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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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:
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.
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.
People with limited mobility can benefit from many different types of mobility aids and accessibility equipment. Mobility issues can be caused by injury, aging and illness or progressive diseases like arthritis. Products ranging from walkers and wheelchairs to ramps and vertical platform lifts can accomplish the same goals in different ways.
Television ads that you see for stair lifts often promise quick installation, sometimes the same day. While same-day installation can be a great service and is sometimes necessary due to a loved one being unable to climb the stairs after an injury or discharge from a hospital. However, when purchasing a stair lift, it makes sense to be sure that the unit you’re buying meets your needs and has the optional features that are important to you, instead of just looking for a quick installation.
A wheelchair ramp or outdoor stair lift can be an effective solution for someone that is unable to safely get in and out of their home due to limited mobility. However, depending on the space, mobility of the person and many other factors, there's usually one that makes more sense than the other.
In this post, we'll provide an overview of each product and help you understand when a stair lift or a ramp is going to be the best solution.
If you’re considering the purchase of a stair lift and have more than one staircase in your home, you may be wondering if you need more than one lift. It will likely come down to your budget and the need to access each stairway.
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.
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.
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.
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!
If you’re shopping for a stair lift, you may have seen them listed online at lower prices than you’ve been quoted by an experienced stair lift provider. Why? Because those lower online prices typically don’t include installation, warranties, or service after installation. Purchasing a lift online at a lower price may seem like a good way to save some money, but DIY installation is highly discouraged by all reputable stair lift manufacturers, such as Bruno. In fact, most of those dealers do not allow their lifts to be installed by anyone except their trusted dealers.
A question that customers often ask about stair lifts is whether it will get in the way. This concern is understandable since family and friends will likely need to use the stairs by foot still and will be walking around the home.
