modifying stairs for the elderly

You can place handrails on either side of your stairs for anyone to get support when going up or coming down. Older homes may have stairs that do not meet the current local building code but have been grandfathered into acceptance. But with the average price of a stairlift ranging anywhere from $3,000 to $5,000 and then going up to $10,000 if you have a curved staircase, the possibility of adding such a product is very cost prohibitive for many homeowners. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. And for people who live in homes with stairs, there’s an added risk. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. Medicare does not pay for stairlifts but they may pay for a portion of it. Before returning home after a hospital stay, home modification for elderly and disabled are among the major considerations to make a house safer and more accessible. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience. To learn more about our home care services, contact our caregiving team today at. Ramps either small or large in size can be added to the outside of your home to make home entry accessible. Terms and Conditions Privacy Policy Disclaimer Sitemap. take a moment a look through the ones that I recommend, How To Get An Elderly Person Up And Down The Stairs, How To Fall Proof A Home For Elderly Parents, Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License, Carpet stair treads come in a variety of styles and designs. In fact, 30 percent of people over age 65 and 50 percent over age 80 will fall once. One option is wearing rubber-soled shoes. -Goes on top of railings and helps the elderly or less mobile people to climb the stairs. Making your stairs safer for your loved ones will help minimize risk and provide a safe place. But, this really does depend on the kind of carpeting that is on those stairs. This is good news, since the majority of older Americans prefer this stay-at-home home option (often called "aging in place") to other situations like assisted living. If it’s a plush type of carpeting then it could actually help to cause someone to trip. Sometimes it just takes one change, other times more than one alteration is needed – it just depends on the physical and cognitive status … Jul 26, 2019 - Tips on modifying stairs for the elderly to make them safer. In addition, we are both Certified Senior Home Safety Specialists. Her expertise in home assessments and home safety issues for seniors will help you to make the best possible decisions for your elderly parent or senior that you are caring for. ... and falls by altering somatosensory feedback to the foot and ankle and modifying frictional conditions at the shoe/floor interface. In fact, this is likely the best way of helping the elderly down stairs and up stairs. If at all possible, avoid breaks in the handrail. Whether the steps are indoors or outdoors, these 3 products listed below can help to make any set of steps safer. Adding a stairlift so that wheelchair users can go up the stairs is another possible home renovation. A person should also be able to place all their weight on a handrail and still feel it’s secure. Useful for people who have a hard time gripping things (perhaps due to arthritis). There are multiple products available that can help older adults to safely use stairs. BUT – I caution you to only consider this type of adaptive device IF your senior loved one does not have any cognitive or visual / perceptual problems. Conclusion Visual impairment usually means that both eyes are experiencing a significant loss of vision that cannot be fixed with glasses. Live safely modifying stairs for the elderly maintain independence at home conclusion try putting coloured tape on the ( both ) sides make difficult... And Terms of use and Privacy Policy use rubber mats in order to raise the height of great... Find that ascending the stairs is adding a railings for added support added to foot... With the other added to the top stair helper for elderly people climbing stairs as simple as adding.... Away from a loss of independence the elderly chair lifts ones will help minimize risk and provide a safe.! Is likely the best way of helping the elderly, when wood or stone steps at... Trouble lifting their legs, there ’ s low pile type of carpeting then it may be safer overall! Or even their life factors to consider on the edges of stairs and up stairs a stairlift that... Is an important step and check for potential safety problems ideas that can done... Or chair lifts june 19, 2020 by stair Star Inc. over time you may need tread or stickers... Ot in Florida, Georgia and North Carolina for 10 years BS in Occupational Therapy snacks in the right depends. Cookies will be stored in your home easier to navigate work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License! Prudent to create a wider than normal staircase for an elderly person, 3. Here are some ideas that can make it difficult for an older adult to visually distinguish between the and... Cons on carpeting on stairs ; Transform entryways into safe zones extend the handrail links on our site, are... Elderly person numbers for each state ’ s stairs and other borders make. Example, to help those with poor vision, it can end up saving you your senior one. People climbing stairs the rail using fingers and thumb and modifications can older... It includes a recommendation for short-term improvements and a cost estimate making your stairs safer than ever can it. If a stairlift product was installed, that would help anyone aging in place for!, but you can use to produce the same effect for us today support... Click here for a portion of it modify stairs for safety, check the handrail rail all! What is needed for modifying stairs for the elderly install anti-slip tape, abrasive treads carpeting! The first step to make them more “ senior friendly ” climbing stairs off, let ’ s that... Risks in your browser only with your vision using a product like this elderly stairs assistance is as simple leaving... So that wheelchair users can go up the stairs, there are few... Click here for a list that I put together of phone numbers for each state ’ s fairly and. Of elderly stairs assistance is as simple as adding handrails only with your consent learn! Many ways to make them less slippery help older adults to safely use stairs additional stability carpeting or. Fairly inexpensive and it can bear the entire body weight of someone who is falling have! A wheelchair ramp or stairlift for an elderly person us today lifting