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Frequently Asked Questions

Does Health Insurance Cover Stair Lifts?

Elite Indoor Straight SRE 2010 lady2 showing turned seat

If you’re in the market for a stair lift, you may be wondering if your health insurance or Medicare coverage will pay the cost. Unfortunately, standard health insurance policies and Medicare will not typically cover the purchase or installation of a stair lift, even with a doctor’s order.

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by John Burfield  | 

Winter Maintenance Tips for Wheelchair Ramps

aluminum wheelchair ramp installed with snow on ground in MA

  If you’re in need of wheelchair ramp, there’s no need to wait for spring to have one installed. In fact, modular aluminum wheelchair ramps can be installed all year round. Unlike wooden ramps, aluminum wheelchair ramps do not require concrete footers to be poured. Their adjustable legs sit securely on large foot plates that provide a substantial base and sit on top of the surface. This means that they can be installed even when the ground is frozen.

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by Eric Rubel  | 

Will a Stair Lift Damage My Walls?

Lifeway technician servicing stairlift after installation in customers home

While some may worry that a stairlift installation could damage the walls or floor in their home, that is a myth, and simply not true.  Professional installation of a stairlift will not damage the walls in a home as they are simply installed onto the stair treads.  

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by Lifeway Mobility Technician   | 

What To Do with Used Medical Equipment

Bruno Elan at bottom landing of staircase

We get several inquiries from people asking what they should do with their used medical equipment when they no longer need it. In this post, we will share some suggestions and options on what to do with your used medical equipment. If you have an accessibility solution, such as a stair lift or aluminum wheelchair ramp that you'd like to ret rid of, one of our locations at Lifeway Mobility may be interested in purchasing it, depending on the year and condition of the equipment.   If you are looking to purchase used stair lift or used wheelchair ramp, please contact us to learn more or set up a free consultation. Option 1: Donate Your Used Medical Equipment to a Charitable Organization Donating your gently used medical equipment is a great option. With a donation, you won’t receive any money back for your device, but you will get a receipt that can be used for tax deductions. Donations allow you to collect a receipt for the current value of the equipment, which can often times be more than you would get by doing a private sale. And, perhaps the most rewarding part of donating your equipment is that it will go to help another family in need. Many of the organizations below have “equipment closets” that they loan from to help other families for both short and long-term assistance. For example, someone with ALS will have ongoing and changing needs. They might use a manual wheelchair at first, but eventually need a power wheelchair; once they reach the end-stages of the disease, they will not need a wheelchair at all.  ALS Foundation Assistance League (Hospital Lending Equipment) Good Health Will Home Builder’s Foundation Kids Mobility Network Local Lending Closets MS Society Project Cure Vietnam Veterans of America Option 2: Resell Your Used Medical Equipment If you bought your equipment from elsewhere or have other types of durable medical equipment, your best bet at recouping some of the expenses is to sell it online. Most companies similar buy back policies on this type of equipment as there can be a high level of liability with re-selling used medical equipment due to the health and safety risks involved. For this reason, you are encouraged to give careful consideration when buying certain types of used medical equipment, especially from a private seller. Craigslist Facebook Marketplace NextDoor

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by Eric Rubel  | 

7 Stair Lift Myths Debunked

woman standing up from Bruno Elite curved stairlift installed by Lifeway Mobility

As a trusted stair lift provider for 30+ years, we have heard several stair lift "beliefs" that in reality are not true. In this blog post, we debunk the 7 common myths that people have about stair lifts so that you can know the real facts.

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by Eric Rubel  | 

StairBusters joins Lifeway Mobility

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Lifeway Mobility is pleased to announce that it has invested in the assets of Accessible Home Automations, LLC, doing business as Stairbusters.com, which has been a leading provider of accessibility solutions for people with mobility challenges throughout Western Pennsylvania for over 20 years.

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by Eric Rubel  | 

Gamburd Joins Lifeway Mobility

Gamburd logo for PR on Lifeway website

Lifeway Mobility is pleased to announce that it has invested in Gamburd, Inc., which has been a leading provider of accessibility solutions for people with limited mobility throughout California for over 18 years.

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by Eric Rubel  | 

EHLS Transitions Brand Name to Lifeway Mobility Chicago

lifeway EHLS logo COLOR

December 1st, 2020 EHLS, a Lifeway Mobility Company, has been proudly serving the Chicagoland area for the past 28 years. In 2018, we joined Lifeway Mobility and today we are taking the next step by fully changing our name to Lifeway Mobility Chicago.

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by Eric Rubel  | 

Can a Stair Lift be Installed in a Condo?

stair lift installed in Calvalry church in Chicago Illinois

A stair lift can be very useful to those who need assistance with navigating a staircase due to limited mobility or balance issues. While these types of lifts are most often installed inside and outside of homes, there are other buildings where they can be accommodating.

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by Eric Rubel  | 

Lifeway Mobility Prepares to "Run Marathon"

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After reading the title of this blog post, you may be thinking "what marathon is Lifeway preparing for? Aren't all large gatherings cancelled?". While we're not preparing to run an actual 26.2 mile marathon, we do believe we're prepared to navigate  through this COVID-19 crisis period, which we as a team are relating to a marathon.

