Ideally, we would all love to age in place. This isn’t just conjecture. It’s the researched conclusion of the National Institute On Ageing (NIA). They report that their recent study, conducted alongside TELUS, found that 91 percent of Canadians wish to support themselves and live independently at home for as long as possible. 100 percent of the Canadians aged 65 and older who were surveyed conveyed that they planned for this type of independence.
The NIA acknowledges, of course, that as we age, certain activities of daily living may become more challenging. Getting around our communities, getting our groceries, making our own meals, maintaining our homes and remaining able to personally clean, dress and feed ourselves can all become difficult. This is what makes the need for mobility solutions that provide independence so vital. Enter stair lifts!
What is a stair lift and how does it promote independence?
A stair lift is a motorized chair that glides up and down a flight of stairs. It offers a home’s inhabitants the ability to independently access various levels of the home when it would otherwise be challenging. For both older adults and individuals with mobility issues, a stair lift helps for safe staircase ascension and descension without any help from family members. The stair lift is affixed to rail close to the wall that minimizes the amount of space taken from the stairs. This allows other home inhabitants to freely use the stairs without interruption.
Stair lifts are pretty easy to use. You simply sit in the seat, fasten your seatbelt and press the switch or toggle to move the stair lift either up or down the stairs. Your stair lift may even come with a swivel seat that turns the chair 90 degrees when at the top of the stairs. This allows a user to make very easy entries and exits to and from the stair lift.
Stair lifts also come with foot rests and armrests for support. They can be folded out of the way when the stair lift is idle. Stair lifts can be made to fit any staircase, whether they are straight or curved. There are also stair lifts for both indoor and outdoor use.
How do stair lifts help older adults to remain injury-free?
Falls cause seniors more injuries than anything else. As Age Safe Canada informs, every year approximately one-third of adults who are aged 65 or older fall in their homes. Half of those over the age of 80 fall annually. The falls result in injury, long-term disability and premature loss of independence. Age Safe Canada notes that falls are the leading cause of fatal injury and the most common cause of nonfatal trauma-related hospital admissions among older adults.
“More than half the injury-related hospitalizations in Canada are for seniors 65+ and the leading cause of injury in seniors is falls, accounting for more than 81% of hospitalizations,” reports their website, “It is estimated that 20-30% of seniors experience at least one fall each year…Of those that fall, close to 20% will die within a year of the fall meaning falls are the number reason for injury-related death for seniors in Canada.”
With a stair lift installed in the home, falls on the stairs are all but eliminated. Taking away the dangers of climbing up and down the stairs, a stair lift ensures that a person with mobility issues can safely access different levels of the home. With falling being so prevalent among seniors, a stair lift is practically vital for those who contend with mobility issues. The solution significantly minimizes the risk of falls.
What other benefits do stair lifts provide?
They help for older adults to conserve their energy. Needless to say, climbing a flight of stairs several times a day can be exhausting and draining. A stair lift allows seniors to exert far less energy, giving them the ability to remain more active and engaged in daily life. Consider those who have to fulfill such daily duties as carrying laundry upstairs. With a stair lift, people can literally take the weight off their shoulders by having their laundry baskets rest in their laps as they glide upstairs.
Stair lifts also enable older adults to maintain their social connections. In many cases, stairs can be barriers to social interactions. This is especially true in homes where the main living areas are on different floors. Installing a stair lift enables seniors and individuals with mobility issues to easily access all areas of their home. This facilitates social interactions with family and friends. No more missing out on the presence of visitors because climbing or descending the stairs is too hard on the knees.
A stair lift can also minimize the pains that come with certain ailments. “For those with limited mobility, electric stair lifts can help reduce the risks associated with navigating stairs and enable someone to stay in a multi-level home,” points out Molly Wigand on Forbes.com, “Whether a person has a disability, arthritis, dizziness, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) or obesity – or facing temporary challenges such as joint replacement or recovery from an injury – a stair lift can benefit users, caregivers and family members alike.”
Why should older adults have stair lifts in their homes?
The National Institute On Ageing reveals that about one-quarter of Canadians aged 75 and over has at least one unmet need with respect to their activities of daily living. They believe that the number of older adults with unmet needs could be underestimated. This is because they may not know what supports are available or how to best access them.
A stair lift provides an unmatched support system. It ensures that no one misses out on an in-home activity simply because of mobility issues. At Advantage Home Health Solutions, we always ensure that you have the complete picture of our stair lifts. No matter what your stair lift requirements are, you can choose the stair lift that is best for you!
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!
