Find Out How to Tell if a Staircase is Safe By Sean Noughtly At Isnare.com Ezine Articles

It is very important for people of all ages to be careful when they use the stairs, but being careful on the stairs is exceedingly important for those over the age of sixty-five. This is because in this age group, falls are much more common and when they do happen, the risk of a serious injury is very important.

Seniors have difficulty using the stairs for many reasons. Many times it is not just one thing, but instead several factors combined that put this age group at higher risk. Diseases such as arthritis can make bending the knee dangerous, when combined with a cognitive disorder like Alzheimer's, the risk is greatly increased.

The physical health of the senior is not the only factor that increases accidents on the stairs. Often times the actual condition of the staircase can increase the risk of having an accident. A loose carpet, improperly secured handrail, or uneven steps are all things that can make using the stairs much more dangerous to a senior.

One way to address the risk of the stairs is simply to avoid using them, but for many this isn't really very practical. While possible, not using the upstairs part of your home is not really realistic. Instead, many choose to install a stair lift onto the staircase. This increases safety by carrying a senior or other person, up the stairs. This way, instead of walking up the stairs, the senior can simply sit safely in a chair as they are moved up or down the stairs.

Stair lifts are controlled by a simple switch or hand control that is attached to the chair. A constant pressure switch ensures that if anything happens and the occupant lets go of the switch, the stair lift will stop moving. Usually most stair lifts also come with at least two wireless remotes, which can be mounted at the top and bottom of the stairs to serve as call buttons for the stair lift. These can also be used by caretakers to move the lift.

The weight that a stair lift supports can vary. Most support over three hundred pounds and some support over six hundred pounds. Often the weight of the occupant can affect how long the stair lift can travel, so knowing the occupant's weight is important. You should also have an idea of how long the staircase is and how wide it is. Before completing the order, you will need much more exact measurements, but simply having a good estimate of the stairs length and width is usually sufficient for determining if a lift will work in your home.

Preventing falls on the stairs is a very important task for seniors and those caring for them. Accidents can happen anywhere, but in the homes the stairs are the most common place of accidents and the most common place to cause serious injury. By installing a stair lift, you can reduce much of the risk of a fall and allow full usage of the home. This eliminates the need of having to hire someone to help or just not using the stairs.

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