When a family member experiences a change in mobility, a wheelchair ramp can be a great option for helping them get in and out of the house. Aluminum wheelchair ramps are simpler, more convenient, and less expensive than many other types of wheelchair ramps or alternative solutions, and they can be used by everyone regardless of mobility level. Simply do an online search for “where can I buy a wheelchair ramp,” and you’ll find that you can even have one shipped to your home within just a few days—but is this option can often be too good to be true.
If you’ve been wondering whether you’ll be able to age in place in your current home, you’ve probably realized that many homes have one obstacle in common: stairs. As we age, we naturally lose muscle strength and balance, which can make it more challenging to climb stairs. Seniors with decreased mobility may eventually begin avoiding stairs, cutting them off from key areas of their homes. Luckily, if you plan for this stage of life ahead of time, you have several better options to consider, such as making your own home more accessible with stair lifts, wheelchair ramps, and other modifications or downsizing to a single-level home.
Outdoor wheelchair lifts, which are also commonly known as vertical platform lifts or porch lifts, provide a safe, accessible way to enter/exit a home, school, church, or other building.
During the winter months, these types of lifts can be difficult to access after a snow or ice storm. However, there are several ways to ensure a wheelchair lift is still accessible throughout the winter season. In this post we share tips to help you winterize a wheelchair lift.
Aluminum wheelchair ramps offer a quick & easy way to make a home accessible. These types of ramps can be used and installed year-round, with proper care & maintenance during winter weather months. If you’re in need of wheelchair ramp, there’s no need to wait for spring to have one installed!
Key Takeaways:
Clear snow & ice - Keep the ramping, platform, and nearby pathways clear of snow and ice to ensure safe use of the ramp
Use materials safe for aluminum - Use equipment (i.e. plastic shovel rather than metal) and salt that is safe to use on aluminum surfaces to prevent any damage to your ramp
Winter ramp installations are possible as aluminum wheelchair ramps can be safely installed year-round and are designed to resist rust an corrosion, which is perfect for areas with harsh winters.
“It’s the most wonderful time of the year!” The holiday season is officially here, bringing lots of joy and cheer to families and friends gathering for holiday events and parties
If you are a veteran, we would first like to say thank you for your service. You put your life on the line to protect our freedom and keep us safe in our home country.
Creating an accessible home and outdoor space is vital to ensure you, your family, and your friends can enjoy it for years to come. Thanks to the Americans with Disabilities Act, there are now more resources than ever for modifications to make living in comfort accessible for everyone.
As we age, our home may not be as easy to navigate as it was years ago. Getting up and down a set of stairs may be a chore because of decline in mobility or weaker muscles. The risk of slipping and falling in the bathroom may be much higher, especially if there are no grab bars in the bathtub/shower, or near the toilet.
An option for older adults that are having a difficult time getting around at home is a senior/assisted living facility. However, these types of facilities do not offer the familiarity and comfort that a home does. A home is full of memories from holidays and gatherings with family and lifelong friends.
A basic aluminum modular wheelchair ramp system typically consists of a platform(s), ramping and graspable handrails. However, depending on the mobility needs of the person in need of the wheelchair ramp, and home setting, there may be upgrade options that need to be considered to ensure safe easy access for everyone.
You don't need to use your legs to develop a green thumb. With a few accommodations and modifications, you can do anything on four wheels that others do on two feet. This includes gardening, a therapeutic and stress-relieving hobby. With a few design changes, gardening from a wheelchair can be a fruitful endeavor.
One common way to make a home accessible for those with disabilities or limited mobility is by overcoming the steps at the garage entrance. Steps are an accessibility barrier that are typically made of concrete or wood, and railings are not always installed. The construction of the stairs may also be low-quality in some cases, which can pose injury risks from slips and falls. Here are the top 5 solutions to help make a home’s garage safe and accessible.
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.
Before recommending a Hoyer lift for patient/client transfers, it’s important to fully understand the challenges of using this type of equipment, and more importantly, why an overhead ceiling lift is often a better solution.
For some seniors, the stairs can become too difficult to navigate due to limited mobility, weakened muscles, and lack of stability. As a result, navigating a staircase at home becomes a daily chore and may eventually be avoided. When the stairs become a challenge, many seniors may consider downsizing to a single-level home or moving into a retirement living facility. However, both of these options can become very costly.
Our home accessibility experts are invited into our client’s homes and into our local communities to evaluate for home accessibility solutions, such as stair lifts or wheelchair ramps or lifts. During our evaluations, we often encounter modifications that were done by another company or DIYs that do not meet ADA requirements, or are unsafe.
Watch the Lifeway Mobility "Happy Holidays" Video:
Best wishes for a happy holiday season, and joyful new year, from all of us at Lifeway Mobility!
Thank you to our referral sources and partners for your trust and support this past year. It's an honor to work together to provide home accessibility solutions that improve quality of life, independence, and safety at home.
We look forward to working with you in 2024 and helping more families remain safe and independent in the home they love!
A question that comes up in many stair lift conversations is, “Does Medicare cover stairlifts?”. Unfortunately, the short & quick answer is no, Medicare does not cover the installation of a stairlift.
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.
People diagnosed with cancer often require additional safety precautions to ensure that any health-related problems do not occur. Day-to-day activities that can be taken for granted will become harder. Simple things like cooking, cleaning, and even walking up the stairs may become strenuous, and even dangerous.
Falls are a hazard that the elderly and people with mobility issues face every day – and the majority of falls happen in the bathroom. In fact, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has declared the bathroom the most dangerous room in the house for older adults.
Independent living can be difficult to achieve if your home isn’t ready for it. A newfound lack of mobility may prevent you from doing everyday tasks as you used to. Creating systems for different parts of your home can help you remain self-sufficient. Whether it be living with a disability or aging in place, there are many ways to achieve an independent living situation.
Zero step entry or wheelchair ramps can make your home or building accessible and be a beautiful addition. However, there are many common mistakes and costly errors that you can prevent by continuing to read this resource.
A ceiling lift can be a great alternative to an accessible bathroom remodel when budget is limited. Any sort of bathroom remodeling involves permits, construction, and can cost tens of thousands of dollars.
