How to Make Climbing the Stairs Safer for an Elderly Person

If your elderly loved one is living in a house with stairs, there may be a time when it will become difficult for them to climb them safely. For your peace of mind, you will want to make sure that they are as safe as possible in their own home.

There are a variety of staircases, depending on the age and style of the house, but some can be more hazardous than others. It is important to see what improvements could be made to the stairs to help minimise the risk of a trip or fall.

Helpful Tips to Make Your Stairs Safer

Install handrails and sturdy banisters

Ensuring that the staircase has a solid and easy to hold banister on both sides is essential to helping anyone climbing the stairs feel safer. Some home improvements can be as simple as adding additional handrails on both sides of the staircase at the top and bottom of the stairs or in the landing. This will allow your loved one be more stable, better balanced and make them feel safer whilst on and near the top of the stairs.

Install good lighting around the steps

Poor lighting in the hallway, landing and stairway can make climbing stairs even more difficult; they may miss the step and increase the chance of falling. Adding lights around the steps could help them see the steps more clearly.

Replace worn and slippery stair carpets

Stairs are a high traffic area and old carpet on the stairs can become very slippery and hazardous. If this is the case, it will be necessary to replace it with new, non-slip carpet. It could even be a good idea to install a carpet in bright colours or with a pattern, so it is easier for the elderly person to be able to see the steps more clearly.

Wear non-slip footwear to climb stairs

Proper footwear can provide excellent grip and support for the feet. Old shoes or slippers can become slippery on the sole and increase the chances of slipping or falling down the stairs. Slip-on slippers or shoes, without a securing strap or laces, can also easily catch on stairs and create a trip hazard. To ensure safety on the stairs, footwear should be sturdy and practical with a non-slip sole.

Install a stairlift for the ultimate peace of mind

Your loved one may be at the point where the advice above will not help and you do not feel comfortable leaving them on their own anymore. If the danger of them falling, tripping or losing their balance on the stairs and potentially falling is high, installing a stairlift is the perfect option for giving you peace of mind. Climbing stairs takes a lot of effort as we age, so the energy saved from getting up the stairs will also most likely lead to a reduced risk of falling at other times too. A stairlift can give a boost of confidence to your loved one, reduce the risk of falls, and many more benefits.

Our technicians are experts in installing and advising on the type of stairlift that would best suit your home.

Whether your stairs are straight or curved, with landings, narrow or steep steps, or obstacles at the top or bottom, we can install a stairlift that will fit your elderly loved one’s home. Our experienced advisors will give unbiased advice on a range of stairlifts!

Request a quote here or give us a call on 0800 1971021.