Preventing Falls During the Holiday Season - Stair Lifts, Wheelchair Ramps & More!
Posted on by Eric Rubel
“It’s the most wonderful time of the year!”
The holiday season is here, bringing joy and cheer as families and friends gather for holiday events and parties. You'll likely get to see family members you haven’t seen for months, and for elderly relatives, that means you may notice new changes in mobility.
If you have an elderly relative with mobility challenges or a recent loss of strength or balance, this is the perfect time to ask how they’re doing, and to pay attention to any potential challenges they may be having as they navigate around the house. Falls are a leading cause of death and disability among the elderly, with CDC data showing that more than a third of people aged 65+ experience a serious fall each year.
Whether you want to make your home more accessible for them or gift them an accessibility solution that will help keep them safe in the new year and beyond, this post will help you get started. We’ll identify the areas of a home that can be challenging or pose a fall risk for those with limited mobility, introduce potential solutions, and highlight some of the most common home accessibility solutions.
Table of Contents:
- Make the Stairs Safer & Easier Over the Holidays with a Stair Lift
- Improve Access to Home Entrances This Holiday Season
- Improve Safety in the Bathroom
- Other Ways to Improve “Visitability” for Family Members with Limited Mobility
- Rental Solutions for Short-Term Accessibility Needs
- Frequently Asked Questions
Make the Stairs Safer & Easier Over the Holidays with a Stair Lift
When a person’s balance, mobility, or strength has become limited, walking up or down a staircase can be very difficult and tiresome. Stairways are a common location for accidents, and those accidents can result in serious injuries. Whether it’s a staircase leading to bedrooms and bathrooms upstairs or to a laundry room in the basement, it is important to ensure a safe means for navigating the steps.
One of the most common ways to make a staircase safer and easier to navigate is with a stair lift. This simple and cost-effective solution can often be installed within just a day or two. For the holidays, when you might only need a stair lift for a month or two to accommodate visitors, renting a stairlift is a great option to consider.
Stair lifts are mounted to the stair treads, not the wall, and can be installed on almost any staircase, including straight staircases and ones with curves, turns, or landings, both indoors and outdoors. They are available with a wide range of features and options to enhance safety, depending on the user’s needs.
Lifeway Mobility, a leading provider of stair lifts & recognized as the "Best Stair Lift Dealer" by the NCOA, offers professional installation and service available as needed. We also have local showrooms at several locations nationwide, which provide the option to “test ride” a lift to get comfortable with the controls and ensure the best fit for your needs.
Improve Access to Home Entrances This Holiday Season
Whether it’s a front door, garage door, or patio door, there should always be a safe and easy way to get in and out of the house, regardless of one’s mobility. If you have steps leading up to your front door, check to make sure they are not loose or uneven. Is there adequate lighting or motion sensors? Is there a handrail for an elderly relative with balance issues?
Fortunately, there are several solutions to improve access to raised entryways, such as porches and decks, and for smaller barriers, such as a threshold. Below are a couple of options to consider.
Aluminum Wheelchair Ramps
An aluminum wheelchair ramp is one of the most common home access solutions for wheelchair and powerchair users. There are minimal modifications required, and you can have one professionally installed within days. Available in a variety of sizes and shapes and maintenance-free, an aluminum wheelchair ramp is one of the best options to consider. Aluminum modular ramps can also be customized to fit the outside layout of a home to ensure a safe entrance for the person in need and for visitors.
These types of wheelchair ramps are also weatherproof, making them a perfect solution in the winter for the colder climate regions, such as the Rocky Mountains, Midwest, Mid-Atlantic, & Southern New England, as well as for regions not quite as cold, such as the Southeast & Southwest. You can use ice melt on aluminum wheelchair ramps, but the only ingredient must be magnesium chloride. Other types of salt melts commonly put down on the ground in the winter cannot be used on aluminum because they will damage the surface. Pet safe ice melt is usually safe, but be sure to confirm the ingredients before using on a ramp.
Winter maintenance tips for aluminum wheelchair ramps
Wheelchair Lifts
A wheelchair lift, also known as a platform lift, is a great option for improving accessibility to a home for wheelchair and power chair users when space is limited. They provide a simple means of access and can help wheelchair and powerchair users to regain their independence at home.
These types of lifts are more permanent solutions when compared to wheelchair ramps and also have a much longer turnaround time than ramps, and cannot be rented.
Winterization tips for outdoor wheelchair lifts
Threshold Ramps
Smaller thresholds can make it difficult to access entryways for those who get around using a wheelchair, scooter, or walker. While it may be a minimal barrier, it still prevents the wheels of a wheelchair or walker from rolling over it with ease.
There are rubber and aluminum threshold ramps that can be easily added over the threshold to remove a barrier and improve safe access to your home.
