[jacksonsmommy]

Considering possibly getting a stairlift installed. Very steep staircase with 14 stairs. On a good day I can run up, on a mediocre day I struggle up, and on a bad day I'm crawling up.

The "problem" is I don't need it all the time. But on bad or medicore days it would sure make my life much easier.

It would cost me $3300 to get one installed. This would be 100% out of pocket as I don't qualify for any funding. As long as I get a prescription I can use it as a tax write off as an allowable medical expense. It would cost me way more money to move to a bungalow and the upheaval of selling and moving would be very hard on me. I would have a hard time selling in this market anyway.

At what point would you consider getting a stairlift worth it? Needing it 10 days out of a month? Or would you only consider it worth it if you needed it almost constantly?

[SallyC]

If you don't want to move, then get a stairlift. I did, for the basement stairs and was so glad. I Didn't need it all the time, then, but before long I did and even after I started using a Scooter around the house, I could still transfer to it and use it, with a WC at bottom of stairs.

I also got a ramp put in, from house down to garage. That was a definate must have, in order to remain independent and get out of the house on my own. Oh and a van lift for my scooter too.

I had to pay out of pocket for all theses things. My Insurance paid for my, more expensive, Scooter and that's it.

Good luck and enjoy..

[NurseNancy]

your question reminds me of one i asked my dad a long time ago.
and that was "when do i need new tires on my car?"

the answer; "when you need them".

sounds like you need it. i don't think it's a matter of percentages.
it's worth it to save your energy for other things and for safety.

if you can pay for it i'd do it.

let us know what you decide.

[Erin524]

We got our stairlift in 2004 (maybe 2005?). At the time, it was just for my mom, who's had two knee replacements.)

I didnt use it right away. I didnt find out that I might have MS till mid 2006, wasnt diagnosed till the beginning of 2007, and didnt start to actually NEED to use mom's stairlift until about a year ago. (had a couple of flares that either made me dizzy/unsteady or too weak to walk up and down the stairs.

My dad and I mostly used it to ferry laundry up and down the stairs. Dad started using it when he was diagnosed with a heart condition just after I got diagnosed with MS.

I totally think it was worth it to put the stairlift in when we did. My mom was able to go up and downstairs in our house, was able to get out to the backyard easily. My dad and I, when we started having our health problems, thought it was great we already had the stairlift installed. My dad said that the stairlift has paid for itself several times for all the times that it's allowed him to ride up the steps and still have the energy to get to the bathroom without falling on his face before he got there.

Use it on the days you need it to get up and down the stairs. On the days you dont need to, use it to bring laundry up the stairs.

I use our stairlift almost all the time now. Today, I walked down the stairs (being careful not to bend my left knee tho) because we were getting furniture delivered and the delivery guys were a bit impatient for me to get the back door unlocked. (stairchair was downstairs because my dad sent it down so they could get other furniture into an upstairs room without catching on the lift at the top of the stairs) I need that stairlift. My right leg wasnt up to walking down the stairs and was shaking and sore for about an hour after I walked down the steps.

I think it's a great invention. (so does my niece, but we dont let her ride it. If she had her way, she'd go up and down the stairs constantly. She's nine and should know better to not do that. She doesnt think it's "fair" that I ride it and she cant. She doesnt understand the MS stuff yet. I'm not allowed to correct her and tell her it's not a toy)

[Jules A]

I'd also consider that if you can write it off in the average aprox. 30% tax bracket you would essentially only be paying around $2000 if that makes it feel any better.

Definitely cheaper than moving especially if you don't want to move. Good luck.

[doydie]

I'm in that spot also. But my needing days is far less and I have a husband that will take anything up and down the stairs when I need it. I don't let him most of the time because I want to enjoy the new family room we made and I also don't want to totally not go down there. But we live in a bi-level. So where ever I go it's 7 steps. Our next door neighbor worked at the company that would install one and he said he would give us a discount but he up and retired!!!! The nerve of him. LOL If my Mom were alive I probbaly would get one earlier just because of the fact that we live in a bilevel. But she is gone now.

[NeuroNixed Craig]

I have learned over the years of progressive and aggressive symptoms, when I think about a challenge enough causing me to ask myself if a possible solution is "worth it," it's time and worth it.

[jacksonsmommy]

Originally Posted by NeuroNixed Craig

I have learned over the years of progressive and aggressive symptoms, when I think about a challenge enough causing me to ask myself if a possible solution is "worth it," it's time and worth it.

I think I am going to bite the bullet and do it. My husband isn't very supportive of it because of the space the chair will take at the bottom of the stairs. Granted, this is the man who still hasn't reached acceptance stage. I don't really have a lot of options though.

[Erin524]

Our stairlift doesnt really take that much space. If you put the seat up and the foot rest up, it probably will have a low profile on the stairs for when people walk up and down the stairs.

[doydie]

What does a person do if they use a scooter and live in a bi-level? From what I have seen of stair lifts it is for a person and not a scooter. I would have to have a scooter upstairs, downstairs and one to take with me when I go out. I don't think Medicare would pay for that!