Stair lifts provide a safe and comfortable way for the elderly, people with disabilities, or people with discomfort in walking and climbing, to freely move up and down stairs, in a home or other buildings, such as a church, community center, school, etc.

Installing a stair lift can can also help avoid the expense and time required to remodel a home in order to help someone move about vertically.

Stair lifts are a proven, safe solution that is easy for a care giver or stair chair lift user to operate. Higher Mobility’s stair lifts include various safety features that ensure that learning how to use the stair lift is quick and easy, and that operation is natural and fluid for the user. Key safety features include:

• a multi-point safety system with obstruction sensors that stop the lift if something blocks the path,
• seat belt,
• special materials that ensure a smooth and quiet ride,
• swivel seat,
• foldable seat,
• battery power, recharges when not in use
• flexible, comfortable controls,
• remote control.

Seat belt
A seat belt is provided for added security and brakes that will stop the lift should something go wrong with the drive system. This helps keep you secure in the seat while the lift is in motion.

Quiet and smooth ride
The tubing materials along the gears allows for a quiet, and low noise while the machine is running, along with a smooth ride without vibration

Swivel Seat
This locks your seat in place when it’s swiveled away from the landing and ensures that the seat swivels only at a landing and not during the ride.

Foldable Seat
A foldable seat provides safety for everyone in the house. The folded seat permits for more space in the stairway, and allows the stair lift to be out of the way when not in use.

Joy Stick, Controller
Even the controls are designed with your comfort in mind. Constant pressure controls make sure the lift will stop if you release your finger from the controls. There are various options for the controls on the chair, whether is be a flat control or joy stick.

Remote Controller
This allows you to bring the stair lift back up the stairs to you or down the stairs to you, especially if there are more than one set of stairs and stair lifts or more than one person using the stair lift.

The cost of mobility equipment can be deducted from your income taxes as medical expenses under specific circumstances. Before we get to those circumstances, here’s a qualification of our own:  This information is extracted from Internal Revenue Service (IRS) publications. It is important that you retain a qualified tax consultant before relying on any of the information below. We are not qualified tax consultants, so you should not depend upon this information without an expert’s advice. It is also important to be aware that IRS regulations change from time to time.

The first qualification to the answer, of course, is that you must itemize deductions rather than taking the standard deduction. You can’t take the standard deduction and also deduct the cost of a stair chair lift.

The second requirement is that the expenses be made for you, your spouse and any dependents at the time of the expense. A dependent can be a “qualifying” child or relative.

The third qualification is that you can deduct medical expenses only for the tax year in which the expense as incurred. For most people, this means the calendar year in which you spent the money.

The fourth hurdle is that you can deduct only the amount of your medical expenses that exceeds 7.5 percent of the adjusted gross income on your form 1040. This means that you must spend more than 7.5 percent of your adjusted gross income on medical (including dental expenses) to make any deduction for mobility equipment.
The IRS gives this example:

Your AGI is $40,000, 7.5% of which is $3,000. You paid medical expenses of $2,500. You cannot deduct any of your medical expenses because they are not more than 7.5% of your AGI.

Another question is whether the mobility equipment you purchase is a medical expense under IRS regulations. The general definition of medical expenses is the following:

Medical expenses are the costs of diagnosis, cure, mitigation, treatment, or prevention of disease, and the costs for treatments affecting any part or function of the body. These expenses include payments for legal medical services rendered by physicians, surgeons, dentists, and other medical practitioners. They include the costs of equipment, supplies, and diagnostic devices needed for these purposes.

Medical care expenses must be primarily to alleviate or prevent a physical or mental defect or illness. They do not include expenses that are merely beneficial to general health, such as vitamins or a vacation.

Installing a stair chair lift is a capital expense in the eyes of the IRS. However, this expense raises additional qualifications. The IRS says:

You can include in medical expenses amounts you pay for special equipment installed in a home, or for improvements, if their main purpose is medical care for you, your spouse, or your dependent. The cost of permanent improvements that increase the value of your property may be partly included as a medical expense. The cost of the improvement is reduced by the increase in the value of your property. The difference is a medical expense. If the value of your property is not increased by the improvement, the entire cost is included as a medical expense.

