Home Accessibility Bucket List

There are two categories that most people fall into when trying to make their home accessible.

One category is where someone has suffered a life changing event such as a stroke, car accident or some other catastrophe. In this case, the person may end up in a wheelchair and thereby need their home to be made accessible to permit mobility equipment to be used inside.

The second category is where peoples’ needs slowly change over time and evolve from perhaps needing a cane to a walker to a stair lift to a wheelchair.

The needs for accessibility equipment could start with a stair lift so that one can access both levels of their home. A stair lift is mounted on the stair treads and there is very little alteration to the home. An exterior stair lift may assist with outside stairs if necessary.

The next piece of equipment that could be required may be used in the bathroom where perhaps a walk in tub is required. Ceiling to floor poles to assist with getting up from a bed or chair is also a popular device. A lift up chair is also common.

The real need for home renovations to make a home accessible comes when a wheelchair is required in the home. This is when a porch lift may be needed to get the wheelchair up to the threshold height of the doorway entrance. Any bump outside or inside the home is a huge barrier to one’s freedom in a wheelchair so utmost care must be used to remove the slightest bump. There maybe the need to widen doorways and bathroom renovations to permit a roll in shower is another common need.

One of the main challenges inside the home is how to move a wheelchair from one level to another. An inside elevator is difficult and costly to retrofit. An incline lift to carry the wheelchair up the stairs has many limitations from a standpoint of stairway width, strength of a load bearing wall, head room and space at the bottom of the staircase. Ceiling lifts are also available to move a person from a wheelchair to the toilet or bed with curved track cut through door headers. If a wheelchair user is seriously considering making their home accessible the advise of a knowledgeable person within the accessibility field and an occupational therapist is a must.

There are so many factors that that make up the bucket list to make your home accessible. Each person’s situation is somewhat different. The most important part of the process is to find someone you trust to give you the proper advice.
Look for a company that can grow with your needs, offer recycled equipment and accepting trade ins as your needs evolve over time.

Half of all injury-related deaths among seniors in Canada were caused by falls.

Very interesting article in the Toronto Star on Saturday, November 18th names “After the Fall.” Key fact is that almost half of all injury-related deaths among seniors in Canada were caused by falls. The Public Health Agency of Canada estimates one in three people older than 65 will fall at least once a year, a rate that increases to one in two for people over the age of 80.

SILVER CROSS takes our role in the process of assisting seniors in staying safe in their own homes as they age extremely seriously. Stair lifts and related products are one of the key solutions provided by SILVER CROSS across North America. Falling down a stairway is something that should be avoided at all costs. Recycling stair lifts just makes sense.

SILVER CROSS Calgary Opening June 1st, 2010

Mark Andrews is opening SILVER CROSS Calgary on June 1st, 2010.   Mark will offer recycled and new home health care equipment including such products as stair lifts, wheelchair lifts, porch lifts, home elevators, electric scooters, power wheelchairs, ceiling and patient lifts, hospital beds, walk in bath tubs, rollators and dumbwaiters.

SILVER CROSS Calgary, 12180  44st. SE, Calgary, Alberta, T2Z 4A2 Canada Phone: 403-236-1338

Mark joins the opening of new SILVER CROSS locations in Edmonton and Victoria in Western Canada.

What are People Really Wanting When Searching for a Stair Lift

People looking for a stair lift are wanting a few simple things from a local representative.  First, they want fast, good information.  Second, they want to be treated with respect by a friendly, compassionate, knowledgeable company.  Third, they want a fair price for the product and service offered.

Client comments clearly focus on the total experience as being extremely important.

“The contact dave was very helpful& courtious.and i am in the process of making a purchase, thankyou! “Industry, PA

“I have received extremely informative emails, your website if great and I’ve talked with a very helpful and understanding woman.  All in all, a wonderful experience!! Missouri, USA

“My Dr. had the paperwork fax to him on time. I am very pleased with effeciecency of your company.” Federalsburg, MD

“The best company I have dealt with in a long time.”  Edmonton, Alberta

New Stair Lift Models Not Necessarily Better

I have been the stairlift industry for almost 20 years and there is one thing that I have learned the hardway.  A new stairlift model is not necessarily better.  What I mean by this is that I have found that stairlift models that have been out in the marketplace for at least two years tend to be more reliable than a new stairlift model.  It seems to take about two years for the stair lift manufacturers to iron out the kinks of a new stair lift model.

Almost without exception, I have witnessed launch of many new and improved stairlift models.  Most often, there has been a period of time where the stairlift dealer is forced to be the research and development team in the field for the stairlift manufacturer.  The stair lift user does not benefit from this process.

The more complex the stair lift, the more the need for some time in the marketplace to work out the issues.  A curved stair lift would require perhaps even more time in the field than a straight stairlift since a curved stair lift tends to be more complex.
This some thinking would apply to a curved stair lift or straight stair lift with more new options available.  New and improved is not necessarily better.

What are some of the factors that establish a stairlift as being proven and stable in the field?

1. The stair lift installation company and their installers are familiar with the service and weak points,
2. The installers have been trained in the stair lift model installation,
3. The stair lift dealer has the key parts in stock if service issues arise,
4. The stairlift manufacturer has sufficient technical staff that are familiar with the new model,
5. A period of time has passed so that new product launch issues have been addressed with design improvements.

It is highly advisable to include the length of time that a stairlift model has been out in the marketplace as one of your stairlift questions.  Give substantial weight to this factor in your decision making process of selecting the right stairlift for your specific needs.