Increasing Your Safety While Using the Stairs

Falling down the stairs is something that frequently results in hospitalization, broken bones, and in some cases death. Seniors, those over 65, are far more likely to fall down the stairs and they are at increased risk of broken bone. In part this can be due to something like arthritis, but often as we get older our balance decreases. If you are a caregiver and must help a person up and down the stairs, this can also be risky and can result in two people being injured instead of one. A stair lift can be an excellent investment and greatly reduce the risk of falling.

If you have a straight stair case, then you can probably quickly and easily install a stair lift. A reinforced aluminum track is attached directly to the stairs and an individual is sent up and down the track. There are many models and designs to choose from and they can support, depending on the model, over 500 pounds. If you have a narrower staircase, it may be necessary to install the lift on the wall, which is much more complicated, but many models feature folding seats, so when not in use the device will take up much less space. You can install a standard straight lift rather easily in only a few hours using normal tools. They also can be shipped in only a few days.

Those with curved staircases are at a tremendous disadvantage when it comes to installing a stair lift. The lift must be custom built and will require professional installation. Since all stair cases are different, you will need an in home estimate and measurement. They usually take between 6 -8 to build and sometimes even longer to have installed. The cost of a curved stair lift can easily exceed $15,000.