The IRS lists several improvements “made to accommodate a home” to the disabled condition of you, a spouse, or a dependent that do not usually increase the value of the home, in which case the entire cost can be included as a medical expense. One of these improvements is “installing porch lifts and other forms of lifts.”

On the other hand, the IRS notes that installing an elevator generally adds value to the house. However, the costs of operation, maintenance, and upkeep of equipment for individuals with limited mobility can be considered medical expenses, even if the original cost of the capital asset if the only some or none of the cost of the asset was a medical expense. In the case of an elevator, according to the IRS, “The cost of electricity to operate the elevator and costs to maintain it are medical expenses as long as the medical reason for the elevator exists.”

We hope this gives you an idea of how you can save on taxes when installing a stairlift and other in home mobility equipment, but again, consult a tax expert before relying on this information.

Mobility is an important consideration if you want to live in your home as long as possible. Another need is competent legal advice.

A trade group called The National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys, Inc. (NAELA) is a professional association of over 4,200 attorneys who “are dedicated to improving the quality of legal services provided to seniors and people with special needs.” According to the NAELA, “members assist their clients with public benefits, probate and estate planning, guardianship/conservatorship, and health and long-term care planning, among other important issues.” Attorneys affiliated with NAELA include lawyers in the private and public sectors, as well as judges, professors of law, and students.

The membership directory is available online. You can search for the attorneys affiliated with the NAELA nearest you. You can also keep abreast of special programs for elders and those with special needs on the NAELA website. For example, NAELA has declared October to be “special needs month.”

Although much of the NAELA website is for its attorney members, there is a considerable amount of information for consumers, including an alphabetized list of what the site calls “Association, Foundation and Non-Profit Resources,” starting with the AARP and ending with United Seniors Health Cooperative.

Of course, the fact than an attorney is a member of NAELA is not an assurance of competency, and the site covers how to choose an attorney and questions to ask.

As for competence in mobility equipment installation: How do you choose the best firm to install mobility equipment in your home? Higher Mobility offers advice on comparing firms and choosing the right ones. Read our 5 Tips For Selecting A Service Provider.

Each year, most at-home accidents occur in the bathroom.

Falls were the most common primary cause of injury (81 percent), and the most frequent injuries were contusions or abrasions (29 percent). The head or neck was the most common part of the body injured (31 percent). Most patients (85 percent) were treated and released from the emergency department, while 14 percent were treated in the emergency room and subsequently hospitalized. The rate of bathroom injuries for women was 121 per 100,000 – 72 percent higher than the rate for men (70 per 100,000).

The most frequent accidents occurred in or around the tub or shower and on or near the toilet. The activities in 37 percent of the cases were bathing, showering, or getting out of the tub or shower; only a few accidents occurred while getting into the tub or shower. The cause of 17 percent of injuries was slipping, which included slipping while bathing; 14 percent occurred when standing up from, sitting down on, or using the toilet; and a few were attributed to loss of consciousness before a fall.

Most frequently, the injuries were contusions or abrasions, strain or sprain, and fracture. The age-specific rate for contusions or abrasions increased from 14 per 100,000 (15 to 24 years of age) to 158 (85 years of age or older). The fracture rate increased markedly, from 6 per 100,000 (25 to 34 years of age) to 166 (85 years or older).

If you are planning to stay in your home as you age, it’s critical not only to consider how you will move from floor to floor, but also to consider what modifications in your bathroom will allow you to more safely age in place. Higher Mobility’s Certified Age In Place services include inspection and advice for all rooms of your home, including the most dangerous. Learn more about Higher Mobility’s aging in place services.

The title of the conference is “Aging-in-Place in Suburbia: Strategies for Success.” Registration for the conference itself is closed, but the expo, featuring some 75 exhibitors, is open to all, and key presentations will be shown in the expo area via closed-circuit television.

These include Supervisor Jon Kaiman’s segment on the town’s “Project Independence,” a program that helps enable seniors to age in place. Project Independence is devoted exclusively to North Hempstead residents 60 years or older. It is an umbrella program under which various entities provide the services. The growing list of benefits include housing finance assistance, consumer protection programs, reduced-fare taxi service to doctors and grocery stores, and more.

