In October 2017, EHLS / Lifeway Mobility Chicago finished the installation of a residential elevator at a beautiful new home in Lake Forest, Illinois. The new home that the elevator was installed is located on the property where the historic Villa Turicum was built back in 1912. The Villa Turicum was Edith Rockefeller McCormick's country estate. (See below for more information about the Villa Turicum.)
If you’re reading this, your stair lift may not be working properly, or you might be thinking about buying a stair lift and want to know what types of issues can occur. Fortunately, a properly installed and maintained lift is unlikely to cause you a problem. If you do have a problem with your lift, there is a series of troubleshooting tips that can solve some common stair lift issues without scheduling a service appointment.
If you have limited mobility and your home’s entryway has an elevated landing, step or threshold, you’d probably benefit from having an access ramp. Fortunately, there are many kinds of ramps that can help make your home accessible again. These include threshold ramps, portable folding suitcase ramps, solid surface one-piece ramps and aluminum modular ramps. How do you know which of these is right for your situation? Let’s take a closer look.
If you find yourself with a temporary mobility issue, and you are having difficulty entering or exiting your home, it may be a good idea to rent a wheelchair ramp. That’s right, aluminum modular wheelchair ramps are often available for short-term rental.
Vision loss occurs gradually as we age. The American Academy of Family Physicians reports that the leading cause of vision loss is Cataracts. Cataracts affect half of the individuals who are 75 years or older. More accidents happen inside the home than anywhere else, even for individuals who are not blind or otherwise visually impaired. Consequently, it’s imperative that everyone develops and maintains strong safety habits in and around the home. For those who are starting to experience vision loss, this is especially true.
Some people may think of a stair lift as a permanent solution for somebody that will never be able to climb the stairs on their own again. This is a misconception. Many stair lift providers offer rental and lease to own units for those with temporary mobility issues.
For many people with limited mobility, adding a stair lift to their home can be a life-changing event. They no longer need to worry about the challenge of climbing the stairs and the impact it had on their daily lives. It can also alleviate a lot of worry about how they were going to keep living independently in the house they love.
Often when we think of a stair lift, we envision it inside someone’s home allowing them to access multiple stories of their house. But for many, accessing an outdoor space, such as a garden or lake, is just as important as getting up to a bedroom or bathroom on a second floor. Fortunately, there are stair lifts that are manufactured specifically to withstand harsh outdoor elements.
More than 3 million Americans use a wheelchair and over 10 million use some other form of walking aid, according to statistics. If you have limited mobility and require the use of a mobility aid such as a wheelchair, scooter, or walker, you’d likely benefit from having a ramp or vertical platform wheelchair lift (VPL) installed in your home.
April is National Occupational Therapy Month. This month is all about increasing awareness about all the benefits of Occupational Therapy, as well as the professionals who provide it. Occupational therapists work with individuals from age newborn through adult, which is why there are so many misperceptions concerning OT and also explains why people are not sure what exactly occupational therapy is.
Seventy-five years ago, it was very common for families in America to house several generations under one roof. It was typical for Dad to be the breadwinner, Mom to be the homemaker, and the children to be surrounded by an aunt, grandparent, or even great-grandparent.
While it seems new applications that are designed to make daily tasks such as tracking diet and exercise, finding a parking space, or checking out in the grocery store are released daily, technology intended to assist those with limited mobility has lagged behind.
If you have an aging loved one who lives on their own, you may be concerned about how they handle their activities of daily living (ADL). Tasks such as eating, bathing, toileting, dressing and transferring are essential to independent living. If your loved one is having trouble with these activities, it may be time to consider in-home care to assist with these functions. Knowing what signs to look for can help determine if home care is necessary.
If you use a mobility device such as a walker or a cane to help you stand from a seated position, you probably know that this can be a tricky maneuver that often requires assistance from another person. It may also be a safety concern. Fortunately, there are a series of affordable safety pole systems that can assist with the sit-to-stand motion for those with limited mobility.
According to a survey completed by HomeAdvisor, sixty-five percent of homeowners who are over the age of 55 say the physical layout of their home will be appropriate as they age. However, approximately two-thirds of those living in rural or suburban homes are more apt to believe this than those who live in urban homes (50 percent). Similarly, urban homeowners are more likely than rural and suburban homeowners to have completed or considered an aging-in-place renovation. Only 21 percent of rural or suburban homeowners have previously completed an aging-in-place renovation and 34 percent of them have never contemplated one, compared to the 31 percent and 15 percent, respectively, among homeowners in urban areas. Collectively, these data suggest a common belief that it’s easier to age in place in rural and suburban homes than in urban homes.
