How to Modify Stairs for the Elderly

As we age or have procedures that limit our mobilities, it’s important to have options for moving around the home. Stair assistance for elderly comes in many forms from seated to standing stairlifts, railings, and ramps. 

Read on to learn more about how to make stairs safer in the home.

Stair Safety for Seniors

Stair assistance for elderly individuals involves a few different options, from common-sense cleaning to proper lighting and light switch access. Review the following structure and safety tips below:

• Walls: Before modifying stairs for the elderly ensure the walls and flooring are secure and without damage or rot.
• Handrails: Ensure handrails are on both sides of the staircase (not just one) and are properly secured to the wall. Over time, they can become loose, so regularly check their integrity.
• Lighting: Each staircase should have a light switch at the top and the bottom of the stairs for both safety and convenience.
• Tread: Carpeting offers tread while walking, but if your loved one has hardwood or tile floors that may become slippery, add tread to the stairs to minimize the risk of falling.
• A Cleared Landing: Keep the space at the top and bottom of the stairs neat and tidy to reduce the risk of tripping or falling.

These are the first things to think about, but there are other ways to promote staircase safety.

Stairs Safety Tips for Seniors: Other Ideas for Stair Safety

Modifying stairs for the elderly can be incremental. If the stairs don’t have a landing, you can create a spot for your loved one to take a break — it might be a small bench or secured chair.

Sometimes it’s not a mobility issue that prevents seamless movement, but vision. Those with compromised depth perception may not see where one step ends and another begins. Painting the stairs or using reflective tape might be helpful in this case.

As stairs become a progressive issue, consider installing a bathroom and making a bedroom on the ground floor so you or your loved one do not need to use the stairs more than absolutely necessary.

Lastly, if the steps are not equally spaced, do your best to alter the step heights so they are uniform.

You can promote stairway safety in other ways, but these stair safety tips for seniors may require additional modification around your home.

How Can I Make Stairs Easier for Seniors?

Sometimes, after surgery or as we get older, we need a little assistance. Stair assistance for elderly is an easy way to help anyone move freely around the house.

The above tips help people with mobility move safely between floors, however, another idea when it comes to modifying stairs for the elderly involves adding a stairlift. This is the next step for people with mobility issues and a way to make stairs safe for seniors. This is also ideal for capable seniors who live alone so they can move around without assistance. They are safe and easy to install with the help of a professional.

For more information on stairlifts and stair modifications for you or your loved one, contact Williams Lift Co. today.