LFH Access Stair Lift & Mobility Solutions » arthritis

A stair lift will raise the spirits of the ones you love.

LFHaccess — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 17:06:58 +0000

Mobility challenges can come at us rapidly or they can be a slow, inevitable creeping up on us. If they’re the later, there’s often a moment of realization that the one you’re caring for will have when they are forced to realize they no longer have full use of the home they’ve loved for many years. A stair lift solution from Living Free Home will help, but we’ll get to that later. For now, I just wanted you to know there’s a solution.

(skip to a helpful article on how a stair lift can keep your loved one safe in the winter months)

A major cause of mobility issues is falls. These often result in hip injuries, the most common kind of injury in the elderly as that particular bone structure is both fragile and exposed, and so it’s often the point of impact in a fall. In these cases, the moment you realize you’ll have a mobility issue is very clear, very sudden. There’s not eventual dawning of realization. You simply know you’ll need solutions like a stair lift, walk-in shower and other essential equipment.

But the slow creeping attack of arthritis and other aging issues can drag on to the point where a loved one simply spends less and less time on the stairway. One day the decision to sleep on the couch with a comforter over them is simply easier. Then, perhaps they do the same thing the next night. Eventually, they’ve moved a few articles of clothing downstairs into the home office, more blankets for the couch.

This is the sort of issue my aging parents are now going through. They’re in their 70s, living in a split level home, and they have to go up and down two small sets of stairs at least 10 times a day. I keep asking, but they keep saying a stair lift is simply not necessary. But my arthritic mom is definitely ready for a chair lift, if for no other reason than to make her life more convenient. For her, I think it’s a matter of not wanting to admit she’s reaching that point. She’s caught in that slow decline I’m talking about, and we’re all watching it and waiting.

When you see a photo of a person on a stair lift from Living Free Home, they’re smiling. That’s because they’re in a marketing photo. But when you see someone on their very own stair lift in their home, they have an even bigger grin on their face; and it’s not because they’re zooming up and down the stairway – they don’t go that fast. It’s because they get the full use of their home again, for a surprisingly low cost. The slow creep of arthritis won’t stop, but it also won’t completely change every aspect of their life either. Their stair lift has lifted their spirits and that optimism has the power to literally make them feel better.

If you’re caring for someone who is living with the slow advance of age or arthritis-related mobility issues, consider a stair lift solution from Living Free Home.

Living Free Home is not one of those fly-by-night Internet companies. We have 3 locations and encourage you to come by to speak in person with our friendly staff. We’re here to help with your stair lift purchase ‘every step of the way.’

Our locations -
Madison – 125 Park Avenue, Madison, NJ 07940
Westfield – 317 South Avenue W., Westfield, NJ 07090
Boston Showroom – 401 VFW Dr., Rockland, MA 02370

The best way to learn more is by calling 1-888-545-4846 to ask questions or to set up a free appointment for a Home Accessibility Analysis.

All our stair lift products come with the Living Free Home Low Price Guarantee: Even with the fact that most other retailers do NOT offer installation, let alone FREE installation, we will always beat their prices. How’s this for confidence: If you find a lower price on the exact same product, including delivery and installation, we will beat that price by 10%. (“Same” is defined as an item of the same styling, by the same manufacturer and same item number.)

No matter how you spell Arthritis – artritis, arthritus, arthiritis, arthritic, osteoarthritis, – a stair lift will make life easier

LFHaccess — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 17:57:03 +0000

Arthritis is the cause of a great deal of confusion among the aging and those who care for them, and not just because it’s difficult to spell. One reason Arthritis (artritis, arthritus, arthiritis, arthritic, osteoarthritis, or however else you might spell it) is so difficult when the first symptoms appear is that there are over 100 different types, and they might show up anywhere there’s a joint in the body.

The difficulty caused in movement is where we come in. We’re Living Free Home, experts in stair lift solutions for those aging with arthritis. A stair lift from Living Free Home will be an important part of helping someone you know suffering from artritis (arthritis) stay mobile longer and living more freely in the home they love.

Arthritis, the deterioration of the cartilage which protects the joint, results in great pain with the normal movement of that joint. So if you or an aging person you care for is experiencing arthritus (arthritis) in the joints of the knees, their ability to navigate stairs will be very much impeded. The way many people choose to get around this problem is by living only on one floor of their home. This restriction of movement within the home takes much joy out of life for someone who’s lived there for many years and decades. A stair lift from Living Free Home is a simple, economical and fast solution that will give both you and the aging person you care for the security of knowing no accidents will occur on such a dangerous part of the home.

An investment in a stair lift for your home is not a bad investment either. When we install them, they’re also easy for you to get un-installed should you move or want to sell it. And the installation, while very secure, is usually not very disruptive to the stairway. Your durable and dependable stair lift only requires a minimal amount of hardware to secure it onto the stairway.

The best way to start is by calling 1-888-545-4846 to ask questions or to set up a free appointment for a Home Accessibility Analysis.

We can install a stair lift anywhere in New Jersey, Metro New York City (NYC), Boston and surrounding areas, and Philadelphia and surrounding areas.

