The importance of stair safety cannot be stressed enough. And the benefits of installing a stair lift in your home should not be underestimated. If you live with an older adult or an individual with mobility issues, a stair lift will practically extinguish any concerns you may have of that person slipping and falling on the stairs. Simply put, a stair lift makes your home a safer place.
Stair lifts eliminate slips and falls on the stairs.
In our many blogs covering this topic, we’ve highlighted the fact that slips and falls are the causes of the majority of hospitalizations of Canadian seniors. As Sheryl Ubelacker of The Canadian Press reports for Global News, “falls within the home accounted for more than 114,000 emergency department visits (in 2017), making it the most common place that people take a tumble.”
With a stair lift installed in your home, it makes it a lot easier for you and every other member of your household to get up and down the stairs. Clearly, having greater overall access to your home throughout the day is important to you. But it is of particular importance to those members of your family who may not have the ability to get up and down the stairs safely without assistance.
Stair lifts are known to reduce the fear of falling.
If you live with an individual with mobility issues, you are likely very well aware of the stress that is induced by having physical limitations. Many Canadians have a fear of falling. According to McMaster University, this fear can significantly limit a person’s willingness to participate in physical activities.
“A fear of falling can lead people to play it safe – older adults will often go out less often and participate in fewer activities, leading to less social interaction and a lower quality of life,” reports their website, “A fear of falling can also lead to poor balance, and may even change the way a person walks. The irony is that playing it safe creates a circular problem in which a fear of falling becomes a risk factor for future falls.”
A stair lift in your home not only reduces the potential for falls and injuries, it will also help to provide your family members with greater confidence and peace of mind.
Stair lifts can be installed outside as well.
It’s just as important to have a safe passage to and from the entrance of your home as it is to be able access the various levels of your home. At Advantage Home Health Solutions, we’re proud to offer exterior stair lifts from Handicare. They are known to handle the weather in Western Canada as they are fitted with specialized sealed coated PCBs (printed circuit boards.)
In addition to the wild swings in temperature we experience in this part of Canada, humidity is a critical issue. This is especially true for the dry cold in the winter that causes static electricity shocks. When not in use, we recommend covering the exterior stair lift’s seat and carriage (as shown in the photo above) and locking and removing the security key. Clearing the staircase from snow is important as well.
For more information about the stair lifts offered by Advantage Home Health Solutions, please don’t hesitate to give us a call at 403-460-5438. You may also email us by filling out the form on our Contact page!
