Tips from Certified Aging in Place Specialist (CAPS) Gordon Raney of 101 Mobility® Dallas
With the recent uptick in the housing market and multi-generational households trending, more families are purchasing new homes or remodeling their existing residences to be more accessible. When considering aging-in-place or wheelchair accessibility, one-story homes seem like an obvious choice, but a two-story house can be just as convenient with the right equipment. Certified Aging in Place Specialist (CAPS) and owner of 101 Mobility® Dallas Gordon Raney explains, “Planning ahead for future mobility needs can save homeowners thousands of dollars and future headaches.”
See below as 101 Mobility® Dallas shares which mobility solutions can make floor to floor travel in your two-story home safe and easy.
- Stair Lift (also known as a chair lift) – A stairlift allows a person to safely travel from one level to the next in a seated position, significantly reducing the risks of falling. Stairlifts are incredibly useful for individuals who have the ability to transfer on and off the chair lift independently but still encounter difficulty climbing stairs.
- Straight Stair Lift (for staircases with no turns or intermediate landings) – $3,000-$5,000
- Curved Stair Lift (custom-made to match the dimensions of your staircase) – $9,000-$15,000
Read More: Stair Lift Cost: A Complete Guide for Consumers
- Incline Platform Lift (also known as a wheelchair lift) – Are you looking for a way to get up or down the stairs while remaining in your wheelchair? An Incline Platform Lift (IPL) offers solutions for wheelchair users who require assistance during transfers or would like to avoid unnecessary transfers. IPLs allows the user to drive their wheelchair, power chair, or scooter onto a platform which then travels up the stairs at an incline, stops, and provides an easy exit point at the top landing.
- IPL (would allow an occupied wheelchair/scooter to traverse the stairs) – $20,000-$30,000
- Vertical Platform Lift or Home Elevator – If your staircase is too narrow for the incline platform lift or you would like to avoid the stairs altogether, a vertical platform lift or home elevator may be ideal for your two-story home. Vertical Platform Lifts (VPLs) and enclosed Pneumatic Vacuum Elevators (PVRs) transport users from one level to the next in a vertical fashion. An open atrium is a perfect spot for either of these. Both require minimal home modifications and space requirements to install.
- VPL (two story version) – $15,000 – $20,000
- PVE (vacuum powered, enclosed, freestanding elevator) – $30,000 – $50,000
Still not sure which mobility solution is the best fit for you or your loved one’s needs? No problem, find your nearest 101 Mobility® location by clicking here. Learn more from Certified Aging in Place Specialist and owner of 101 Mobility® Dallas, Gordon Raney about ways to make your bathroom more accessible in an upcoming post. Stay tuned!