For those living in chronic pain, every single moment of every single day can be a struggle. Tasks which otherwise seem simple to those who don’t have chronic pain can be a complete nightmare for those who do. These tasks can also take twice as long, if not longer.
The environment in which you live can have a huge impact on how you view yourself. When a place is chaotic or full of constant obstacles, for example, it is bound to make you feel bad about your everyday living situation. In contrast, simplifying and improving the mobility and living structure of a home can have the opposite effect.
What is chronic pain?
By definition, chronic pain is pain that persists for longer than 3 months. It is constant and does not go away, affecting a person’s entire central nervous system. Chronic pain has an effect on one’s mental and physical well-being, as well as their overall quality of life.
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The relationship between a loss of mobility and a lower quality of life
Not being able to perform day-to-day tasks and activities that you once used to can be extremely discouraging and disempowering. Not only can chronic pain make tasks difficult, but it can also make sufferers afraid of movement, causing them to avoid it altogether. Unfortunately, avoiding movement can lead to even more pain, continuing a vicious cycle.
As their mobility suffers, their mental health and quality of life decline too. This means that by increasing their ease of mobility, you naturally increase their quality of life and, hopefully, lessen some of their anxiety or depression – two common byproducts of losing your full mobility.
What are the two main types of lifts found within a home?
The two main types of lifts used at home are home lifts and stairlifts. Home lifts operate much like the ones found in malls, travelling in a vertical manner. Stairlifts are attached to stairs and therefore operate diagonally. Both take up minimal space and are designed to be easy on your joints.
Have the option to take the stairs or skip them
Stairlifts are ideal for those who already have stairs in their home or who would still like the option of using the stairs on lower pain days. They are easy to install and require little effort to operate on one’s own.
Low impact exercise can be helpful for those living with chronic pain symptoms, so certain individuals may want to use their stairs to add some optional movement into their routine. You may want to add a railing along the stairway as it becomes too painful midway up or down.
Avoid having to do any heavy lifting or walking up numerous levels
While low impact exercise can be helpful for chronic pain sufferers, lifting heavy objects should be avoided in most cases. Home lifts can be used to transport heavy furniture and luggage between levels without having to break your back up the stairs.
They are also extremely useful within houses with more than two levels because they allow you to glide effortlessly and elegantly between numerous levels at a time. This saves time and energy, all with a click of a couple of buttons.
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Take your pets and mobility aids with you with ease
Both home lifts and stairlifts support a good amount of weight. In particular, home lifts mean that you can take your mobility scooter or other walking aids with you in the lift with ease. Home lifts can also transport more than one family member at a time, including your furry friend.
