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Obese And Disabled? What To Consider When Buying Stairlifts For Your Home?

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When you are obese and disabled, whether the two conditions are related to one another or not, getting around your home can be a real challenge if you have to encounter a flight of stairs to access parts of your property. Luckily, you can invest in stairlifts to make your quality of life greater and to make living in your home much easier.

What are stairlifts, how can they benefit you, and what considerations do you have to take when you go shopping for one? The following can help you understand more about this home health care device so you can decide for yourself if this is a home modification you'd like to add.

What are stairlifts?

Stairlifts are medical devices installed in the stair railings of homes to allow people to get up and down the stairs more easily. The lift includes a chair that is motorized and controlled via a button to go up and down at a slow speed. There are often hand rests and seat belts in these devices to make the stairlifts comfortable for those who use them.

How can stairlifts benefit you?

Obesity leads to stress and strain on the joints and bones, so if you have a disability of any kind along with your weight, then navigating stairs without falling or without pain can be difficult. If you have been avoiding the stairs because you fear pain or falling, then stairlifts can be beneficial to you in allowing you to be more mobile in the home.

What to consider when buying stairlifts?

As an obese person, size and weight restrictions regarding stairlifts are most important to you. After all, you want your stairlift to be comfortable and safe for your use and you want to have enough room in your chair so you won't feel like you're going to fall off or lose support. Luckily, stairlift chairs can be customized to meet a wider girth, and some models come with a higher weight limit. Contact your medical doctor to see if you can be referred to a chair lifts professional to have one made for you.

Costs vary for stairlifts because any customization done on stairlifts adds to the initial cost as well as installation costs. You can get a quote from your stairlifts installer before you have yours installed so you can budget for the medical device appropriately. Insurance may help cover the costs as well, so speak to your insurance agent about this possibility.


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