5 Things to Know About Staircase Lift Chairs

Thanks to medical and technological innovations, people are living longer and fuller lives. However, as seniors age, their mobility may become limited. This can be due to orthopedic replacements, hip fractures, back injuries, arthritis, and vision difficulties.

As more seniors choose to age in place, finding ways to safely navigate their homes becomes a priority. Staircase lift chairs are a piece of durable medical equipment (DME) that can help seniors safely age in place.

Senior riding an outdoor staircase chair lift in Boston MA

1. Staircase Lift Chairs Prevent Injuries

Staircase lift chairs are an innovation that allows seniors to move up and down stairs safely. These staircase lift chairs may be a seat that a senior buckles into or a platform a wheelchair is secured on. The senior then pushes a button and the staircase lift chair glides up the stairwell to the appropriate landing. These staircase lift chairs allow seniors to go up and down the stairs in their homes without having to take a step. Staircase lift chairs can prevent hip, back, ankle, knee, and head injuries by preventing falls down the stairs. 

2. Staircase Lift Chairs Allow Seniors to Age in Place

Many seniors are hesitant to sell their family homes. The places where families are raised and memories abound are hallowed grounds. Yet, many seniors feel they have no choice but to go from their larger multi-story dwellings to a single-story home because of concerns over mobility and safety.

Staircase lift chairs allow seniors to move about the different levels of their home safely and freely. Seniors can remain in the multi-level home where their memories are, if they so choose, without concerns over their safety navigating those levels. Seniors can safely remain in upstairs bedrooms instead of being forced to move to the ground floor due to accessibility. They can continue to access basement washrooms and living spaces. If seniors wish to age in place in a multi-level home, staircase lift chairs can make that dream a reality.

3. Staircase Lift Chairs Are Versatile

Staircase lift chairs can be installed on any type of staircase. They can help the user who needs to go up one stair or dozens. They can be used inside or outside.

There are staircase lift chairs to meet every need and they can be adapted to almost every architectural design. No one should be forced to sell their home because of the size or number of staircases within it.

4. Staircase Lift Chairs Are Safe

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, falls are the number one cause of injury and death among seniors. Stairs can create a serious fall hazard. Staircase lift chairs can prevent many of those falls.

While every model of the staircase lift chair is different, they are made with the safety of the user in mind. They have restraints to prevent falls and battery backups to prevent being stranded during power outages. When properly installed and appropriately used, staircase lift chairs save seniors’ lives.

5. Staircase Lift Chairs Are Affordable

The cost of a staircase lift chair depends on many factors such as the length and design of the stairway. There are a number of grants, waivers, and financing assistance that can help with the costs of installing a staircase lift chair. In some cases, a staircase lift chair may be tax-deductible. For questions and criteria be sure to consult a tax professional about such deductions.

Even without financial assistance, staircase lift chairs are a smart investment.

Many seniors who are thinking about adding a staircase lift chair to their homes fail to consider the costs of the alternative. The medical costs associated with injuries from falls, nursing home costs, and home health aide costs are many times greater than the cost of a staircase lift chair. 

Staircase lift chairs allow many seniors to age in place in the homes they love. Staircase lift chairs can be installed in almost every home and on almost any budget.

If you live in Massachusetts, Connecticut, or Rhode Island and would like more information on staircase lift chairs call (508) 802-4259 to speak to an expert at Lift and Care Systems.