Tri-State Mobility Blog

One of the most common obstacles to being able to continue to safely and conveniently reside in one’s own home is stairs. After all — for most of us — our joints will wear down eventually and make it difficult or impossible to go up and down staircases.

If you already live in a one-story house, that’s no big deal. But many of us do not. According to the National Association of Home Builders, 50-70% of the households in the Tri-State area are two floors or more. If you live in a multi-story home and find the stairs difficult to navigate, moving to a single-level house or a retirement facility is always an option. But an AARP study found that 80% of people older than 65 believe their current residence is where they will always live, and nearly 90% want to stay in their home as long as they can. Most of us raised our families in these homes and truly cherish a house full of memories.

If you fit into these categories, how can you fulfill your own desire? How do you continue to enjoy all the levels of your home? A quick, affordable and practical stairlift solution may be just what you need.

Here are some thoughts on the potential benefits of putting a stairlift in your home:

Preserves independence

If the presence of stairs keep you from accessing by yourself a basement or cellar, a second story, an attic or an underground garage, it may feel like you’re limited. No one wants to rely upon a friend, neighbor or family member to move about their house. With a stair lift, that problem goes away — you can access your full living space at any time of the day or night. You don’t have to rearrange your home; you can sleep in your own bedroom or enjoy time with family wherever they gather.

Safety first

For those aging or in poor health, stairs can be treacherous. Missing or slipping off a step can have uncomfortable, unfortunate, inconvenient or even tragic consequences.

Stairlifts come equipped with seat belts, sensors to detect obstructions, lockable on/off switches, and braking systems to bring your ride to a smooth stop. At the top the seat turns away from the steps to prevent potentially falling backwards down the steps when rising from the seat.

Affordability

Especially by comparison with the sticker shock of moving either to another house or a retirement facility or community, the installation of a stairlift is very cost-effective. Depending on your staircase, you may need either a straight stairlift — for staircases with no corners or curves — or a curved stairlift, for staircases with at least one bend. Curved stairlifts generally cost a bit more and also take longer to deliver, because they will be custom-made, but will still be among the least expensive options to maintain your mobility.

Financing options are available for those interested. And if you have a doctor’s say-so that you need a stairlift for medical reasons, it’s likely some of the cost is tax-deductible.

Ease of use

Here’s the $64,000 Question: Can you sit in a chair, put on a seatbelt, and press and hold a switch? If so, you can operate a stairlift! Our models are very intuitively based and come with clear instructions.

Many stairlifts also come with remote controls, which are useful for homes in which more than one person uses the stairlift. If you’re downstairs and the chair is at the top of the staircase — or vice versa — summoning your transportation is as simple as pressing the right button.

Let us help you stay mobile, stay in your home and do both safely! A stairlift is a great tool to accomplish all of those important objectives.