There are an estimated 3.3 million wheelchair users in the United States. As a result of increased awareness and new legislation, more and more travel destinations are seizing the opportunity to change their thinking about accessibility tourism. Instead of treating it as something that must be managed separately, more destinations now consider accessibility as mainstream. Along with mints on pillows and individually wrapped soaps, travelers will often also find wheelchair ramps and LU/LA elevators in many hotels.
The installation of a stair lift provides a safe and easy way for people with limited mobility to navigate between the floor levels of their home. The process of purchasing a stair lift is often a smooth one as stair lifts safely fit on most staircases. However, there are times when the extended rail of the lift at the bottom of the stairs presents an issue or two that needs to be addressed before installation.
One of the most common is that the bottom of the staircase ends in an area that receives a lot of foot traffic on a daily basis. Straight stair lift rails must stick out at least 16 inches past the bottom step, which can lead to the rail becoming an obstruction, and in some cases, a tripping hazard. Another potential issue is when there is a door at the bottom of the stairs. This is common when the lift is installed on a staircase that leads down to a basement.
Holiday lighting, decorations, trees and more help to put everyone in the holiday mood. All of these things help set a cheerful holiday atmosphere, but they also pose hidden dangers. These tips can help you keep your family and home safe.
If the stairs at home are becoming difficult to manage due to limited mobility or significant injury, a stair lift may be the perfect solution. However, because there are so many different available models and options to choose from, the research process can be pretty overwhelming. Many people don't know where to start and are often unaware of the factors that are most important when choosing a lift.
In this post, we have compiled 7 tips that will simplify the process and make it easier to choose whether or not a stair lift is the best solution for yourself or a family member.
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!
Knee and joint issues were causing pain whenever our client used the stairs to navigate between the floor levels of his home. It was becoming so bothersome and painful that he started looking at options to address the issue.
He had the option of staying in the home he loved by having safety/mobility equipment installed to make maneuvering around his home easier, or he could move to a retirement facility.
Lifeway often does a great deal of work to protect our families from dangers both inside and outside of our homes. However, we sometimes overlook one of the best ways to look out for our family – by examining the invisible risks around our home.
But how can you reduce your risk for dangers you can’t see? A great place to start is by addressing common household issues such as contaminants, media access, and emergency preparedness.
In this third article of our three-part series, we explore ways to protect your family with tips for reducing invisible risks around your home.
