Mobility affects our everyday life. A minor hitch in our ability to climb stairs, get out of bed or use the bathroom can utterly transform how we look at our future. Technology has done nothing but keep up over the years as our everyday needs become more clear, with curved stairways one of the best ways of helping out elderly populations who need more flexibility in their homes. These can be accompanied by other accessibility products like vehicle lifts, wheelchair ramps and customized stairlifts to make sure the home is always a place of safety. Learn more about accessibility standards and how you can improve your own life by looking at the list below.
Over 50 million Americans live with a disability today. According to a recent health study, disability is most commonly caused by reduced mobility. The term ‘disability’ has been altered and redefined over the decades to better accommodate those who are unable to live their best life without additional aid. This can include chronic pain, mental illness, reliance on wheelchairs, dementia, stiffness, soreness and the onset of age. It’s thought as many as seven million Americans will use assistive devices to aid with their mobility, though this number may increase as custom aids become more widespread.
Perhaps one of the most common mobility devices today are canes and walking sticks. These are followed close behind by ‘walkers’, used in particular by those who need both hands to move forward. The older a person becomes the more likely basic injuries can be life-threatening occurrences — it’s believed an older adult is taken to the emergency room for a fall every 11 seconds in the United States. Even more alarmingly is that over 50% of these falls will take place at home instead of outside or in an establishment. This adds up to two million senior citizens being treated for serious injuries every year. How can mobility aids change this?
It’s estimated older adults will account for nearly 20% of the population by the time 2030 arrives. This means that door openers, elderly lift assist devices and curved stairways are going to be ever more prominent in the classic American home. Assisted living centers are useful resources for helping elderly populations transition to their next stage of life, particularly for those that are struggling with the onset of Alzheimer’s disease or another form of dementia. Not everyone, however, is interested in an elderly community home and much prefer to ‘age in place’. This means a fitted stairlift or handicap automatic door opener can mean the difference between a happy retirement and a frustrated one.
To age comfortably and securely at home is the most preferred option for most. The National Conference Of State Legislatures saw a majority 90% of people over the age of 65 wanting to live in their home for as long as possible. Another report conducted on the phenomenon of ‘aging in place’ saw nearly 50% of homeowners over the age of 55 saying the bathroom is the most significant part of the home they’ve considered renovating. A minor slip or fall can result in broken bones, loss of consciousness and even death. These mobility devices for curved stairways are not just a convenience. They’re a necessity for a happy life.
Door openers help those with wrist problems, keeping them from straining themselves unnecessarily when they need to move back and forth throughout the house. Most bathrooms are not equipped with handles for easy grabbing — considering the treacherous nature of a slippery tub, it’s unsurprising the bathroom is the most preferred option for an upgrade. A fitted stairlift can be installed in most homes to help elderly persons comfortably go up and down. Curved stairways are not exempt from this, either, and power lift chairs are easy to adapt. The safest home is one that is fitted with multiple mobility devices to make the transition to retirement as seamless as possible.
Thanks to modern technology and mobility assistance devices, the best years are yet to come.