Senator Kirsten Gillibrand to deliver keynote address at the North Shore Aging In Place Conference.

U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), who currently serves on the Senate Special Committee on Aging, will deliver the keynote address. North-Shore LIJ representatives will speak on “Trends in Aging.” Other speakers include experts in the healthcare and geriatric field.

For more information, including the conference schedule, residents of North Hempstead can call the information line at 311; others can reach the town’s information line at (516) 869-6311.

In a study by AARP, over 90% of seniors stated that they wanted to age in their home. With over 76 million Baby Boomers moving toward retirement, “aging in place” is a growing field of interest for everyone. Higher Mobility offers Certified Age In Place services to help people create a road map for their home. Learn more about Higher Mobility’s aging in place services.

Light
As you age, you need good light to navigate your home’s rooms and stairs, as well as to read prescription drug labels (the print gets smaller every year!) and more entertaining reading. When you need artificial light, it should be bright, and the switch should be in easy reach. If you have windows and skylights, you can go green by taking advantage of natural light wherever you can. In addition to increasing visibility, you can use sunlight to warm your home in the winter.

Design and building materials
When you do remodeling for looks or to help you stay in your home as you age, look for an architect who is up to date on LEED and designing for sustainability and senior living spaces, and a contractor who knows how to use materials that are low-maintenance and are environmentally friendly. Examples are renewable wood species such as bamboo, finishes low in volatile organic compounds, and carpeting, siding, concrete, decks and fences that contain recycled content.

Low-maintenance landscaping
An important part of aging in place is making caring for a home easier. Reduce the area of grass that needs mowing by making your yard more natural, using low-maintenance native plants and trees, which can also cut cooling costs in the summer by shading your home. Choose less slippery walking surfaces such as driveways and walkways made of gravel, pavers or other permeable systems that allow rainwater to reach the ground.

Technological help
Modern safety devices can give you the peace of mind that is so important when you’re aging in place. For example, there are now telephones with amplification, big buttons and talking caller ID; emergency products like Guardian Alert 911, for 24/7 remote access to 911; smoke detectors with strobe lights for the hard-of-hearing; and monitored, automatic medication dispensers, such as E-Pill, which will call, text or e-mail a caregiver if medication is not taken.

For those with internet connections, of course staying connected to family and friends through Facebook, email and other social networking sites for families, such as Proust, is an important part of home life too, and even more so for those who are mobility challenged.

Home mobility
Making a home safe and friendly for long-term, comfortable living for seniors or people with disabilities, is another way to think about sustainability. Some of the most common modifications include the addition of stairlifts, or expanding doorways, leveling uneven flooring, adding hand rails and other assistive and safety equipment. Sometimes changing the use of rooms is called for too, such as moving a bedroom to a first floor, and converting a powder room to a master bathroom, and making sinks, counters, shelving, cabinets, and appliances wheelchair-accessible.

There is now a growing number of Certified Age In Place Specialists (CAPS) who are helping people make home modifications to make aging in their home a viable alternative to assisted living communities. More information about the CAPS program is at www.nahb.org.

Higher Mobility offers certified age in place consulting services to help people take appropriate, practical first steps to prepare their home for “aging in place”. If you have questions about aging in place services, please contact us.

Many of us think of accidents as dangers we encounter outside the home. Although we anticipate more trouble on a long trip, more than half of all traffic accidents occur within five miles from our homes. Inside our homes, each year about one out of 17 people will experience an accidental injury. A fatal injury occurs in the home about every 14 minutes and a disabling injury about every four seconds. The National Safety Council states that 72,600 deaths take place in homes and in the community from unintentional injuries, as well as over 20,200,000 disabling injuries, affecting 112 million households, and costing Americans over $251.9 billion.

Within the home, the kitchen is a often a place of warmth, enticing aromas and good food, even though serious accidents sometimes happen there. But those of us with limited mobility, either from age or disability, the kitchen can acquire more potential for injury.

