Falls are one of the leading causes of injuries among the elderly. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention show that nearly 2.5 million elderly people are treated for injuries from falls each year. Some falls are fatal. Stairs are a major contributor to falls. A solution is to install a stairlift. Here is how a stairlift can improve the safety of a home for elderly people.
Counteract Vision Problems
Something that can be very problematic for elderly people is the loss of vision over time. Handicare states that, “An elderly individual might be able to see some things normally if there is a high amount of contrast between objects. This is a real issue on stairs where there is often no contrast making it hard to distinguish one step from the next. A stairlift in the home will counteract vision problems that could cause an elderly person to fall down the stairs.” A stairlift can be used easily even if the user has problems seeing.
Provide Greater Independence
An issue that can affect the physical and mental health of an elderly person is the isolation that can come with limited mobility and other problems. It can be frustrating when you cannot move between the floors of your home without help from someone else. You end up feeling trapped and helpless. Installing a stairlift will provide greater independence to elderly individuals. The stairlift allows the person to get around the entire house without having to ask permission or wait for someone else to arrive.
Install Stairlifts in Any Location Needed
Many people think that there is just one type of stairlift. This is the type that runs up a straight track along a typical staircase. The reality is that many types of stairlifts are available today. They can be installed in any location that an elderly person needs. Stairlifts can be used on spiral staircases. They can be linked together to allow easy movement between multiple floors at once. Stairlifts can even be installed outside. A stairlift could be a solution to many problems faced by the elderly.
Reduce the Chance of Unexpected Injuries
If there is an elderly person in a home, then you must be constantly taking steps to reduce the chance of unexpected injuries. Falls in the home are costing the country $12 billion or more annually according to the LA Times. Stairs can be a problem even if your elderly loved one seems stable. They can become an obstacle in certain homes. Installing a stairlift will greatly reduce the chances of unexpected and often serious injuries.
Make Your Home Accessible To Anyone with Mobility Issues
A stairlift is a valuable addition to any home because it makes everything accessible to people who have mobility issues. This can mean more than just elderly individuals. A stairlift could become very important if someone in the family breaks a leg or sustains another serious injury. The lift can let people with injuries move between floors without effort.
