The ability to continue living in their own home as they age is becoming an increasingly popular choice for seniors. Many older adults are choosing to age in place, surrounded by their sentimental items, familiar neighborhoods, and social circles, as opposed to relocating to assisted living facilities.
Unfortunately, many seniors find their mobility decreases with age, and they are unable to safely navigate all the levels of their homes. For these individuals, investing in a residential elevator is more than just a convenience. Home elevators offer a safe and practical way for seniors with mobility challenges to navigate their multi-level homes, maintain their independence, and enhance their quality of life.
The Benefits Of Aging In Place With Residential Elevators
The primary focus of aging in place is to allow seniors to safely maintain independence and dignity while living in their familiar surroundings. The benefits of enabling seniors to age in place include:
Maintaining Independence
Many seniors value the freedom of making their own decisions and managing their routines and schedules. Aging in place allows seniors to live their lives on their terms, without the restrictions and schedules that come with assisted living facilities.
Residential elevators support independence by eliminating mobility barriers and ensuring that seniors can safely access all the levels of their homes.
Emotional Comfort
Staying in the home, surrounded by personal items and cherished memories, provides emotional comfort and improves overall well-being. Residential elevators allow seniors who are aging in place to access upper and lower levels and stay connected to every part of their homes.
Lifestyle And Health
Being able to navigate every level of the home while aging in place reduces the risk of seniors being exposed to people with contagious illnesses. In assisted living facilities, sharing a communal space may increase the risk of infection, whereas aging in place allows the individual to remain in a private environment, lowering the likelihood of contracting a viral or bacterial infection.
Aging in place also allows seniors to personalize their home to meet their physical needs and lifestyle choices. Whether it involves home accessibility with the use of mobility aids or structuring their own personal care and social routine, a home elevator ensures the individual has a choice of what area of the home they want to access without always having to rely on extra assistance.
Support For Caregivers And Family Members
Falls are a leading cause of injury in seniors. Home elevators provide a safe and effortless way to access various levels in the home, alleviating the physical burden caregivers have of supporting an elderly person up and down stairs.
Home elevators provide priceless peace of mind for family members, ensuring that their loved ones can maintain their independence and safely access any area in the home, even if they use a wheelchair.
Cost Effective
Although there is the initial financial layout of installing a home elevator, modifying the home is often more cost effective in the long term (with the added benefit of increasing the property value) than moving to an assisted living facility.
The safety features of the home elevators also reduce the risks of falls, injury and the subsequent expense of hospitalization and rehabilitation, especially for individuals with balance and mobility issues.
The Safety Features Of A Standard Home Elevator
Most modern home elevators are designed with advanced safety features to ensure a safe and comfortable ride. For seniors, especially those with mobility issues, the safety elements of home elevators will ensure that they can age in place with confidence.
Standard safety features to look for in a home elevator include:
- Emergency stop buttons
- Battery backup system
- Automatic door sensors
- Smooth start and stop mechanism
- Handrails and non-slip flooring
Emergency Stop Buttons
Emergency stop buttons allow users to stop the elevator whenever necessary. They are often installed with an alarm system that can be activated to signal assistance in the case of malfunction, providing peace of mind for both seniors and their loved ones.
Battery Back-up System
Many home elevators are fitted with an emergency backup battery to ensure the elevator remains functional even in an emergency. The backup battery ensures that the elevator remains operational, allowing the user to exit safely even during an unexpected power interruption. This gives users peace of mind that they can safely use the elevator without the fear of being trapped.
Automatic Door Sensors
The automatic door sensor prevents the elevator doors from closing if any object or person is detected in the doorway. This is a vital safety feature that minimizes the risk of injury, especially for users with mobility issues.
Smooth Start And Stop Mechanism
The smooth start and stop technology ensures a gentle ride by preventing sudden jolts when the elevator starts and stops. This feature reduces the risk of falls and injury, especially for users with balance and limited mobility issues.
Handrails And Non-Slip Flooring
Home elevators have sturdy handrails and non-slip flooring that are very beneficial for users with limited strength and/or balance issues. Users can confidently enter, use, and exit the elevator without the fear of slipping or falling.
High-Quality Home Elevators From Advanced Mobility Inc.
Home elevators are an essential tool for seniors wanting to age in place. By reducing the risk of falls and providing a safe way to access any level of the home, home elevators empower seniors to continue living in their homes while maintaining a quality of life.
As the demand for aging in place intensifies, investing in a home elevator is a proactive step towards aging in place both confidently and safely. At Advanced Mobility Inc., we believe that you should be able to safely access any level of your home, and that is why we specialize in supplying and installing high-quality residential home elevators, including:
- The Duo Lift Home Elevator – a freestanding elevator that does not require hydraulics or load-bearing walls.
- The Trio Lift Home Elevator – the home elevator that can safely support a full-sized wheelchair
Located in Fort Lauderdale, our family-owned business has been providing mobility solutions for over 23 years. Don’t let your mobility limitations prevent you or your loved ones from aging at home. Contact us at 954-888-9292 today.