Though the majority of homeowners over age 55 (67 percent) think that as they age it could be helpful, only 19 percent say they have contemplated investing in smart-home technology for that reason. This is likely because technology is still often seen as a luxury convenience rather than a sensible necessity. In fact, homeowners who haven’t considered smart-home technology to assist them with aging in place say that the most common reasons are: that they either didn’t need or are not interested in such technology (45 percent), that it is too expensive to buy (29 percent) and that it’s too expensive to install (25 percent).
Approximately ⅔ of homeowners age 55 or older report that they feel they are proactive when it comes to making aging-in-place home modifications. Nearly 90% say that they are familiar with aging-in-place renovations, additions, or products. However, home modification professionals tell a different story. For example, over half of the experts that HomeAdvisor surveyed say that less than 10% of the projects that they are hired for are related to aging-in-place. Only about 20% of home modification professionals said that their clients reach out to them preemptively before they are in immediate need of aging-in-place renovations. Most specialists stated that the majority of homeowners in need of such modifications sought them out re-actively for a number of reasons.
This blog post will be the first of a four-part series posted throughout the month of February. Each one of the following articles that have a title starting with "Misconception" will address one of the most common misconceptions about aging in place, followed by the reality.
Changes in balance and mobility can become a problem as we age, and getting in and out of the tub can be especially hazardous. If stepping over the side of the bathtub is a safety concern for you, a tub cut may be the best solution.
Lifeway Mobility is pleased to announce the acquisition of Beyond Barriers Minneapolis, LLC, a Minnesota-based accessibility equipment and home modification provider. Founded in 1992, Beyond Barriers has served Minnesota and western Wisconsin for more than 25 years.
Our customer Doreen saw a TV commercial and bought an Acorn stair lift. She then came to Abilities Expo and saw our Bruno stair lift display and asked if she could try it.
The holiday season is normally the time of year when we gather with family and friends, especially those that we may not see too often. When we reside in the same living space every day, we tend to get used to how things are, overlooking accidents waiting to happen. Sometimes a small change is all it takes to keep family members safe. If you find problem areas in your loved one's home, consider contacting an experienced home access provider for an accessibility assessment. Many providers will offer them free of charge and will be able to provide the right solution to fit your needs and budget. Unsure where to start? Lifeway's checklist below is the perfect place to begin as it highlights potential problem areas and fall hazards in the home.
While commercial and residential vertical platform wheelchair lifts look similar, there are differences between the two that make commercial units suitable for use in schools, churches, theaters, restaurants, and other public buildings.
A common question among people shopping for a stair lift is, “Are they safe?”. Stair lifts that are installed properly by an experienced provider and used correctly are extremely safe. Quality manufacturers (like Bruno) go to great lengths to make sure their stair lifts meet rigorous safety standards.
Lifeway Mobility Offers Bruno's Folding Rail Options for Enhanced Safety Lifeway Mobility, a Diamond Bruno stair lift dealer, is excided to announce that Bruno's new folding rail can be added as an option for all of Bruno's straight rail stair lifts that we sell and install. The folding rail option can be a manual folding rail or a power folding rail that automatically folds upward once the rider and chair are safely clear. Features of the New Manual and Power Folding Rails: Electrical components are now inside of the rail, providing a clean look Low-profile, unobtrusive design Manual folding rail locks into position by itself for easy use A handle that makes it easy to move the folding rail up or down Do I Need to add a Folding Rail for my Stairlift? There may be a number of reasons why a manual or power folding rail may need to be added as an option for your stairlift. However, the three most common reasons why our experts would recommend folding rail to your Bruno stair lift are: There are family members or a caregiver living in your home, and the extended rail is going to be a tripping hazard when they are walking near the staircase The rail is an obstruction to a doorway The doorway or hallway at the bottom of the stairs is narrow Should I add a manual or power folding rail? The type of folding rail that you will need to add to your stair lift depends on your ability to bend down and fold/unfold the rail. If you have a difficult time bending down to pick something up from the floor, then a power-folding rail would be recommended. However, if you are capable of folding the rail up yourself, or if you have another person living with you that can fold it, then a manual folding rail is likely the better option. How does a manual folding rail work? With your foot or walking cane, push the locking lever that aligns the rail. After release, the lightweight rail folds up and out of the way easily with the assistance of a gas spring. If you would like more information on the new folding rail or would like a free stairlift consultation, please contact us. One of our accessibility experts will be glad to assist you!