With advancing age, the first aches and pains and physical problems begin to be felt, which soon lead to real motor limitations. All this deprives the elderly of their autonomy and independence. So a daily action such as going up or down stairs can be an insurmountable obstacle . Elderly people with motor problems come across “architectural barriers” on a daily basis. The term architectural barrier refers to the physical obstacle. This does not allow complete mobility for those who possess limited motor capacity, permanent or temporary. Some examples are a sidewalk without a ramp, a narrow door, or a very normal flight of stairs.
What is the solution?
As for a flight of stairs, an electromechanical system has been designed to “break down” this architectural barrier. The system in question is called a stairlift or stairlift.
The stairlift facilitates the transport and movement of the person on a flight of stairs through a special platform (platform stairlift) or seat (chair stairlift).
The stairlift in the home
In the case of a house on floors, the elderly need a stairlift to be able to go up and down the stairs in full autonomy. The domestic installation of this system must comply with some fundamental elements for the yield and efficiency of the entire system.
The first advantage of this type of system is that it does not need masonry. In fact, it will be anchored to the steps of the flight of stairs through a special fixing of metal dowels. To power the system, you simply need the voltage of a normal domestic electrical outlet with grounding.
Another aspect to take into consideration for home installation is certainly the optimization of space and the reduction of overall dimensions. In fact, the stairlift does not have a standard application but is tailor-made according to different needs.
What to consider for a home installation
It is essential to consider the spaces available in the context in which it will be inserted to make the most of the spaces. First of all, you need to outline the starting and finishing plan of the rail system on which the stairlift itself will run. In the case of a multi-storey house, any intermediate stops are also available.
With the presence of doors and small doors, their sense of openness must be taken into account in order to avoid obstacles resulting from a series of mutual blocks.
To minimize the overall dimensions on the stairs or handrail, the position of the parking lot of the platform or armchair will be evaluated.
Costs of a stairlift
As we have previously specified, this system is custom-made, so the prices of stairlifts for the elderly will be variable.
One of the key factors is first and foremost the length of the rail system and the type of staircase on which it will be installed.
In addition, domestic and therefore internal installation has a much lower cost than an external installation.
Other determining factors for the variation of costs derive from any customization and additional services to meet certain and precise needs.
Finally, thanks to the intervention of the State and some laws, it is possible to take advantage of tax breaks to lower the costs of installation. Stairlifts already enjoy a reduced VAT of 4% as sanitary facilities. The disabled, on the other hand, can take advantage of an IRPEF deduction of about 19%. Thanks to the “Development Decree” for the removal of architectural barriers, it will be possible to take advantage of an IRPEF deduction of about 50%.
Conclusions
Motor limitations for an elderly person can cause considerable mental discomfort . In order to restore their independence and domestic autonomy to these people, it will be advisable to install a stairlift system. In this way, through freedom of movement , it will be possible to take back one’s life without any obstacles.
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