional stress on joints or off-setting your balance.
- Improves Independence: Your independence is important to you and rightly so. A stairlift improves your independence as there is no need to wait for others to assist you when you need to make a quick trip to another floor. With a stairlift you are free to move safely from one level to another without the worries of falls and injuries.
- Boosts Comfort: Let’s face it. Struggling to manage the stairs on your own can be painful. A stairlift eliminates the pain associated with climbing the stairs.
- Allows the elderly to age at home. Most aging Americans prefer to age at home and avoid senior living facilities and nursing homes. A stairlift is a great tool for enhancing your ability to stay in your home as you age.
Other Benefits of Adding a Stairlift to Your Home
The elderly are not the only people who can benefit from installing a stairlift to the home. Consider these things when asking yourself “What arethe benefits of adding a stairlift to your home?”
- Provides temporary solutions to injuries. If you or a loved one are recovering from a physical injury that makes stair climbing difficult, a stairlift is an appropriate solution that will allow you to recover at home and may reduce the length of a hospital stay.
- Can be used outdoors as well as inside the home. While most people think of a stairlift as an inside adaptation, that isn’t always true. Stairlifts can be used outside, too. Installing a stairlift outside to allow easier entrance to the home eliminates the need to install a permanent ramp.
- Easy to install and remove. A stairlift does not need to become a permanent feature in your home. It can be installed for a temporary period and then removed when it is not longer necessary.
- May increase resale value of your home. If your home is located in a retirement community or an area attractive so seniors, an installed chairlift may actually become a positive selling point for your home. Likewise, it can be a added bonus if a potential buyer has others with disabilities in the family.
The benefits of installing a stair lift to your home far outweigh any perceived in conveniences. Most are unobtrusive, take up little space and are attractive.
