Top Exercises To Help Improve Mobility In Elderly People 22 Apr 2023, 5:29 am

Muscles are there to be used, so the more you move them, the more you can do with them. This is why it is important elderly people do not get stuck in a rut, thinking they are not able to be physically active because of their age, aches or weaknesses.

Instead, it is important they keep up with movement, however small, as this will help maintain their muscles, improve their mobility and flexibility, and ultimately retain their independence for longer. 

This doesn’t mean they should start training for a marathon, but they can take part in simple exercises in the comfort of their home, which can strengthen their muscles and improve their overall health. 

According to the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy (CSP), these exercises can include leaning forwards while sitting on a chair, standing up and sitting down again. 

Another good exercise is holding the back of a chair, lifting heels off the floor and holding for three seconds, before lowering in a controlled manner. 

Similarly, you could stand and raise your toes while holding on to the back of a chair, and then lowering slowly. 

Elderly people could also improve their balance by holding their chair with one hand and bending one leg. They should keep the posture straight, and balance on the other leg for ten seconds before swapping. 

The heel-toe stand, which involves putting one foot in front of the other and balancing for ten seconds, is another effective exercise, while walking with one foot directly in front of the other in a straight line, practices stability. 

These exercises will improve mobility, but tackling stairs can be a much harder challenge for many people. This is why installing new stairlifts in Birmingham could help the elderly stay in their home for longer.

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Fun Ways For Elderly People To Keep Fit This Springtime 15 Apr 2023, 5:45 am

Springtime is finally here, with the weather ever so slowly warming up, flowers blossoming and the birds singing, which makes it the perfect time of the year to head outdoors and improve your fitness.

If mobility is difficult for you, there are still some great ways you can move your body without putting too much strain on it.

For a start, gardening might be something you love to do. Well, did you know it is also a great way to keep fit? According to Everyone Active, an hour weeding or pruning can burn 300 calories.

It has the added benefit of bringing you closer to nature and getting you outdoors, which helps relieve stress and boosts mental health.

Walking is also a lovely thing to do in the spring. If you can’t travel far, that’s ok. The low-impact exercise is good for you, no matter how far you traverse.

Now the weather is improving, you could aim to walk a little further every day, as it is easy to build stamina with walking, according to the NHS. It is also good for cardiovascular health, muscle strength, boosting mood and burning calories.

Those who are still relatively fit could also take part in racket sports, allowing you to soak up the fresh air while also improving strength. There is also minimal risk of injury, which is good news for those in their twilight years.

Some elderly people, of course, won’t be able to take part in tennis or badminton, as they rely on their stairlift in Leeds to get around their home. However, any exercise they can do will help improve, or maintain, their physical capabilities for longer.

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How To Clean Your Stairlift Correctly 20 Mar 2023, 6:38 am

Stairlifts are fantastic in aiding mobility and independence in the home, however, they require proper care and maintenance to ensure they work correctly and stay safe.

This includes cleaning. Stairlifts are used frequently by those who have them installed which means they need to be cleaned the same as any other frequently used furniture and equipment would.

Simple cleaning can include just wiping the stairlift seat down every day to ensure it is clean and sanitary for you. This helps avoid dust buildup and prevents any stains from sinking into the seat itself.

You should try and properly clean your stairlift every week or so though to ensure it stays in great condition.

This not only makes it nicer for you to use and keeps it in good condition, but it can also ensure that you never need to resort to deep cleaning in order to get rid of buildup and stains. 

Routine cleaning allows you to keep on top of the job and makes it quicker and easier to clean in the long run.

It is important to remember that stairlifts are electrical equipment and water and electricity don’t do well together. Try and avoid using a large amount of water, liquid cleaners or getting any moisture too close to the electrics.

A warm, damp cloth should be good enough to wipe the seat down and you may want to use a mild soap or detergent if necessary. Make sure the seat doesn’t get too wet as it can take a while to dry off which may make it uncomfortable to use.

The rail of your stairlift can get incredibly dirty with oil and dust but this shouldn’t be too difficult to clean if you see to it regularly. It’s important to wipe down the rail often as a buildup of dust and other debris can actually cause the lift to malfunction!

Wiping down with a soft cloth and a cleaning solution that doesn’t leave any sticky or oily residue behind is perfect for cleaning the rail and removing any dirt and dust buildup.

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Stairlift Safety 101 | UK Stairlifts Official Blog 10 Mar 2023, 5:36 am

Stairlifts are a great addition to the home for those who struggle with mobility. They can help to increase independence and give people more freedom to move comfortably around their own homes. However, it is important to use your stairlift safely to avoid accidents and injury.

Firstly, ensure that you are always properly seated on the stairlift and have placed the arm rests down and have buckled the seatbelt to reduce the risk of you falling out of your stairlift.

