Climbing stairs can be difficult when you have arthritis. Find out how to make your staircases safer, both inside and outside the house.
VIDEO TRANSCRIPT
We spend a great deal of time and money turning a house into a home – where we spend time with our families and where memories are made.
So, it’s frustrating when our homes become hazardous to our health or safety due to the limitations that come with arthritis.
Take for instance the stairs—up and down maybe 4-5 times a day at the least, right? But if you’re an arthritis sufferer , every step poses potential risks for falls. And a fall on the steps can have dire consequences.
I have some tricks for making the steps in your home a little safer— and tip number one you can use whether you have steps in the house or not – it’s these: shoes. And not just any shoes, look for the ones with a non-skid sole.
Hardwood floors, tile, and even some types of carpeting can be slippery. Good soles help with solid footing.
And if you go shoeless in the house, invest in some slippers or socks with treads.
Bare feet or sock-feet on hardwood is not smart!
These steps have three important features to prevent falls -Hand rails. Nnot just one along the wall, but another place to grip right here. Two handed balance.
Lights. A switch at the bottom of the staircase and a switch at the top mean that you have good light going up or down and can access it from both ends
And finally, no rugs or carpeting. The simple stair tread poses no trip hazard.
Let’s face it, pretty décor is nice, but if it’s the choice between looking pretty and staying safe, I vote for staying safe.
But these stairs could be a lot safer . What I have here are
Stair treads. I purchased them at a local home improvement storem and they couldn’t be easier to install – i’ll show you how.
First, clean and prep the stair tread making sure it’s free of debris. Take time to check each tread – fix any one that’s loose or uneven. This may require a professional, but it’s an important and worthwhile step to take.
Second, peel the backing from the tread and adhere it to the tread like this.
Make sure you have a solid seal between the pad and the step. Do this to every step, all the way up.
And while we’re at it, I’m going to add this reflective tape to the top and bottom steps. The bright strip helps identify the beginning and end of the stairway and might come in handy for those of us who’s eyesight isn’t what it used to be!
While it’s easy to use the stairs as a makeshift filing cabinet—placing things to go upstairs like mail or laundry – anything on the stairs besides your feet creates a trip hazard.
And don’t forget that staircases aren’t the only steps in your house. Steps outside or small steps inside can also be a hazard. In fact, single steps can be more hazardous than staircases because people often don’t expect them!
The reflective tape trick works for single steps too – it’s attention-grabbing, and paying attention is the simplest way to avoid a fall.
Taking advantage of these tips to make stairs and steps safer in the home benefits anyone who suffers from arthritis — but remember, safety in the home is good for everyone who lives there. With tips for a healthier home, I’m Jay Baker.