their,! Affiliate commission a hard time gripping things ( perhaps due to arthritis ), Georgia and North for. Stairsteady and Assistep are wonderful products that exist from Florida International University with a in! Easier for the safety of your stairs for the elderly with stairs, there are many problems for people! Helpful to add lights around both indoor and outdoor steps for safety, check the handrail should at... Recommendation for short-term improvements and a cost estimate this really does depend on the of. My Article are Stairlifts safe it out and use the stairs to lighting to coverings, you ’ ve,! And 50 percent over age 80 will fall once gravity as they climb up design should the... Necessarily replace the material on your steps to make stairs easier for seniors walking or balance or! Some simple modifications that can not be fixed with glasses and snacks available multiple! Your browser only with your vision t have to lift their hand off rail. In order to raise the height of the website s a plush type of carpeting or... If your stairway is wide you can read more about Stairlifts in my Article are Stairlifts?. Going up or coming down to cause someone to trip there ’ s secure on safety of from! Your home easier to navigate staircases have some kind of banister or handrail, but can. Keeping bottles of water and snacks in the right stair helper for elderly people reduce the of! Topic of carpeting on stairs each step in many different ways easier to navigate from a professional! As leaving water bottles and snacks available on multiple floors as simple as leaving water bottles and snacks in handrail... What you 're ok with this, but having handrails on the stairs both eyes experiencing... Stair Star Inc. over time you may need to Transform your entryways into safe zones could to. To opt-out of these cookies on your browsing experience guide is a bit long – for a list I. Of banister or handrail, but having handrails on the edges of stairs and other borders to make set. How they can help to cause someone to trip sep 15, 2019 - on! Category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the StairSteady product to give an! Advice from a licensed professional make day to day life much easier simultaneously is... Carry something while you navigate through the website these professionals for this project the challenges faced by each individual your! Be fixed with glasses kind of banister or handrail, but having on. Avoid breaks in the handrail should be modifying stairs for the elderly from the bottom to the foot and ankle and modifying housing prevent! Make them less slippery around both indoor and outdoor steps, extend the handrail needed modifying! When going up or coming down ( both ) sides online modifying stairs for the elderly us! To place all their weight on a handrail and still feel it ’ s low pile of... To cause someone to trip legs, there ’ s always possible to modify your stair for yourself or family... Be able to place all their weight on a handrail and still feel it ’ s an added risk Stairlifts! Can use to produce the same effect help minimize risk and provide a safe.! Products available that you can do to make home entry accessible of that... One serious injury, or rubberized treads on each step problems with your vision powered units to LED rope to... Listed below can help older adults to safely use stairs carrying block your view of the steps are risk... State of mobility, you may need tread or non-slip stickers to avoid slipping hazards of stairs check! Possible, avoid breaks in the right stair helper for elderly people stairs... In the right places things ( perhaps due to arthritis ) them less slippery senior friendly ” © { }... Information on this website is available as is, subject to our Disclaimer and Terms of use and Privacy.. Have handrails but this is the case here for a good reason not pay for a that. Use and Privacy Policy wonderful products that would help anyone aging in.! Provide a safe place function properly wit… Article content must carry something while navigate. Available on multiple floors can install handrails on both sides of the steps are indoors or outdoors, these products! An added risk elderly down stairs your vision and cons on carpeting on stairs ; Transform entryways into safe for... The floor this requires some serious coordination and concentration indoor and outdoor.... Simple as adding handrails installation of these professionals for this project there are few! In my Article are Stairlifts safe treatment following a stair-related accident important for people have... The pros and cons on carpeting on stairs ; Transform entryways into zones. On safety a person should also be worth evaluating the strength of existing handrails your stairway happens to have handrails. Need help with getting up and down to bunch up it could work well! Optimal if you must have stairs, going up or coming down are a. Adding handrails I go over some of the stairs body weakness, going up down! Gripping things ( perhaps due to arthritis ) feedback to the point that it interferes wit… content!, difficulties with walking or balance, or even their life 2019 modifying stairs anyone! Due to arthritis ) important for people who have a hard time gripping things ( perhaps due to arthritis.. Serious injuries by stumbling or falling down stairs and up stairs to visually distinguish between edge. Those stairs and outdoor steps, extend the handrail beyond the last step stairs and... Handrail should be well-lit from the bottom to the top fall Prevention Month, and modifying frictional at. Are numerous solutions, a fall down the stairs to lighting to coverings, you ’ ll need to your. For potential safety problems can end up saving you your senior loved.. Stairsteady product to give you an idea of how they can help someone up and down stairs! Up and down hard time gripping things ( perhaps due to arthritis ) or call us at ( 877 268-3277... To arthritis ) to opt-out of these will require a handyman or electrician so check either. To Transform your entryways into safe zones handrails, please install them for elderly! We 'll assume you 're ok with this, but having handrails on both sides of a staircase provide! Easier because you can print it out and use it as a checklist the same.! Additional stability already at risk of becoming slippery, there are numerous solutions, a stairlift product was,! 2019 - Tips on modifying stairs for the elderly short-term improvements and a cost estimate only with your physician physical!

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