stair lift

[arwenmark]

Husband has Parkinson's, I have heart disease, Fibromyalgia, [in constant pain in most of body and very weak legs. 

I just ordered a stair lift to get from floor one to floor two of our three story plus basement house. 

About two months ago I fell on my face on the stairs. Looked like a Racoon for a month. anyway I ordered the stair lift today used and refurbished. A Vesta model by Ameriglide.

So I wondered how many of you use a stair lift and how has it helped you, if it has? I seem to have gone down hill fast and now need to use one of my electric wheel chairs even in the house, legs just too painful and weak.

[wifeofparky]

So sorry you are going through all of this. My mother-in-law had a stairlift installed after her stroke. She lived in a 2 story duplex and the bedrooms were all upstairs. Both of my in-laws found it to be very helpful. If you use a walker or other assisstive device, I strongly suggest you get a spare and keep one on each floor. Good luck. Being a caregiver is hard for a healthy person. Make sure you get help from others for the safety of both of you.

[rhyspeace12 in reply to wifeofparky]

Walkers are very easy to find at thrift stores if you need more than one.

[wifeofparky in reply to rhyspeace12]

Our Red Cross has a lending closet where you can borrow medical supplies like walkers, wheelchair and such for free.

[Beckey]

So sorry to hear about your rough landing! I've got my fingers crossed that was a one-time-only experience.

[grower]

A very dear friend of mine installed one  and it has allowed her to stay living in her home rather than sell up a lifetime of memories and move to the flat. It's great, she always looks so regal using it

[Sheila32]

It sounds like the stair lift will make your life a lot easier, and safer.

Would suggest your husband keeps using the stairs for as long as he (safely) can, and only use the lift when he is 'off' or having a bad day. 

[FMundo]

I used to work for a Stairlift company.  They are a God-send for people like you.  They are easy to operate, can be useful not only in transporting you and your husband up and down stairs (harnesses are available to hold occupant in if necessary).  There are "remotes" allowing you to "send" the chair up and down (and retrieve it when its at the wrong end.  Further you can (unofficially) send "stuff" (like the laundry basket and other things to heavy or bulky to hand carry) up and down stairs.  They can be adapted with a "box or platform" (instead of a chair) to send disabled pets to and fro.

They basically are a means of keeping your family member at home and not in an institution.  They allow you to care for a person in their bedroom upstairs... rather than setting up a hospital bed in the dining room. 

When you're done with them, you can resell them to someone else, a local stairlift company will have to install a new "rail"....  but you can recoup some of your investment.

There are other transporting mechanisms for homes - wheel chair lifts and residential elevators but instead of costing a few thousand dollars, they cost tens of thousands of dollars. 

A stairlift is really a lifesaver for many people.  You've made a good decision.

[Noella21]

My husband has late stage parkinsons and I have stage 4 cancer went to my spine.  I can not lift him. We have a porch lift ceiling track lift and a wheelchair van. Our life is so much better now . We can stay in our own home. We can go out on day trips together , church , seniors  club etc. Husband is more alert now and asks where we are going each day. Get all the assisting devices you can and conserve your energy for the things you enjoy most.

[arwenmark in reply to Noella21]

I do try to get all the aide items I can but so far have to pay for them ourselves. Which was not too bad when husband was employed but now on Social Security only it is hard. Still not quite low enough to qualify for any help. 

[Noella21 in reply to arwenmark]

I hear you. it is a very fine line. I used to be 50.00 over to get assistance. We had converted our basement into a legal suite to help with expenses that put me over . I now make sure to stay under the wire it just hard to figure it all out. There is a lot of red tape here. We live in small town Alberta. There are programs for just about everything but accessing them is almost a full time job. Eg. ceiling track is under the RAMP program that will give the track an d install it but you need proof from AADL that you have the lift from them. Yet AADL requires proof that you have the track installed before you get a lift. I did a lot of lobbying and got that rule changed.  Found out about self managed care which is great if you know how to go about getting it. It is not advertised or on line.I heard about  it  from a friend who's daughter got it for her. You are on the right track talk to lots of people networking . I am new to this sight too and I love it. I am currently trying to get our regular wheel chair exchanged for a tilt in space since my husband's condition has deteriorated a lot in the past two years. It is going to be a struggle but We  have the physio and OT and seating clinic on board. the rule is the 5 years before you get another wheel chair. Keep talking to different people sometimes it depends on who picks up the phone and how they interpret the rules and are willing to get an acceptation for you. Good luck stay strong you have a voice and are your own best advocate.