This may not seem likely, but it can be extremely dangerous if you do happen to fall out of the stairlift, especially if you are close to the top of the stairs as it can be a long way to fall and can cause serious injuries.

Many people who use stairlifts have mobility issues which also means they may find it hard to get themselves back on their feet without help, so falling from your stairlift could leave you in an uncomfortable position for a long time until someone is able to assist you.

Ensure the stairlift is only used by one person at a time and try to stop children from using the lift as a toy.  They are designed for single-person use and may break if the maximum weight limit is exceeded. Even children sitting on knees can be too heavy.

Children should not use the lift as a toy either. Small hands and feet can easily get trapped and hurt by the stairlift and children may also accidentally cause damage to the lift which can be costly to repair.

Ensure you maintain your stair lift well and address any issues as soon as possible. If your stairlift is malfunctioning or not working correctly, it is important you stop using it until it has been seen to in order to avoid further damage or injury.

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Why So Many Stairlifts Are Needed In Leeds 22 Feb 2023, 5:14 am

Leeds is one of the biggest cities in the UK and as with any large urban area, there will be a lot of people who need stairlifts. If you feel you need one, do not be embarrassed, for you will be in good company.

The first reason there will be a lot of need for stairlifts in Leeds is the actual population figure. Leeds is not just a big city; as a single local authority area its Census 2021 population was the second largest in the UK at 812,000, surpassed only by Birmingham and 8.1 per cent up on the 751,000 recorded in 2011.

By definition, even if there is only an average number of people with disabilities in the city needing stairlifts there will be more in Leeds than almost everywhere else.  

Of course, the number of old people will vary and cities do have younger populations than the country at large; indeed, there was a 20.1 per cent rise in over-65s in England since the 2011 census, but only 15.7 per cent in Leeds. Nonetheless, this still represents nearly twice the city’s population increase. That means the need for resources for older people is growing twice as fast too.

This may be significant when it comes to new homes and how they are equipped; like many cities, Leeds has seen a boom in city centre living, with a major focus now on the ‘South Bank’ area across the Aire from the city centre. This is likely to be dominated by more of the same, with lot of large, multi-storey apartment blocks.

All that means a growing population in Leeds will not translate into an adequate growth in single-storey homes suitable for those (not just including the elderly) who need stairlifts. As a result, the number of stairlifts in Leeds is only likely to grow in the years ahead as the population ages faster than it expands.

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Why Birmingham Will Have The Most Stairlift Users 15 Feb 2023, 8:26 am

The number of stairlifts in Birmingham is not the sort of thing that appears in official statistics, but the figure will undoubtedly be higher than that of any other local authority in the UK.

A simple reason underpins this; with a population of 1,144,000, the city is the largest single local authority in the country, well ahead of second-placed Leeds with 812,000 residents. London may be much larger, but its 8.9 million population is spread over 32 boroughs plus the City.

Cities do tend to have younger populations overall than the country at large, especially due to their high concentrations of students, but the number of over-65s in Birmingham rose by 8.9 per cent over the decade after the previous Census in 2011, compared with an overall population increase of 6.7 per cent.

A population that ages faster than it grows means an increasing proportion of the 1.14 million residents will need support for the effects of old age. But age alone is not a determinant of the need for stairlifts, as this also applies to many younger people with mobility issues. 

Birmingham City Council’s figures for 2018-19 on disability noted that across the UK, 21 per cent of Britons reported a disability, the equivalent of 14.1 million and up from 19 per cent (11.3 million) a decade earlier. This applied to 44 per cent of those of pension age (down from 2011 due to a rise in pensionable age).

Of those with disabilities, 9.15 per cent were ‘limited a lot’ by this, including 33.5 per cent of over-65s. Not all of these will have a disability requiring the use of stairlifts, of course, while some will live in single storey-homes anyway. 

Nonetheless, put together, a rise in population, rise in the number of older people and an overall increase in disability means there is no doubt the demand for stairlifts in Birmingham will be higher now than a decade ago. If you feel you need one, don’t hesitate to get in touch; you’ll  undoubtedly be in very good company.

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Why Many Newcastle Residents Could Need Stairlifts 7 Feb 2023, 6:29 am

The number of people who could benefit from having stairlifts in Newcastle is hard to quantify exactly, but there is plenty of data to indicate that the number is large and likely to both have risen in recent years and be set to go on doing so.

It is useful to be aware of this if there is a chance you need a stairlift. According to the 2021 Census, the population in Newcastle has climbed to 300,000, up 7.1 per cent on the 2011 figures. This represents a much larger increase than the North East as a whole, where the growth was only 1.9 per cent. Indeed, some neighbouring districts, such as Gateshead, saw their population fall.

