Glide up to bed by lift or stairlift
BEING able to get upstairs can be a struggle when you are contending with pain due to an RMD. But a home lift could make life much easier.
This type of lift runs on a rail and is self-supporting, so doesn’t require any major structural alterations.
Stylish and elegant, it is large enough to carry two people, but small enough to fit in anywhere. So it can carry you and a companion from the living room to the landing or the kitchen to the bedroom, depending on the layout of your home.
With a very small footprint of less than P sq ft, it gives freedom and flexibility. ilus, the floor lid is safe to stand on upstairs when the lift cabin has travelled downstairs.
Whether it is taking you up to bed at night or helping you run the vacuum around upstairs and down, it will make your life easier. And it may be possible to view a home lift in someone else’s home before you buy — ask the lift company representative.
One of the characteristics of RMDs is that symptoms vary from day to day and even over a matter of hours, with discomfort often worse at the start and end of the day.
Some days people can use the stairs, while on others symptoms are more extreme. When help is required, a stairlift provides an easy way to get upstairs without strain. And on days when you feel able to use the stairs, the seat will fold away neatly.
A swivel seat can be helpful. These seats work like an office chair and will swivel at the top of the stairs so that you end up facing the landing.
There are also armrests to grip, making them easier to get out of.
Some people with hand, arm or wrist problems find the controls on a swivel seat difficult to use, so the ‘try before you buy’ rule applies. A joystick might be the easiest option.
If you have any hip, knee or back problems, do also ensure that the height of the seat suits you. A handrail near the stairlift might be useful, too, if you feel unsteady at times.