Making the Stairs Safer for Seniors

Preventing senior falls is a process that is often on going and involves evaluating the safety and accessibility of every area in the home. However one area, the stairs, is much more dangerous to seniors and responsible for the majority of fall related hospitalizations among senior. This is why making sure the staircase is safe and easy to use for the elderly is such an important part of preventing senior falls.

This article discusses senior fall prevention and offers some important tips for making the stairs safer for the elderly.

Tips for Increasing Staircase Safety, One Step at a Time

The stairs can present a danger for people of any age, but for seniors the risk of a fall is much more likely. A fall on the stairs is also much more likely to result in a serious injury for the elderly, often as a result of diseases that are more common among seniors, like arthritis.

Since the stairs can be so dangerous, it is very important to take measures to not only ensure that the senior can use the stairs safely, but also that the stairs are safe to use.

Stair Lifts and Residential Elevators

It is very important for seniors and others who have difficulty getting around to ensure that the stairs can be used safely. This is because falls on the stairs are very serious and much more common among this age group. There are several ways the problem of using the stairs can be addressed, but most people choose to install either a stair lift or a residential elevator. Stair lifts offer a much less expensive means of increasing staircase safety, however they are not as versatile as residential elevators.

How and Why Use a Stair Lift

Using a stair lift is one of the easiest and most cost friendly ways to make the stairs easier to use. People all over the world use these devices and they can greatly improve staircase safety.

This article describes stair lifts, as well as several different types of stair lifts and their cost.

Why Stair Lifts are Used to Increase Staircase Safety

One of the most dangerous areas in a home for a senior is the staircase, especially those who have arthritis or other mobility limiting diseases. Using a stair lift is often not just the easiest way of increasing staircase safety, but also the most cost effective. Stair lifts come in a variety of shapes and sizes, but basically work the same.

Choosing the Right Lifting Aid to Increase Staircase Safety

For a senior or other person who has difficulty walking, the stairs often present a very big obstacle. There are several popular types of lifting aids available to make using the stairs possible in a safe manner and choosing the right one is very important. Often this decision, which involves weighing the benefits of using a stair lift, residential elevator, or moving to an assisted living community, revolves around understanding the needs of the user.

Evaluating the Importance of Stairlifts

For a senior or other individual who has trouble using the stairs, a stairlift can be a very important tool used to increase accessibility and allow all areas of a home to be utilized. These devices have been around for close to a hundred years, but did not become popular until the late 1980′s and early 1990′s, as several stairlift models were offered that could be easily installed.

Stairlifts are today one of the easiest ways of increasing safety in the home and making the staircase usable again.

Improving Safety with a Stair Chair

Using a stair chair is one of the most effective means of increasing safety and accessibility. It is also one of the most cost effective options, usually a great deal less expensive than installing an elevator. Stair chairs have been around for a number of years and are designed to improve the ability of seniors, the elderly, and others with limited mobility to use the staircase.

Increasing Senior Staircase Safety

Falls on the stairs are common among all age groups, but they most frequently occur among those who are over 65. This age group is also the most likely to be seriously injured by a fall on the stairs. As a result, it is essential to help increase safety on the stairs for seniors and the elderly.

There are actually a number of steps that should go into reducing the risk of a senior staircase fall, but they basically involve ensuring the stairs are safe to use and ensuring the senior can safely use the stairs.

Understanding the Stair Lift

Stair lifts are used in many homes and businesses as a way of increasing overall safety and accessibility. There are a number of different types of stair lifts, but they share a similar design and function. Selecting the right stair lift involves first understanding how stair lifts work and what features are important, then finding a stair lifts that will meet the needs of its user.