"The most overlooked holiday hazard is the threshold at the front door. A simple rubber threshold ramp prevents tripping for less than $100." - Brian Cosker, CAPS
Improve Safety in the Bathroom
Wet floors and surfaces are common in the bathroom, which is one of the reasons it is the room in the home where most falls occur each year. Both the toilet and either the bath or shower can become difficult and unsafe for people with limited mobility and/or balance issues. There are several simple solutions to improve safety, such as a built-in grab bar or safety pole (not the ones with suction cups!) that can be installed within a day.
In addition, there are larger modifications, such as a full bathroom remodel, barrier-free showers, and walk-in tubs. All are long-term solutions that provide a safe and accessible way to bathe. Lifeway Mobility accessibility experts determine which of the two is going to be the better solution.
Other Ways to Improve Your Home “Visitability” for Family Members with Limited Mobility This Holiday Season
If loved ones with limited mobility will be visiting your home to visit for the holidays, it is important to make sure your it is safe and accessible. The term visitability refers to a home being designed or modified in a way so that relatives or others who use wheelchairs or walkers can safely visit. For those with limited mobility, even small obstructions can become a barrier to moving freely throughout the house.
In any home, fall prevention is critical. Below are some additional ways to keep relatives safe for a visit or temporary stay, and can help plan for when they return to their own home.
- Keep outdoor entrances clear and open, and salt and/or sand driveways and sidewalks throughout the winter
- Make sure your house number can be seen from the street so guests and emergency vehicles can easily find your home
- Have a grab bar or support pole added in the bathroom or anywhere else for better balance and stability
Rent an aluminum ramp or straight stair lift for easy and safe access to your home- Remove throw rugs, especially in the bathroom
- Keep stairways well-lit and clear of clutter, especially near the top and bottom landings
- Remove small items and tripping hazards, such as pet toys, from the floor in main hallways and living rooms
- Keep surfaces (floors, countertops, etc.) dry, especially in the bathroom
- Add night lights in the bedroom and bathroom for better visibility
Rental Stair Lifts & Ramps for Holiday Visits
A rental stair lift and/or ramp is a perfect option if family members visiting for a short period of time are unable to safely use the stairs or access a raised entryway. The stair lifts and ramps that we offer for rental are used units that are cleaned, inspected, and in good condition. Availability is subject to our local warehouse’s inventory.
Rental Stair Lifts
Rental stair lifts are only available for straight staircases and must be rented for a minimum of 2 months. Installation and removal are covered in the initial cost, and a monthly rental fee applies for both products. It also includes service provided by our own certified technicians if needed.
Rental Wheelchair Ramps
The rental wheelchair ramps that we offer are typically pre-owned aluminum modular units. They can be installed year-round and are maintenance-free.
Both solutions above are great for temporary living situations, such as holiday visits from out of town. If it turns out that the lift or ramp is needed for a much longer period (more than 6 months), a rent-to-own purchase option is available.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are some quick ways I can make my home accessible for a visitor with limited mobility?
To quickly make your home accessible, focus on creating clear pathways into and through the home. Start by rearranging furniture to create wide paths that can accommodate a wheelchair or walker. Then, remove throw rugs, secure cords for lamps and electronics, and clear away any other clutter that could be a tripping hazard. Ensure that these pathways have adequate lighting; add nightlights if needed.
If your guest will be staying for several days, consider making some small purchases to reduce slipping hazards in the bathroom. Inside the tub or shower, add a non-slip mat or even a shower chair to make bathing safer. Grab bars near the shower and toilet can also help your guest with difficult transfers in the bathroom.
What’s the best way to help a visitor with limited mobility get into my home?
The solution you need depends on what the entrance to your home is like. A small lip at the door can be easily crossed with the addition of an angled plate or mat known as a threshold ramp. If you have just a few steps, a portable ramp can be a great solution. However, more steps at the entryway will require a more robust solution, like an aluminum wheelchair ramp, outdoor wheelchair lift, or outdoor stair lift.
Can I rent a stair lift just for the holidays?
Yes. Lifeway Mobility offers monthly rentals of stair lifts with a minimum 2-month term. All rentals are subject to availability.
Can wheelchair ramps be rented for the holidays?
Yes. Aluminum wheelchair ramps from Lifeway Mobility can be rented for a minimum of 1-3 months (depending on location). Like stair lifts, all wheelchair ramp rentals are subject to availability.
How quickly can a wheelchair ramp be installed?
Aluminum modular ramps can typically be installed within 24-48 hours after a free home assessment with a Lifeway expert. In some locations, potentially the same day!
These solutions can go a long way in improving a relative’s independence and peace of mind during the holiday season and in the future. Please contact us to learn more about the accessibility solutions and tips that were covered in this post or to set up a free consultation.
We hope you and your family have a safe, happy, and healthy holiday season and a joyful new year!
Watch our Happy Holidays Video
Sources:
1. https://injepijournal.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/2197-1714-1-5
