Stair Lifts for the Elderly: I Can Finally Leave My Own Home

Having a chronic condition such as degenerative joint disease, lumbar spinal stenosis, cererbrovascular accident (CVA) or cellulitis can bring anyone to their breaking point when it comes to loss of mobility around the house. People in one level living situations tend to deal with these afflictions in a more adjusted manner than those dealing with the daily chore of going up and down stairs. Often times stairs can make the difference between leaving the home and being stuck inside. When it gets to this stage, many people look into purchasing a new or used stairlift or stair glide to save their body from further trauma. Stair Lifts for the Elderly or disabled can be a godsend and need to be looked at in depth before making the ultimate purchase decision.

Used stairlifts or reconditioned stairlifts can often be a great starting point because of the price savings you can get with this purchase. When looking at used stairlifts, be sure that the dealer or manufacturer includes some type of warranty. You need to be sure that this device is indeed functional and will provide you safety while saving you money in the long run. Find out exactly how old the unit is and whether or not this model has any current or previous recalls associated with it. Look online for reviews on your stairlift model by using search terms search as 'stair lifts for the elderly'. Do your homework.

New stairlifts will all come with some type of warranty however you may consider an extended warranty to give you or your loved one some piece of mind. All new stairlift models will have fold down seats and at least one remote control that should come standard with your purchase. Stairlifts prices can vary greatly but tend to be in the range of $2000-7500 depending on the options and model you choose. When looking at stair lifts for the elderly and disabled, be sure to take all factors including stairlifts prices into your purchase.

Each individual's living situation needs to be factored in to your final purchase. Do you have a landing area which would require mutiple stairlifts or a curved stairlift installed? A curved stairlift will add significantly to the cost due to the bending of the track which must be custom fit. If you are considering a curved stairlift, bringing in >1 stairlift company for an estimate is recommended. Stair lifts for the elderly come in all shapes and sizes. Do you need a bariatric or oversized model? Does color or style need to fit your décor? Are you going to be reselling the house in the near future? All of these factors must be taken into account for the purchase of your new or used stairlifts.

If you are reading this and can't quite pull the trigger on whether or not to buy a stair lift for the elderly or handicapped, I would venture to say the answer would be a resounding Yes. You have probably tried every therapy and product known to man without results. Don't wait any longer and take the plunge. Stairlifts prices are quite affordable so don't miss out on the deals available.

Jeff Roth MPT is President of Roth Therapy Services LLC, a home health care physical therapy practice in Pittsburgh, PA. In addition to giving advice on buying new and used stairlifts, stair lifts for the elderly and disabled lift chairs, he provides buying guides and articles on all mobility products and devices at no cost.

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Stair Treads to Make Your Spiral Stairs Safer

If you are living in a small multiple-story house, then perhaps you have noticed that the staircase you have may take a lot more floor space than it should. Most homeowners in a similar situation try to make do with what they have by decorating it and by maximizing the space underneath it. However, you can now take back a lot of your lost floor space by using spiral stairs instead. Some people are hesitant to use a spiral staircase because they do not think it is safe, but you can be more at ease by installing stair treads.

However, keep in mind that you also need to find stair treads that will fit the actual spiral stairs. The reason is because the wedge-shape of the steps of a spiral staircase is different from the usual rectangular shape of the ordinary stairway. It is then necessary to look for a design made specifically for the type that you have at home. If you cannot find the one you have in mind from your local store, you can try searching for it on the internet. You can also improvise by purchasing the traditional design and cutting or adjusting them down to perfectly fit your own staircase.

Spiral stairs are also excellent for providing access to other areas of the house such as the attic. Even if you have limited space in your home, it would not cause many problems since most of the designs that are currently in the market were created to save space. If you find the steps of your staircase to be a bit slippery, you can install some non skid stair treads to add more traction. There are also designs that have anti-skid backing which is perfect if you are going to put your spiral stairs outside or in an open area of the house.

Another important benefit of using stair rugs for spiral stairways is the fact that they truly enhance their look. Generally having spiral stairways at home means that your room has an extra decorative touch, since not many homeowners have something like that in their own dwellings. And by adding to them decorative treads or rugs that match in color and design, you will increase the value of your home even more.

For example you can easily find decorative wooden stair-rugs that have been often featured in various home decoration magazines as being very modern and classy. You can find braided ones that give any room an extra touch of beauty, even when placed directly on the floor or used on regular stairways. The possibilities are endless and simply by knowing the fact that they are not expensive to buy at all, you can easily add that extra spark to your room any time you want.

Braided rug stair treads are just some of the most common types favored by many homeowners. Visit my website to learn more about installing braided stair treads the proper way.

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