| |
| |
|
Elder Care Information |
|
|
|
Stair Lift Buying Guide
There is no doubt that having a stair lift in your home can dramatically improve your quality of life. If you are starting to find that climbing the stairs is becoming a hazardous experience, or just hard work, then a stair lift could be the answer. Another solution could be to move to a single storey residence. However, this can be expensive and stressful, and many people are reluctant to leave a house that they have spent many years turning into a home. Once you start considering the possibility of having a stair lift, you begin to delve into what can be a highly technical area. However sure you are of what you want, I strongly recommend that you take professional advice from someone with experience in this field. In most areas, informed advice is available from community occupational therapists (OT's). You will also need to make contact with a company who specialises in installing stair lifts. I would advise that you contact at least 3 companies because there can be a huge difference in price and quality. Unfortunately, as the populations average age increases, more and more unscrupulous traders have entered the market and you need to make sure that you are not being ripped off. If possible visit a demonstration centre and try a stair lift yourself. A stair lift is not the answer for everyone. For example, if you are confined to a wheelchair, then a lift that goes through the floor would probably be the best option. The technology involved in stair lifts has improved dramatically in recent years. A stair lift can be installed on 99% of stair cases these days. But remember, not all stair lift companies are equal, some are using technology that is several years old. My advice is to research as many products as you can and to get as many quotations as you can. Knowledge is power after all, and with a few sensible precautions before purchase, you can ensure that you buy the right lift for your needs for the right price. Remember : Always get more than one quote and make sure that the products are 'like for like' Try a manufacturer and a local supplier to get a price comparison. Ask your local authority or Occupational Therapist who they prefer to use. If possible have another family member or an O/T present. Ask about maintenance costs, will they still look after your lift even if you don't sign up to an expensive contract? A reputable company will service your lift regardless. Are the company approved suppliers? If not, they will struggle to obtain spare parts and their engineers will not be trained by the manufacturer. An independent supplier can tell you about a range of different stair lifts without bias to one manufacturer. Exercise caution if the salesman is pushing you to buy that day. Many salesmen start with a high price and discount to close a sale. A reputable company will quote the best price from the start. If possible try a lift out in a Disabled Living Centre showroom. A stair lift is not suitable for everyone. Do as much research as possible, there are many companies in this industry who sell at highly inflated prices. Christian Dunnage is a director of Dolphin Mobility Ltd, a UK based independent supplier of stair lifts and mobility products http://www.dolphinlifts.co.uk and author of http://www.stairlift.co.uk an impartial online guide to having a stair lift in your home.
MORE RESOURCES:
Elder-Care - Google News |
|
|
|
RELATED ARTICLES
Why Everyone Over 50 Should be Training for the Senior Games by Phil Campbell, M.S. Senior Care for Alzheimer's As a person ages, a certain amount of memory loss and confusion is quite normal. Personally, I've been known to invoke the clich, "The older I get, the better I was!" Unfortunately, Alzheimer's disease represents a more serious loss of mental sharpness and calls for special care for seniors. Just Give Them a Lot of Love and You'll be Fine It was right about this time, 19 years ago. My wife and I were sitting in the very last Lamaze birthing class, soon to be brand new parents. Paying For Elder Care Just Got Easier It's not a surprise that thousands of families across the nation are facing the challlenges of an aging population. The "sandwich" generation, those who are caring for their children as well as their parents, have been feeling the financial pinch of caring for loved ones. Introducing the Best Available Long Term Care Policy Guarantee If you're 60 to 70 years old .. Arizona Senior Housing: Care Options for Seniors Who Can No Longer Live Alone The following are a few of the care options available for seniors who can no longer live on their own and require assistance with their Activities of Daily Living (ADL), or require skilled nursing care. Every state is a little different in terms of availability and cost, state regulations, and the specific names used for each care option:Assisted Living Home- A facility consisting of 10 or fewer residents in a private home setting located in residential neighborhoods. The Golden Years 1) What does Adrian Mitchell say we do to people when their working lives are over?Adrian says that "when a man's too ill to work we punish him", rob him of half his income or replace it with "pocket money" and or place him in a retirement home to sit out the remainder of his live in isolation.2) What does he think about this?Adrian thinks that "the old people are being robbed" and says "to hell with retiring" he believes that the way that deal with old people (to have your ability to sport yourself removed and then being given "pocket money"). The Right Wheelchair Accessories Will Ease Your Life and Your Journeys on Wheels Wheelchairs come in every shape and size with sufficient options that you can find the wheels you like to take you where you want to go with the assistance you need. To enhance the comfort and convenience of your journey, choose accessories tailored to provide the best support for your activities and your health concerns. Alzheimers Care Giving While Maintaining Your Own Health Just for a moment I want you to imagine that you are coming out of a very deep sleep. If you have ever had surgery try to remember the way you felt as you were trying to make sense of things as you awoke. Baby Boomers: Will They Be Able to Afford Their Parents? Do you worry about whether your aging parents have their "affairs in order?" You should. After all, you're the one who will have to pay unnecessary taxes and endure time-consuming court procedures if your parents don't have an effective estate plan. Caring for Aging Relatives It happens somewhat slowly in the beginning, maybe with a small cough that gets worse as time goes on. It might simply begin with absent mindedness which is totally out of character, followed by total memory lapses. Nursing Home Staffing Levels: How Much Is Enough? During the week of February 17, 2002, headlines screamed the news - more than 92% of US nursing homes fail to have an adequate number of staff to provide quality care for elderly residents. Newspapers and radio programs based their stories on the new study the Health Care Financing Administration (HCFA) recently provided to the Senate's Special Committee on Aging. Hinged Rail Stair Lifts If a door at the top or the bottom of the stairs may be blocked by the rail of the stairlift, there are a number of models designed to overcome this problem. Some manufacturers are able to produce a rail with reduced overhang upstairs, so the lift will not protrude as far into the hallway. Stairlifts - Take the Struggle Out of Climbing the Stairs Buying a stairlift can have huge benefits for your quality of life, giving you back some freedom and independence. Stairlifts can be adapted to your individual needs, so no matter what your requirements are, there'll be one to suit you. When the Box is Empty The King had a modest kingdom. He was Danish. Stair Lifts - Straight and Curved Rails There are two types of stairlift. Straight and curved. Mom Wont Participate! Q: Six months ago we placed my mother in an assisted living facility. She gets along fairly well, but we thought she would get involved with all of the activities. Review of the Changing Protein Requirements for Seniors Youth, it is said, is wasted on the young. Too busy figuring life they hardly take the time to enjoy it. Arizona Assisted Living: Resident Rights According to the Arizona Administrative Code (R9-10-710), those who reside in assisted living facilities in Arizona have certain rights. In addition to having the right to live in an environment that promotes dignity, independence, self-determination, individuality, privacy and the right of choice, the following are a few of the rights given to residents who reside in assisted living facilities:1. Feeling Lonely? Q: I hate Alzheimer's disease, not only has it robbed me of my husband, but it has taken my life too! I feel like all of my friends have disappeared. I am lonely, and that makes me feel guilty.
|
| home | site map |
| © 2006 |
