“Falls among older adults are a public health concern worldwide,” contends the Government of Canada, “According to the World Health Organization, about a third of older adults fall each year. The percentage ranges from 32% to 42% for those 70 years or older.” If you live with an older adult, preventing falls should be a major objective of yours. This is especially true if your elderly loved one uses the stairs.
It goes without saying that staircases can be dangerous places for individuals who contend with balance issues. An undeniable top solution is a stair lift. Stair lifts provide smooth and safe rides up and down stairs. They require no home modification to install and they fold to park out of the way allowing easy access to others who need to use the stairs.
Does your elderly loved one avoid the stairs?
This is major sign that he/she may view the stairs as dangerous. If the aging adult in your home is noticeably confining him/herself to one floor of the house, it is likely impacting his/her overall life quality. Fear of the stairs isn’t just an emotional hardship. It limits a person’s ability to enjoy the various levels of the home. In some cases, it can isolate an individual from the rest of the family.
As the U.K.’s Aries Stairlifts Ltd. alerts, homeowners should take notice if their elderly loved ones avoid the stairs. “This is often one of the first signs that you or someone you know needs a stair lift,” reports their website, “Some people also feel frightened by the stairs which can lead to stair avoidance altogether.”
Is walking up and down the stairs becoming more difficult?
As we age, our strength diminishes. It’s just a fact of life. It may be hard to admit. But are you noticing it takes substantially longer for your aging parent to climb the stairs? If so, a stair lift can help make the trip much quicker. Surely, stair lifts are time savers. More importantly, they help to ensure that an individual contending with balance and strength issues isn’t injured on the staircase.
The U.K.’s Euro Lifts lists getting older as a sign a stair lift may be necessary for you. “It becomes more and more difficult to climb stairs as you age and this often means you’ll end up stuck on the ground floor for long periods of time,” says their website, “Even if you can still make it up now, you should start to think ahead to when it won’t be quite so simple.”
Does the senior in your home wish to restore his/her independence?
One of the toughest parts about enduring a mobility issue is the loss of independence that often comes with it. Many seniors battle emotional hardships due to the fact they require assistance to complete tasks that were once easy. Walking up and down the stairs is one of those tasks that an older adult will often need help with. This is especially true if he/she has ever lost his/her balance. With a stair lift, a senior’s independence is joyfully restored.
Aries Stairlifts points out that a loss of independence is a top sign that a stair lift is needed in the home. “People around you care about you and want to help you gain back your independence and love for your entire home again,” their website offers as a reminder.
The Advantage Home Health Solutions team always ensures that you have the complete picture to make an informed stair lift purchase. 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!