How the process works

One of our highly skilled, experienced and certified technicians will visit you at your home to personally measure for your stair lift and evaluate the best solution to your home’s specific needs. All our technicians carry complete credentials and Photo ID to provide you the kind of reassurance that’s made Living Free Home so trusted by others. The visit itself should take no more than 30 minutes. We make it simple. That same day, right at your home, we’ll provide you with a complete quote on the cost of the stair lift and installation. We can have your stair lift installed in as little as 48 hours* from the time we visit your home — at no additional cost!
(*Excludes Custom Models)

How a stair lift can help you stay safely mobile in your home with arthritis

Unfortunately, arthritis is a painful disease and you’ll have to be inventive to find ways to make life easier while dealing with it. A stair lift from Living Free Home is one way to help, and we offer many other solutions that can make dealing with arthritis much easier. For instance, if you have arthritis, you may find it very difficult to reach up high to get things. Living Free Home offers reach devices and other solutions to make this easier. If arthritis has made getting into and out of chairs difficult, consider one of our lift chairs. We offer a wide range of fabrics in a full price range.

There are over 100 different kinds of arthritis, which doesn’t just affect older Americans, it can begin to show up earlier. The most common form, osteoarthritis – a type of degenerative joint disease – is caused by trauma to the joint, infection of the joint, or simply age. Other kinds of arthritis are rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, and autoimmune diseases in which the body attacks itself. Septic arthritis is caused by joint infection.

If arthritis has made getting into and out of chairs difficult, consider one of our lift chairs. We offer a wide range of fabrics in a price that’s affordable to meet your needs. A lift chair from Living Free Home is a beautiful piece of furniture and a great value. Keep us in mind for ramps, too. We make this process just as easy as installing a stair lift.

Our Living Free Home Low Price Guarantee: Despite the fact that most other retailers do NOT offer installation, let alone FREE installation, we will always beat competitor prices. If you find a lower price on the exact same product, including delivery and installation, we will beat that price by 10%. (“Same” is defined as an item of the same styling, by the same manufacturer and same item number.)

Living Free Home is not just a fly-by-night Internet company. We have 3 locations and encourage you to come by to learn more from our friendly staff. We’re here to help with your stair lift purchase ‘every step of the way.’

Our locations -

Westfield – 317 South Avenue W., Westfield, NJ 07090
Madison - 125 Park Avenue, Madison, NJ 07940
Boston Showroom – 401 VFW Dr., Rockland, MA 02370

Worry About Your Parent Falling? Three Important Safety Tips Every Caregiver Needs to Know.

LFHaccess — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 17:11:39 +0000

Nothing is worse than worrying, and caregivers tend to worry a lot. You call your mom. You stop by your parents often. You look for bruises or see if they’re limping. Would they tell you if they took a spill? You want to preserve your loved one’s freedom, but how do you know if they’re safe?

Why do elders fall so often? Lots of reasons: Some of the culprits are high blood pressure, low blood pressure, Parkinson’s, MS, arthritis, poor eye sight, or even blood sugar levels could factor in.

Many falls happen on or around stairs. You may want to consider a stair lift if you feel your parent simply can’t navigate even the best of stairs. The modest cost investment could give you the peace of mind you need and allow your parents to live in their own home for many more years.

Prevention is the key, so let’s look at three major areas that contribute to most falls. (http://www.docstoc.com/docs/10924161/Tips-to-Prevent-Falls-to-Elders)

Living Free Home Accessibility Solutions can help you make sure your home is more fall-proof. Our Accessibility Solutions are wide ranging and perfect for allowing continued in-home living. For instance, our barrier-free bathroom solutions are a great place to start. These allow you or your parent to roll right into the shower on a wheelchair and transfer to a seat. Stop by one of our showrooms to see the display.

3 Important Safety Tips to Prevent Falls:

Lighting Issues—many elders like their houses dark. They may be trying to conserve electricity, or their eyes may be light sensitive due to glaucoma or other eye conditions. It’s important to make sure that halls and stairs have proper lighting. Check light bulbs and put hall lights on a timer and make sure they’re on in the morning and again at night when stairs are in use.

Clutter Issues—nothing contributes to falls more than clutter. Many seniors gain a sense of comfort by having sentimental items displayed, or practical items within reach. If these items are near stairs, they can contribute to falls. Also check for loose carpeting. Don’t just nag, remove the items that concern you. Deciding what stays or go may be overwhelming for your parents. Quietly and discreetly put the item in a safer place, or find it a new home (mum’s the word—don’t argue the point, just do it). Also check for loose carpeting.

Repair Issues—many seniors live in homes that have major repair issues. They may have lived in their home for 30, 40 years, and it’s easy to let home maintenance slip when health concerns begin to surface. From front stairs leading into the home, to basement stairs that have dry rot, to broken or cracked concrete, areas of disrepair can represent a real hazard.

Spend the afternoon with your parents and watch their normal pattern of movement and see what trips them or what areas they avoid. Start at your car and walk through your parent’s yard, entrance, house, basement, garage and back area. Take notes. Make a priority list and tackle one item at a time. Don’t get overwhelmed, but stay on track.

A good day is a no fall day.

There are many parts of the home where Living Free Home Accessibility Solutions can help ensure you’re more fall-proof. From the driveway, to the stairway, to bathrooms, bedrooms and chairs, we’ve thought of everything to make sure you or your loved ones can continue to live happily and safely in their home. See the links above.