Methods of Making the Staircase Safer

Those who are mobility challenged can face a number of difficulties when away from home, but there should never be a situation where your own home is not accessible. Unfortunately, for many people, this is not the case and there are certain areas in the home that are difficult to use. One of the most common places that poses difficulties for a senior or person with limited mobility is using the staircase.

Why Using the Staircase Can be Hard for Seniors

There are many factors that can make a staircase incredibly dangerous for the elderly. The chance of a senior fall on the stairs is very high, with this being the leading cause of extended hospital stays for seniors.

Many times, difficulty using the stairs stems from diseases like arthritis, which can make bending the knee and hip very painful. As a result, it can be hard to raise the leg high enough to clear the individual steps, which can result in the senior tripping and falling.

These difficulties can be complicated by poor vision, such as the result of glaucoma, making even seeing the steps a very hard task.

Steps to Increase Staircase Safety

There are a number of things that can and should be done to make the staircase safer for seniors. One of the most important things to do is make sure that there is adequate handrails on the staircase. It is important to make sure that the handrails are securely bolted to the wall and that they are small enough that the senior can easily fit their hand around them. They should also be made of smooth wood, so there is no chance of splinters or abrasions occurring from using the handrail.

Studies have found that having two handrails, one on either side of the staircase, can actually dramatically reduce the likelihood of a staircase fall, so this can be a good idea.

Proper lighting on the staircase is also essential. Make sure that the entire staircase and landings are well lit with a powerful light. It is also important that the senior can turn the staircase light on and off from either end of the stairway, so make sure there is a light switch on both landings. This way, there is never an instance where the senior might have to climb the staircase in the dark.

Putting a high contrast textured tape on the steps can also make them easier to see. By alternating colors on each step, you can make them stand out even more. Just make sure to use two completely different colors on the first and last step. This way the senior can tell when they reach the end of the staircase just by looking at the color of the tape.

It is also essential to remove any loose carpeting on or near the staircase, as well as ensuring that the stairway itself is in good repair and does not have any loose or uneven boards.

What to do When the Senior Simply Can’t Use the Stairs

In cases where the senior can still not safely use the staircase, it is possible to install a stair lift on the stairs. Stair lifts are electric lifting aids, which carry the senior up the staircase in a chair or on a small platform.

Most stairlifts are designed with a metal tracked system that can be attached directly to the steps. The chair moves along the track supporting the senior, which is why they are often called stair chairs.

The major advantage of a stair chair is that they are incredibly safe and reliable methods of transporting a person up a staircase, but are easier to install and much less expensive than a residential elevator.