April 23 - How to Live Independently with the help of a lift

Here at Ostrich we like to invite guest writers to discuss issues and topics relating to elderly care. This week, Louise Blackham of Terry Lifestyle discusses the challenges of maintaining independent living. She explains how Terry's Lifestyle Lifts can help preserve independence.

Maintaining independence

Maintaining independence in your own home is vital.  Nobody wants to be forced to move from their home due to disability. Thankfully there are a number of really useful daily living aids available. They are designed to assist those of us coping with mobility difficulties with everyday tasks and help maintain independence at home.   

All too often, people who experience mobility problems are forced to consider moving from their home to a bungalow or care home because living independently in their own home has become too difficult.  However, there is another way. 

For those who find that the stairs are becoming too much of a struggle, a home lift may provide an answer. A home lift is a simple and relatively inexpensive alternative to expensive adaptations, or even unwanted relocation to another property. 

Home lifts were once an unthinkably expensive statement of wealth reserved for the rich and famous. But now home lifts are now recognised by home owners, social care professionals and house builders as an affordable and practical way of future-proofing homes. They enable residents to stay put well into retirement and live in complete independence.

Whether you suffer from arthritis, a muscular or neurological disease that affects your mobility, or simply find the stairs hard work as you get older, a home lift could make your life easier and help you maintain the freedom of your home.

Installing a Home Lift

Thanks to product innovation in the home lift market over recent years, stylish home lifts are now available at a price that won’t break the bank.  The installation of a through the floor home lift is straightforward and can be achieved easily without the need for major building work. 

Future-Proof Your Home

While many opt to have a home lift installed for an immediate need, it’s becoming increasingly common for people to ‘invest now for later’.  More and more people are planning for the years ahead and deciding to future-proof their homes by incorporating a home lift.  The idea of future-proofing a property with a home lift creates peace of mind and eliminates the stairs as a possible worry later in life. 

Types of Home Lifts

With a plethora of home lifts now available on the market it’s important to consider which product will best suit your needs.  If you have plenty of space (and money!) you may be able to incorporate a fully enclosed home lift.  The downside however, is that this type of lift requires a lift shaft and therefore more major building work to your home. 

A much more cost effective solution, and often the more practical option if space is limited, is a space-saving through-floor lift such as the Terry Lifestyle lift.  This type of home lift is self-supporting so does not require a lift shaft.  The main benefit is its small footprint and the fact that you can send the lift away from the room when it’s not in use, giving you the full space of your home back.

Terry Lifts

Terry Lifts is a UK lift manufacturer based in Cheshire with over 40 years of experience in the industry.  They offer a comprehensive range of domestic lifts designed to provide easy access in the home between levels. Terry Lifts will look after your project from start to finish, providing a one stop shop for your needs.

Two of their most popular home lifts are the Lifestyle lift and the Harmony wheelchair lift:

Lifestyle Home Lift

A space-saving and stylish home lift designed to make life that little bit easier.  It will fit neatly in the corner of a room or against the wall and will transport two adults standing or one seated (folding seat optional).

The Lifestyle home lift is easy to install.  It has a self-supporting structure, meaning minimal building work is required to your property.  It is easy to operate and come will all the latest safety features as standard. 

Almost all aspects of the Lifestyle home lift can be customised.  Choose the colour and finish of the paint, the interior of the cabin and the flooring so that the lift blends with the look and feel of your home.

Find out more about installing a Lifestyle home lift.

Harmony Wheelchair Lift

A though the floor lift designed to transport a wheelchair user safely between floors.  If you are a wheelchair user, or anticipate you will need to use a wheelchair in the future, the Harmony home lift will enable you to move easily and independently between floors in your wheelchair. 

The Harmony wheelchair lift is available in a range of sizes and can accommodate all category A and B wheelchairs.  It is easy to operate and features all the latest safety features as standard.

Find out more about the Harmony wheelchair lift.