Top 5 Benefits of a Stairlift For People Who Struggle with The Stairs
For anyone who struggles with going up and down stairs, a home stairlift can deliver a wide range of benefits. There are countless reasons why someone might find stairs a challenge or even an insurmountable obstacle. Here are the benefits stairlift can deliver.
For anyone who struggles with going up and down stairs, a home stairlift can deliver a wide range of benefits. There are countless reasons why someone might find stairs a challenge or even an insurmountable obstacle. However, they can be grouped in three main categories.
The first is simply advancing years, which means that in later life we might not have as much strength, agility, or energy as we once had. Stairs which we once climbed without a second thought can start to become much more of a challenge as we get older. The second – often combined with the first – is the onset or worsening of a medical condition. The single biggest reason people buy a stairlift is arthritis, which causes stiff, swollen, and painful joints. There are many types of arthritis and it can strike at any age, but the most common is osteoarthritis. This is often called ‘wear and tear arthritis’ because it’s linked to getting older. Medical conditions, including heart disease and respiratory problems, can leave you feeling breathless.
Safety: Any issue affecting mobility can leave you at increased risk of a fall. It’s never good to fall anywhere, inside or outside the home, especially as you grow older and more susceptible to complications or a long recovery period. But falling on the stairs could be catastrophic. Using a home stairlift eliminates the risk of a fall on the stairs. Look for a model which has a seatbelt or safety restraint, and a lockable swivel seat making it easier and safer to get on and off.
Quality of life: The daily struggle of climbing and descending stairs in pain and discomfort is no fun! Too many people put off investing in a home stairlift until they simply have no choice, seeing it as a last resort. But you do have a choice – a choice to enhance your daily quality of life. Much like a dishwasher or washing machine, a stairlift is a domestic appliance designed to make your life easier and more enjoyable. You’ll also have more energy to devote to more pleasurable pastimes.
Independence: Many people living with mobility issues greatly value their independence and don’t like to rely on others for help. Some even worry they’ll ‘become a burden’ on others, turning their partner into their caregiver, though the partner might not see it that way. Relying on a stairlift to see you safely up and down the stairs means you don’t have to rely on anyone else to do it. If you live alone and have mobility challenges, then a stairlift can be an ever-greater boost to your independence.
Stay in your home: Whether your stairs become a problem suddenly, perhaps after an accident, or more gradually over time, it means your home is no longer suited to your needs. You could reorganize things so you can live just on the ground floor, but that means giving up half your home. You could even consider moving to a single-story home, but moving can be stressful and expensive. Or you could invest in a home stairlift. It effectively turns a two-story home into a single story one by removing the obstacle of stairs, and at a fraction of the cost of moving. In short, a stairlift enables you to stay in the home you love and continue using all of it.
Peace of mind: Once you have a stairlift installed in your home you’ll have the peace of mind that comes from knowing you can go up and down stairs in safety and comfort whenever you like and as often as you like. No more worrying about your safety on the stairs or what might happen if your condition gets worse in the future. Best of all, this benefit extends to the people who love and care for you, and worry about you struggling to manage the stairs. They’ll share in the peace of mind a stairlift brings.