Here are some tips that can make your kitchen safer:

• Use an electric teakettle rather than one you heat on a stove.
• Set the water-heater temperature at 120°F to prevent accidental scalding.
• Use a single-lever faucet that can adjust the water temperature.
• Provide an area away from the knife drawer and the stove where a person with limited mobility can help prepare food.
• Adapt one counter for access by wheelchair users, if appropriate.
• Use a microwave oven rather than a conventional oven whenever possible – but not if a person with a pacemaker is present.
• If possible, have the range controls on the front of the stove.
• Use a step stool, never a chair, to reach high shelves.
• To reduce the chance of falls and to avoid reaching and bending, place frequently used items at a level between the shoulders and knees.
• Rather than using extension cords to connect multiple appliances, unplug appliances after each use so they all share the outlets. Or ask an electrician to install a junction box that allows added outlets.
• Dry your hands thoroughly after they get wet for greater safety plugging or unplugging appliances and in gripping glassware, ingredient jars or other breakable objects.
• Don’t leave anything on the top of the stove. (Most home fires begin in the kitchen). The Home Safety Council recommends keeping anything flammable at least three feet from the stoves or grills.
• Using oven mitts and rolling up sleeves can prevent burns and clothing from catching fire.
• Be sure you have a portable fire extinguisher hung within easy reach of the stove, and that you – and anyone else who cooks in the kitchen – is familiar with how to use it. Check also that it has been inspected and serviced at least once a year.

In a survey by the Home Safety Council, the majority of U.S. adults (82 percent) indicated that they are very knowledgeable or somewhat knowledgeable about what they can do to make their homes safer, only one-third (36 percent) were able to name a safety action they have already taken. Still, 90 percent of seniors say they want to stay in their homes as long as possible.

Considering these safety statistics and the over 76 million Baby Boomers nearing retirement, many people are opting for a thorough assessment of there home’s safety, design and infrastructure, to support long-term planning and living in their homes. Tackling good safety practices is a good first step. Working with an age-in-place consultant, such as Higher Mobility, might be a close second.

Share your safety tips with us!

These games for disabled veterans, including archery, basketball, bowling, power soccer, quad rugby, weightlifting, and many others, take place in Pittsburgh this year. The annual competition began in 1981, and is the largest annual wheelchair-sporting event in the world. More than 500 disabled veterans compete each year. They come from almost every state, as well as Puerto Rico and Great Britain.

The games are open and the public is welcome to attend. The event will take place at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center, University of Pittsburgh’s Trees Hall, Princess Lanes Bowling Center and other area venues in and around Pittsburgh, Pa. The schedule of the events is posted here.

Wheelchair sports play an important and lasting role in the lives of Veterans with disabilities by enabling them to be competitive athletes. The athletes compete in all events against others with similar athletic ability, competitive experience or age.

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and Paralyzed Veterans of America (PVA), with financial assistance from corporate, civic and veteran service organizations, present the event. Hosts for this year’s games include VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System (VAPHS) and the Keystone Chapter of the Paralyzed Veterans of America.

The presenters of this event are committed to improving the quality of life for veterans with disabilities and fostering better health through sports competition. While past Games have produced a number of national and world-class champions, the Games also provide opportunities for newly-disabled veterans to gain sports skills and be exposed to other wheelchair athletes. Typically, one quarter of the competitors have never before participated in any type of organized wheelchair sports competition.

Visit the official National Veterans Wheelchair Games website at www.wheelchairgames.va.gov.  For information specifically about the 2011 Games in Pittsburgh visit their website at www.pittsburgh.va.gov/NVWG/index.asp.

On a separate but related note, Higher Mobility, in partnership with the International Union of Elevator Contractors Local #5 Philadelphia, founded A Lift For A Vet, a special program that helps disabled veterans wounded since 9/11, transition to a mobile home life. For more information about A Lift For A Vet, contact Michael Walsh:  mwalsh@highermobility.com.

