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Tips, guides & industry news from our team — helping you make the right mobility decision for your home.
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What Type of Lift Chair Should You Buy?
A lift chair can make the simple act of getting in and out of a chair manageable for people with mobility issues. Since it is built for both comfort and accessibility, it is the perfect solution for functional, yet comfortable furniture in the living room, rec room, or bedroom. When the doorbell rings, when it is time to make dinner or go to the bathroom, and when it is time to go to bed, moving from sitting to a standing position is easy with a lift chair as long as you have purchased the right type.
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Landlords Can Make Their Units ADA-Compliant
As a landlord, must you make your unit ADA compliant? How far are you required to go to make your property adaptable or workable for those with disabilities? Because the Americans with Disabilities Act applies mainly to public accommodations in multi-family buildings, the second question is the most pertinent to landlords renting out a private home or space.
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Encouraging Seniors to Use Mobility Aids for a Better Life
For many seniors, using mobility aids is a source of shame. Those who used to be able to run marathons may find themselves needing a cane or scooter, while steps outside and inside the home pose an insurmountable obstacle. Having to using a walker, cane, or elevator reminds them that time has passed and they see their mobility and independence fading. For children and others who care about those with mobility issues, it can be challenging to convince an older relative or friend to use what is available to help them keep the maximum amount of independence in their lives.
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What Brand of StairLift Should You Choose?
Retrofitting your stairs with a stair lift can make it easier to navigate between floors, but what brand should you buy? Is there much of a difference between models? Do features vary much? The short answer is that while almost any type of stair lift can suit your purpose, features among brands and models differ, and a reputable stair lift dealer will help you choose one that fits your needs and budget.
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Vertical Lift or Outdoor Stairlift: Which is Right for You?
A vertical lift or an outdoor stair lift are options for entering and exiting your house if you have mobility problems. Although a ramp is less high-tech and cheaper to install, you need a considerable amount of land to properly install one that has the right slope. Installing either a vertical lift or an outdoor stair lift is a much more compact option that is also less obtrusive.
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Improving Kitchen Accessibility of Counters, Cabinets, and Appliances
Without improving kitchen accessibility for those with mobility issues, the heart of the home can be difficult to use. Cupboards and counters are too high, while sinks and lower cabinets are hard to approach and work near with comfort. Conveniences such as islands can make getting around the kitchen difficult. For a home to continue to work for a person with disabilities, hiring a contractor to make the kitchen more accessible according to ADA guidelines is must.
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Walk-in Bathtub or Roll-in Shower for Better Accessibility
A walk-in bathtub can be a great update if you have trouble getting in and out of the bathtub, but an alternative to consider if you have mobility issues is a roll-in shower. Either addition can be costly to install, but can be well worth it in convenience and allowing you to age in place.
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Buying A Stairlift? Why you Shouldn’t Cut Costs
If you are seriously thinking of buying a stair lift, you have committed to making an expensive purchase that Medicare is unlikely to cover. You might wonder if you can find a “deal” to reduce the cost; however, buying from anyone other than a reputable dealer poses risks that may offset the potential for cost-cutting when buying a stair lift.
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Accommodating Scooters and Wheelchairs with Structural Home Repairs
Accommodating scooters and other medical equipment such as wheelchairs and walkers may require structural improvements to your home. While making major structural changes can be cost prohibitive, there are some things you can do to make your home more comfortable and safe.
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Size Considerations when Buying Mobility Scooters
When buying mobility scooters, size definitely matters. While you want one large enough to be comfortable and powerful, you want it to be right-sized for wherever you plan to use it. You also want it to have the right features for your needs.
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Vertical Lifts Allow you to Enjoy your Deck and Outdoor Spaces
Have a deck that is hard to get to? Vertical lifts may offer you an easy way to access and enjoy your deck if you have mobility issues. Having a beautiful single or multi-level deck can add beauty to your home, but when it these outdoor living spaces are 3′ to 14′ above ground, traveling to a lower level or down to the patio can be a difficult feat for people with impaired mobility.
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Renovating Your Home For Aging In Place
According to the Center for Disease Control, aging in place refers to “the ability to live in one’s own home and community safely, independently, and comfortably, regardless of age, income, or ability level.” If you experience declining health or mobility, you may have to make modifications to your residence to make this possible. Most homes are built with young, agile people in mind; as you experience the changes that time often brings, the steps that take you in and out of your home, the once-convenient counter heights, the standard door widths, and the door knobs that help you access each room, can become a burden.
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Tips for Buying Lift Chairs
Lift chairs can make life easier for those who have difficulty getting up from a sitting position. While they look like other living room furniture, they have a mechanism inside that tilts the chair forward into a position that makes standing easier. Some chairs can even be positioned to lie flat for napping or sleeping.
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Home Remodeling for Better Accessibility for Disabled Veterans
As a disabled veteran, remodeling for better accessibility can keep you in a home you love; but, the process can be beyond budgetary resources for many disabled service members and their families.
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Straight VS Curved Stairlifts
When making a decision for which option is best for your curved stair case, you should consider the following. There are two types of stairlifts available, curved stairlifts and straight stairlifts.
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Mr Brown’s Wheelchair Platform Lift
I worked on a project several months ago with the department of Utah Housing in the Salt Lake City area. The project involved our Harmar Vertical Platform Lift to help transport a 35 year old man who got hit by a car when he was only 7 years old. His name is Mr Brown and he has been confined to his wheelchair since the accident which left him wheelchair bound for life.
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Cooking Class “Midvale Senior Center”
My name is Kevin owner of Western Stairlifts and I volunteer at the Midvale, Utah Senior Center were I teach a cooking class.The recipes are for meals you can prepare in 15 minutes or less and small portions for one to two people. My class is called “Cooking For Oneâ€. I usually teach my class every third Thursday of the month at 10:30 am. I have made many friends over the past year at the senior center. They really look forward having me and my wife “helper show up once a month. I thoroughly enjoy giving back to the community I work in!
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Remodel a bathroom for mobility
While remaining at home throughout one’s senior years is desirable, the design of the house may not be convenient if mobility issues arise. To make the home comfortable and rooms accessible, some adaptions must be made. If you’re planning to remodel your home or are assisting a family member with remodeling plans, there are several aspects of the room design to consider.
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