While many factors will have contributed to this growth, such as employment opportunities and people coming to study, the fact is the population has still got older faster than it has got larger. The rise in the number of over-65s was 15.2 per cent.

Moreover, Newcastle City Council projects that the number of over-65s is set to rise further, from around 43,000 in 2018 to more than 55,000 by 2043.

Being older is one indicator of an increased need for mobility aids, but it is not the only one, as many younger and middle-aged folk have disabilities. 

The council noted that the 2021 snapshot identified 19 per cent of the city’s population has having disabilities that limit daily activities, with most but by no means all in the older age groups. While far from all of these will be mobility-related, it does indicate that many will need some extra help getting about.

It is important to note that, whatever the precise number who need stairlifts, it will not be a small one. Many will have a stairlift already and others might be struggling but likely to benefit from having one in the years ahead. If you have been advised you could benefit from one, do not feel awkward about it; you will be in very good company indeed.

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Reasons Why You Can’t Afford NOT To Get A New Stairlift 30 Jan 2023, 6:03 am

Stairlifts can completely transform your life, helping you to stay longer in your home and not have to move elsewhere. So, the real question isn’t whether you can afford to get a new stairlift, but can you afford not to?

Those with deteriorating mobility will begin to find climbing the stairs a particular challenge. After a while, it might become so difficult to go and up down the stairs that their only choice is to either move their sleeping quarters to the ground floor or move home entirely. 

Residents who can relocate their bedroom will also need access to a ground-floor bathroom. If there is not already one, the cost of installing a new accessible washroom will be considerably higher than fitting a new stairlift in Newcastle. 

Those who do not have a spare living room to transform into a bedroom might only be left with the option of buying a bungalow instead. However, this is also much more expensive than stairlift installation, which can extend your time in your home for several years. 

Alternatively, they may have to move in with a relative, meaning they are not able to live independently for as long as they might have wanted.

The government has also announced extra cash support will be given to disabled people in the second round of cost-of-living support. 

Six million disabled people in the UK will be eligible for a £150 grant from summer 2023. 

Mel Stride, work and pensions secretary, said: “We are sticking by our promise to protect the most vulnerable and these payments, worth hundreds of pounds, will provide vital support.”

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By Boosting Independence, Stairlifts Are Worth Investing In 16 Jan 2023, 6:01 am

People with limited mobility are faced with lots of different aids they could invest in to make their daily lives a bit easier to manage. Although it is great to now be able to have a much wider choice than in previous years, it can be difficult to choose which equipment will be most beneficial. 

For those living in houses with two or more stories, stairlifts are essential if you are unable to climb the stairs, or you are finding it increasingly challenging to do so. 

Many disabled people end up creating a bedroom out of one of their ground-floor rooms. However, not everyone has a bathroom on the bottom floor, which means they still have to manage the stairs to go to the toilet, often in the middle of the night when it is dark and they are less alert than during the daytime. 

What’s more, not everyone has extra living rooms they can transform into bedrooms, which means they are forced to remain on the second floor. 

Even if they are able to create downstairs sleeping space, if there is nobody else living in the house, this would mean a whole floor or two is deserted most of the time and damage to the property can creep in without them even knowing.   

By having a stairlift, however, they are able to have free access over the whole house, enabling them to remain in their bedroom for as long as possible, use their upstairs bathroom and move more freely around their home. 

This allows them to enjoy living by themselves for much longer, and remain more confident in their own abilities, which is priceless. 

For more information on installing a stairlift in Leeds, give us a call today and we can help you.

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Can Stairlifts Be Used On Different Types Of Staircases? 3 Jan 2023, 5:58 am

Many people choosing stairlifts for the first time make the assumption that they can only be used on straight staircases, as it is easier for the mechanism to simply go up and down the stairs. However, this is not the case, as many different types of staircases can be installed with stairlifts. Read on to find out more. 

The technology has advanced considerably over the years that curved stairlifts are straightforward to install, with bends easily fitting around corners. 

They can either be attached to the bannister or the wall, which means homes with quarter-turn, winder or half-turn staircases can all accommodate the equipment. 

Likewise, spiral staircases or curved ones can also have stairlifts as they can be fitted to the bannister itself instead of the wall. 

This is good news for people with limited mobility who do not want to relocate just to be able to move around their home. With these stairlifts, they can access different floors in their house, no matter what type of staircase they have. 

Some people who do not have a straight staircase might have been worried that stairlifts aren’t an aid they can benefit from, but this is not the case with the advanced machinery these days. 

For many people, this means being able to stay in their own home and live independently for longer, as they can move around without having to face the challenge of climbing the stairs. 

If you are looking for curved stairlifts in Birmingham, give us a call today for more information. 

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