Do you or a loved one have limited mobility, finding it difficult to travel up and down the stairs?
Perhaps you or a loved one are advanced in years, have a physical disability, or have suffered an injury.
Sadly, falls are the leading cause of fatal injuries and the most common cause of trauma-related hospital admissions among older adults. In fact, one in four Americans who are over the age of 65 will suffer a fall. Even more, every eleven seconds, an older adult is treated in the emergency room for a fall.
Is there any way you can prevent a fall from happening in your home?
Perhaps you’ve thought about purchasing a stair lift, but did you know there are stair lift alternatives available?
This article will explore all of your options to make moving around your home easier, safer, and more comfortable!
Stair Lift Alternatives to Regain Access to Your Home
1. Stair Lift
There are three types of stair lifts to accommodate various demands and floorplans.
Straight stair lifts are good options for people with straight staircases of any length. The chairs can swing out to make drop-off and pick-up easy and then fold away when not in use.
If you have a curved staircase, you will need a stair lift that curves with it. Curved stair lifts also work well for narrow stairways and areas with limited landing space.
Lightly used and reconditioned stair lifts can either come as straight or curved stair lifts. These options can be cheaper than purchasing a new stair lift altogether but may take longer to install.
Stair Lift Advantages
- Cost-effective and affordable
- Construction-free
- Increases independence in your home
- Reliable and practical
- Chairs fold away when not in use, allowing safe transportation around the staircase
- Customizable to fit your staircase and your needs
- Prevents accidents
- Provides peace of mind to family who may be worried about your ability to walk up and down the stairs
Stair Lift Disadvantages
- Straight stair lifts can cost between $2,500 and $5,500, though it is the least expensive option compared to other stair lift alternatives.
- Older homes with narrow stairways may be difficult to fit with a stair lift.
- Individuals using the stair lift engage in less physical activity. However, these individuals can find other ways to do physical activities if needed.
If you would like to purchase a stair lift, Arrow Lift is a trusted, family-owned business with over thirty-five years of experience selling straight, curved, and reconditioned stair lifts. We have a wide variety of top stair lift brands that you can check out in person at one of our nationwide locations. To learn more about your stair lift options, give Arrow Lift a call at 888-81-LIFTS (888-815-4387).
See: How much does a stair lift cost?
2. Home Elevator
First on our list of stair lift alternatives is a home elevator. These mobility solutions allow you to easily travel between floors. In fact, they can travel up to fifty feet vertically.
These installations are best for homeowners who are planning to remodel or planning a new home and have the space for a moderately sized elevator. Typical residential elevators can accommodate houses with up to four or five stories.
Home Elevator Advantages
- Luxury home feature
- Customizable options, such as interiors, doors, and more to match your design aesthetic
- Makes it easier to move to different stories in your home
Home Elevator Disadvantages
- Home elevators can often cost as much as $20,000 – $30,000+
- Installation involves major construction and in some cases, home remodeling
To get access to the best brands for your custom elevator, check out Arrow Lift’s elevator design options. We will also provide personal construction coordination, excellent craftsmanship, and flexible design options to ensure your residential elevator is top of the line. Contact Arrow Lift for more information!
See: Home elevator installation
3. Wheelchair Lift
There are more stair lift alternatives in store! Wheelchair platform lifts are for tight, low-rise spaces where full-size elevators are impractical. These lifts are good options for individuals who use wheelchairs or walkers to get around. Ultimately, the wheelchair lift can help transport you from different levels of your home.
While they do require some construction and perhaps some remodeling, the installation process is not as extensive as a residential elevator. At the same time, they involve more construction than a stair lift.
Wheelchair Lift Advantages
- Compact
- Perfect for tight and low-rise spaces
- Provides a safe transition for people in wheelchairs and those with limited mobility
- Uniquely customizable
- More affordable and economical than a full-size house elevator
Wheelchair Lift Disadvantages
- Is not ideal for transporting from one story to another
- Not all homes have the space to install a wheelchair lift
If you are interested in purchasing a wheelchair platform lift, Arrow Lift sells and installs completely customizable wheelchair lifts. Whether you need access to your porch, deck, or inside your garage, Arrow Lift can provide the perfect lift to suit your needs.
4. Relocate Your Room
Rather than installing a new system into your home, you also have the option of moving from your upstairs room to a downstairs bedroom. However, this option does not work for everyone.
For example, do you live alone? If so, moving into a downstairs bedroom might make it easier for you to get to your living room and kitchen. However, it does not solve the problem of helping get upstairs for other things, such as cleaning.
On the other hand, if you live with family members, perhaps they would like to sleep in the upstairs rooms while you sleep downstairs. This way, if you need access to anything upstairs, they can assist you.
Let’s discuss the pros and cons of relocating your room.
Relocation Advantages
- Moving the location of your bedroom means you won’t have to travel upstairs and risk injury.
- This is a good option for seniors living in a house with other family members.
Relocation Disadvantages
- May require remodeling your home to add a bedroom and/or bathroom to the downstairs area. Adding a bedroom or bathroom to a house can cost anywhere between $25,000 and $50,000, which is much more expensive than adding a stair lift and costs about the same as adding a home elevator.
- If you relocate your bedroom and you do not live with other family members, it may not be practical to move downstairs.
5. Move Into a Smaller Space
Perhaps you don’t want to add a stair lift, elevator, or wheelchair lift in your home, and it simply isn’t practical to move bedrooms. Your last option is to move into a one-story house or an assisted living home. This is a great way to simplify and make transportation around your home easier.
Downsize Advantages
- Moving into a one-story house allows you to have your own space without the hassle of stairs.
- Moving into a senior home means you will be taken care of, and you won’t have to worry about how you will get around.
Downsize Disadvantages
- Many individuals do not want to leave their homes, especially if they have lived there for many years or even their entire lives.
- The cost of 1-2 months in assisted living is typically more than a stair lift.
- The transaction fees of buying/selling a house can exceed the cost of a stairlift.
Choose the Stair Lift Alternative that Works for You!
In the end, whatever stair lift alternative you decide to implement into your home, these five suggestions will make moving around your house easier and safer.
If you are in the market for a stairlift, home elevator, or wheelchair lift, Arrow Lift is the best place to look.
Our family-owned company has been selling and providing professional installation of these transportation devices in homes and commercial buildings for over 35 years. We can help you find the product that works for you, rather than a one-size-fits-all solution. Arrow Lift believes in elevating excellence and has the largest selection of products in the stair lift and home elevator industry.
Not sure what you want to buy? No problem. Arrow Lift has showrooms located across the United States so you can see firsthand the different products available for purchase.
Would you like to learn more about which stair lift, home elevator, or wheelchair lift you should buy? Contact Arrow Lift today or visit one of our showrooms!