Parking Help. For example, Parking Mobility, is an app that’s free. According to the developer, you can share, find and suggest disabled parking locations anywhere in the world. Although many cities don’t have records of where those parking locations are, you can share the locations of disabled parking in less than 30 seconds, allowing others in your community to more easily find them. By tapping the map pin, you can quickly see that parking location’s details (number of spots, rear-/side-ramp accessibility, cost, etc.). Interestingly, you can also report vehicles illegally parked in spots reserved for the disabled. Click here to learn more.

Learning Sign Language. If you or someone in your family needs to learn sign language, you can use Sign Smith Essential, which includes 100 signs. For 99 cents, it will help you learn the ASL Alphabet, count to 20, and sign basic feelings and personal descriptions. The developer also offers apps with more signs. Learn more.

Hearing Things? Another inexpensive app is soundAMP Lite, which claims to be the most popular hearing assistance device in the App Store. Ambient sounds are sent from the iPhone to the earbuds in real time. It helps around the table at home, watching TV, in lecture halls, at parties. There’s even a “zoom button” to reduce background noise.

ADA for 99 Cents! The Americans  with Disabilities Act Reference also costs 99 cents. Sometimes, it can be hard to obtain the actual bill to refer to it when necessary. The application is divided into sections, just like the actual bill. You can scroll through the sections with the flip of your finger. The text is formatted so you can easily read the bill.

Emergency Info. My Emergency Information makes your important health profile details accessible, such as in an emergency. Emergency contacts can be made with one click from the home screen. Other information that can be stored in the app include allergies, prescription drugs, medical conditions, and insurer information. The app has a one-click map you can use to find the closest hospitals and emergency rooms.

These are only a few of the apps that can help people with disabilities. You can search for more in Apple’s App Store.

We love innovation and new technology that adds value and ease to the lives of disabled veterans, the elderly or anyone with a physical challenge. What new iPhone apps or home mobility products have you heard about that you’d like to share with others? Let us know!

Home Elevators or Lifts
Home elevators take up a bit more room than stair chair lifts and wheelchair lifts, so when considering which option is best for yourself or your family, take that into account. If you are thinking about vertical transportation options for a family, home elevators are a great one. Some questions to ask:

• Do you live in a large house with multiple levels and have small children?
• Need to make multiple trips up and down the stairs with laundry, kids, or groceries?
• Is someone wheelchair bound or using a wheelchair from time-to-time?
• Are you a Boomer or Senior considering age-in-place options?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, a home elevator might be a good option for you.

Home elevators add value to a home and convenience to a family’s lifestyle. And for the elderly, a home elevator provides a viable solution for staying in your residence as you age.

Today’s home elevators are safe and can be customized to blend perfectly with your home’s design, and they can be built into a new home or your current residence. When shopping for a home elevator or lift, make sure it has all of the necessary safety features:

• door interlock,
• cable safety device,
• emergency light,
• alarm, and
• phone.

Keep in mind, that home elevators do require regular servicing and maintenance to ensure their safety and reliability. Regular maintenance will also protect your investment for years to come. Learn more in the home elevator FAQ.

Stair Chair Lifts
One of the leading causes of falls in the home for people of all ages is walking up and down the stairs.  Stairs can also be tough on knees, hips, ankles and other joints. Stair chairs can prevent the normal strain on knees, hip joints, and ankles, and provide an affordable, easy to install and operate solution for moving up and down stairs – indoor and outdoor.

If you find that climbing an entire set of stairs in your home is very difficult on a regular basis, then a stair chair lift may be a good option for you. Stair chair lifts are relatively easy to install and will not change the structural integrity of your home. Plus, stair chair lifts are very economical and have low maintenance costs. However, because there are many factors involved with installing a stair chair, installation should be performed by a professional. Read the Stair Chair FAQ.

Wheelchair Lifts
Wheelchair lifts are also known as vertical platform lifts or vertical lifts. They are generally more aesthetically pleasing than wheelchair ramps and are an alternative to home elevators. The modern styles of wheelchair lifts are streamlined and designed to be lighter with optimized performance. There are efficient and customizable solutions for expanding residences with limited mobility and access. Make sure that you select a wheelchair lift that comes with all the necessary safety features and is ADA compliant. Read the Wheelchair FAQ.