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by Eric Rubel  | 

Frequently Asked Questions After a Stair Lift Installation

EHLS Tech Installs Stairlift in Barrington Home

If you just had your stair lift installed, but still have a couple of questions in regards to service or maintenance on the lift, you've come to the right place. This post lists a number of commonly asked questions that we receive from stair lift customers after installation.

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by Eric Rubel  | 

What Are the Different Types of In-Home Care?

HomeCare

For people who are aging in place or need help with mobility or medical issues at home, in-home care from a qualified provider can enable them to live at home more safely and independently. Professional caregivers can provide different types and levels of care on either a short-term or long-term basis, including: Companionship and conversation Transportation to appointments or errands Assistance with safely managing tasks around the house Help with daily activities such as dressing and bathing Nursing and medical care But how do you know what type of care you need, and what type of caregiver can provide it? Here are the types of in-home caregivers you might experience, from the lowest level of care to the highest.

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by Eric Rubel  | 

Stair Lifts vs. Home Elevators - Which is Best for Me?

stairlift vs  home elevator which is best for me

If the stairs start to become too difficult to manage at home, there are usually two options that people can consider to solve the problem. The first option is to remain at home (with modifications), and the other is to move to a senior living or assisted living facility. Both are feasible options, but many prefer to remain in their home because it prevents the stress of having to move again, and makes it possible to remain in the place that has so many positive emotional ties. A home is a place of comfort as it is where most people build lasting memories with family and friends, whether it be from holidays parties, or social gatherings with friends.

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by Eric Rubel  | 

Why You Should Avoid Buying a Stair Lift Online

Why You Should Avoid Buying a Stair Lift Online

Awhile back I was curious about stair lifts, stair chair lifts, and your basic accessibility solutions on the market. With the increased interest of aging in place, I wanted to see what the fuss was all about. So I conducted a little experiment.

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Posted 8/8/2019

Which is the Best Stair Lift to Buy?

Elite Indoor Straight SRE 2010 lady2 riding elite

If you’ve been thinking about buying or renting a stair lift, you’re probably wondering which model is the best one to buy. Ranking any type of product can be subjective and if you ask 100 people, you’re likely to get many different answers. However, when you compare several makes and models of popular stair lifts side by side, it’s not too hard to see which ones rank better than others.  

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by John Burfield  | 

What is an Occupational Therapist and What Do They Do?

ot month2 1

Since April is Occupational Therapy Month, it’s a good time to reflect on how occupational therapists help improve the quality of life for millions of people around the world each year. Despite the important services they provide, many people don’t understand what an occupational therapist (OT) does. An OT is a licensed health and rehabilitation professional that works with people of all ages with mental, physical, developmental, social or emotional problems to develop, recover, or maintain daily living and work skills.

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by John Burfield  | 

Which Curved Stair Lift is Best for Me?

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A curved rail stair lift requires a track that is curved to fit the shape of your staircase. There are several different types of curved rail. When buying a curved stair lift, it is important to consider the pros and cons of each type of track.

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by John Burfield  | 

How Much Electricity Does a Stair Lift Use?

stair lift installation no damage to walls

After you have a stair lift installed, you won’t notice any significant changes to your home’s electric bill. A stair lift is energy efficient and uses approximately .024 kWh of electricity and should cost less than $15 per year.

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by Lifeway Mobility Technician   | 

How Much Does a Stair Lift Cost?

Elite IndoorStraight

A question that we frequently get asked is “How much does a stair lift cost?”. There are several factors that determine the price of a stair lift, including which make and model of stair lift you choose and whether your stairway is straight or curved. Other factors include whether you are purchasing a brand-new unit, a used unit or renting a stair lift.

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by John Burfield  | 

What is a Hydrotherapy Air Spa Bathtub?

Rane

With the therapeutic benefits of warm water therapy gaining notoriety, you may be in the market for a new soaking or walk-in bathtub. If this is the case, you might have seen an option called a hydrotherapy air tub. While many people are familiar with tubs outfitted with whirlpool jets, commonly called a Jacuzzi tub, an air tub is a newer concept.

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by John Burfield  | 

Walk-in Bathtubs: Did You Know...?

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Walk-in bathtubs have long been known as an accessible bathing solution for people with limited mobility. But did you know that recent studies have also highlighted the therapeutic benefits of walk-in tubs? A walk-in tub can help people with a variety of conditions, including:

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by John Burfield  | 

What Are The Therapeutic Benefits of Walk-in Bathtub?

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As we age, getting in and out of a bathtub can become a difficult task that can put us at risk of injury. For those that enjoy a warm bath after a long day but have trouble lowering themselves into a standard bathtub, a walk-in tub might be the perfect solution. A walk-in bathtub features a water-tight door that swings either in or out, and a built-in seat that allows you to bathe in a seated position. This means you can avoid lowering yourself into a traditional bathtub.

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by John Burfield  | 

How Can I Afford to Make My Home Accessible?

Many people are surprised to learn common home accessibility modifications such as stair lifts, ramps, and barrier-free showers are not usually covered by most standard health insurance policies or Medicare. It stands to reason that equipment that makes living at home safer for people with limited mobility due to injury, illness, or aging would be covered by these funding sources. Unlike standard medical equipment such as a wheelchair or commode, accessibility equipment is typically installed and attached to the structure of the home, making it ineligible for insurance or Medicare coverage under current standards.

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by John Burfield  | 

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