Most homes in the United States have at least one staircase and these devices provide a way to inexpensively bridge two sections of a home. While very beneficial, the staircases can actually be very dangerous, especially for seniors.
There are a number of factors that increase the risk of a fall for seniors, but it is usually a combination of factors. For example, it is not uncommon for arthritis to make it more difficult to bend the knees and use the stairs, which is compounded by poor vision. While falls on the stairs can affect people of all ages, seniors are most at risk, with the majority of hospitalizations and accidental deaths caused by falling down the stairs.
Due to the serious risk that a staircase can pose to a senior, it is imperative that the stairs are made as safe as possible for the individual. This involves making certain that handrails are tight and the staircase is in good condition.
However, simply installing an extra handrail or anti-trip runners on the stairs often doesn’t address the actual problems that the senior is having. In these cases, repairing the stairs and ensuring that effective anti-trip methods are in place will not prevent the senior from falling, because they simply can not safely use the stairs. In these cases, a stair lift may be the best method of still allowing the senior to use the stairs, while decreasing the risk of a fall.
A stair lift can be used with most types of staircases, although there are several different types of stair lifts used depending on whether the staircase is straight, curved, or ‘L’ shaped. All of these stair lifts, however, work in a similar manner. A chair is provided for the individual to sit in as they are carried up the staircase, with the chair attached to a metal track. The track, which runs the entire length of the staircase, is made out of a strong metal and usually secured directly to the steps.
When using a stairlift, it is not necessary for the person using it to worry about having to climb the stairs. At the top and bottom of the staircase, the chair can typically be swiveled away from the staircase, so the stair lift can be exited safely.
While the stair lifts used for straight, curved, and ‘L’ shaped staircases all operate similarly. The price of these devices can greatly vary. Straight stair lifts usually cost between $1500 and $3000 depending on the model and length of the stair lift track. Most straight stair lifts can be installed by the homeowner, to reduce installation costs. They are also the quickest to be shipped, often taking less than a week from the time the stair lift is ordered to when it arrives in the home.
Curved stair lifts are much more expensive than straight stair lifts. Usually, a curved stair lift costs well over $10,000, and sometimes more than $25,000. This is because the track is custom built to fit the staircase’s curve, making it much more expensive and greatly increasing shipping time. It is not uncommon for a stair lift to take 3 months to be built and installed. Curved stair lifts will also require professional installation.
‘L’ shaped staircase’s fall in the middle and can be used on staircase’s that are shaped like an ‘L’ and have a 90 degree bend in them. Typically, ‘L’ shaped stair lifts cost much less than a curved stair lift, but still more than a straight stair lift. It is also possible to install two straight stair lifts onto most ‘L’ shaped staircase’s, which costs less, but requires that the stair lift user switch stair lifts halfway down the staircase.
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