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We want to help you understand what options are available so you have the information you need to determine the best solution for you in your home. We welcome your inquiry!

How To Expertly Care For Someone With Limited Mobility

Do you live with an elderly loved one or person with disabilities? If so, being a caregiver is likely a very important role you have taken on. It’s certainly not an easy job. With some help, however, you can expertly care for someone with limited mobility.

Brighten up the darker areas of the home.

Adequate lighting is a key ingredient to a safe household. Keep in mind that many seniors battle with vision impairments. It’s pretty important that they have their eyeglasses or corrective lenses with them at all times. However, it’s just as vital to ensure that each room of the home is brightly lit. Naturally, it’s much easier to avoid tripping hazards if you can clearly see what is in front of you on the floor. Pay special attention to the rooms of the home that are usually dimly lit.

“Most homes have areas that don’t get as much natural light, so it’s advisable to brighten these darker zones with overhead lighting, floor lamps, or table lamps,” says Declan Davey on Carewell.com, “Though LEDs can cost more upfront, they may save energy in the long-run, while giving your home’s lighting more of a boost than normal bulbs.”

Prepare soft foods.

For many older adults, chewing and swallowing solid foods is a challenge. Needless to say, you certainly don’t want to offer a choking hazard to your loved one. To keep things simple and to make life easy, prepare soft foods. Naturally, they are much easier to chew and swallow, helping to avoid choking.

“If your family member has trouble swallowing, plan for food that is softer or smoother, such as porridge, apple sauce, and mashed potatoes; chop or mince food into smaller pieces; puree food in a blender,” recommends The Ontario Caregiver Organization.

Address mobility barriers around the home.

Your home is filled with tripping hazards that you may not even be aware of. Do you tend to leave items on your staircases? Remove them immediately. A stairwell is not a storage unit. A person with mobility issues and/or vision impairments can easily trip on anything left on the stairs. Are their tiled floors in your bathrooms and kitchen? Those rooms are notorious for slippery surfaces. Install non-slip mats in each of them to help prevent slips and falls.

The Ontario Caregiver Organization offers up a number of other safety tips. “Make sure there are adequate handrails in the bath tub or shower and next to the toilet,” advises their website, “Make sure furniture is not crowded together in a way obstruct their walker or wheelchair. If you need to assist with climbing stairs, walk behind them. Keep your hand on their shoulders or on a belt to help them keep their balance.”

Install a stair lift.

The Advantage Home Health Solutions team always ensures that you have the complete picture to make an informed stair lift purchase. We’ll help you choose the stair lift solution that is best for you.

We can also provide less expensive recycled stair lifts when available. We have many years of experience with stair lifts that are both new and used. Age is seldom a factor. When a used stair lift runs just as smoothly as a new one – and if the rail is still in great condition – it is worthy of consideration.

To learn more about how we can help you expertly care for someone with limited mobility, 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!

A Guide For Seniors To Bolster Their Strength And Balance

A Guide For Seniors To Bolster Their Strength And Balance

Regularly addressing the needs of the older adults in our community, our team is adamant about keeping seniors safe all year round. A major reason is because falls are the leading cause of fatal injury and the most common cause of non-fatal trauma-related hospital admissions among older adults. This week we look at ways to bolster strength and balance.

Stairlift | FAQ’s

What's the minimum width for a stair lift?

There are no specific width requirements to install a stairlift. All stairs in Canada are built to specific codes and standard widths, which we know will permit the installation of some type of stairlift. There are no renovations required; we install the stairlift in the space you have and based on your specific requirements. You do not have to remove handrails for a stairlift installation.

What's the average cost of a stair lift?

Many factors can influence the price of a stairlift such as number of stairs, curves, stopping points, nearby availability of power sources. We will always determine the most suitable, safe and cost effective solution for your specific needs.

Some of the price ranges for stairlifts can be found on our website. You may also qualify for funding

Do you carry anything similar to acorn chair lifts for stairs?

We carry both straight and curved stairlifts for various types of settings. What’s important to note is we have a PhotoSurvey system to assist us with exact measurements of your stairs. This system helps us in perfecting your stairlift installation and will ensure a safe, smooth and always complete ride up the stairs.

We are sure to have a model of stairlift suitable for your needs, safety and budgetary requirements.

Is it possible to install a stair lift myself?

If you have a bit of construction or technical, engineering type background, it’s possible. But there are a number of factors that would probably influence you NOT to do the installation yourself.

On the YES side:

If it’s a straight stairlift, it’s possible:

  • If there’s a supplier (manufacturer or dealer) willing to support you with installation questions.
  • If you have a bit of technical knowledge, good measurements and understanding of mathematical information to make the necessary calculations to get the right parts.

On the NO side:

  • It can be a bit complex or confusing. If you don’t have the correct tools for cutting or joining the rails.
  • If you run into an issue after installation (like a breakdown), it may not be covered by warranty.
  • If it involves a stairlift with turns or curves, it’s challenging to ensure the exact measurements that will ensure a perfectly smooth and safe ride.

We are sure to have a model of stairlift suitable for your needs, safety and budgetary requirements.

My stair lift is beeping. What could be wrong?

Here are some possibilities that could explain why your stair lift is beeping:

Power off, receptacle issues, tripped breaker, charger issues, dislodged from the charge strip, connection issue between charger and rail, not in locked position and therefore can’t use remote, seat not in lock position, obstruction, armrests not in down position, some safety issue that needs tending.

If your stair lift needs service, we’re happy to help. Just give us a call and we’ll do our best to help. If it’s not urgent, you can request more information or a service call here.

My stair lift will not move. What could be the problem?

There are several possibilities for a stairlift to not work:

  • key (incorrect position or missing)
  • armrests in the wrong position
  • if it’s not plugged in
  • if  batteries are drained from age or other reasons such as recent power outage.

If this didn’t solve the issue, you may need a service call. Reach out by phone and call 403-460-5438 or request more information about stair lift service here.

How is a stairlift installed?

When installing a stair lift, we’ll be sure to get as close to the wall or railing as possible. We’ll take measurements specific to your stairs and in the event of a curved stair lift, we’ll manufacture a unit specifically for your situation. We’ll mount the stair lift rail directly onto the stair treads.

A stairlift can typically be installed in one afternoon. We’ll always ensure the stair lift installation meets your needs for safety of the user as well as others in the home.

Find Out More About Stair Lifts… 

Ask us for a free, no obligation in-home assessment. Just fill out our information request and get a FREE consultation today.