Page 18 THE EVERETT ADVOCATE – FRiDAy, SEpTEmbER 22, 2023 Say nr Sa a y Senior Seni by Jim Miller Best Stair Lifts of 2023 Dear Savvy Senior, Because of chronic arthritis, I have a very diffi cult time going up and down stairs anymore and am interested in purchasing a stair lift for my two-story house. Can you recommend some good companies? Arthritic Andy Dear Andy, Yes, of course! A good home stair lift is a great mobility solution for anyone who is unable, or has a difficult time climbing stairs. To help you choose a quality stair lift that meets your needs and budget, here are a few shopping tips along with some top-rated companies. What to Know There are two basic types of stair lifts that are sold today: straight and curved. The type you need will depend upon the design of your staircase. A straight stair lift is one that travels in a straight line up a fl ight of stairs uninterrupted by landings, bends or curves, and costs anywhere between $2,000 and $5,000 installed. Curved lifts, however, are much more elaborate and will go around corners, bends and changes in direction. Curved lifts are also much more expensive, typically running between $8,500 and $15,000 or more depending on the complexity of the installation. Most stair lifts available today also have seats, armrests and footplates that fold up out of the way, and swivel seats that make getting into and out of the chair easier. They also come with standard safety features like seatbelts, braking systems and footrest sensors, push-button or rocker-switch controls located on the armrest for easy operation, and “call send” controls which allow you to call or send the unit to the other end of the stairs. Make sure the lift you choose has all these features. If you are a large person, you may need to get a heavy-duty lift with a wider seat and bigger lifting capacity – all companies off er them. Or, if you’re tall, fi nd out about raising the seat height during installation. Depending on the company, you may also have the option of choosing between an electric (AC) and a battery powered (DC) stair lift. Electric stair lifts are simpler and cheaper than battery powered units, but if your home loses power so does your lift. While battery powered lifts work even if there’s a power failure. Best Stair Lifts To help you choose a great stair lift the National Council on Aging, which is a national nonprofit organization that advocates for older Americans, put together a review team to research the different companies. Their list of best stair lifts of 2023 includes: • Editor’s Pick: Bruno (bruno.com) • Most Affordable: AmeriGlide (ameriglide.com) • Best Customer Reviews: Acorn (acornstairlifts.com) • Most Supportive Design: Harmar (harmar.com) • Most Adaptable to the Home: Access BDD (accessbdd.com) • Best for Arthritis: Stannah (stannah-stairlifts.com) See NCOA.org/adviser/ stair-lifts/best-stair-lifts to read their detailed reviews. Financial Help Unfortunately, health insurance including original Medicare does not cover home stair lifts, but some Medicare Advantage plans may help pay. Or, if you have long-term care insurance it too may cover a portion of the costs. If you qualify for Medicaid, many states off er waivers that may help pay for a lift, and the VA has several grant and benefi t programs that may off er assistance too if you’re a veteran. To save some money, you may want to consider purchasing a used or refurbished model. Or, if you need a stair lift for only a short period of time, consider renting one. Most companies off er these options, and many off er fi nancings too. To get started, contact some of the previously listed stair lift companies who will put you in touch with a dealer in your area. All dealers provide free in-home assessments and estimates and can help you choose an appropriate lift. Send your senior questions to: Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070, or visit SavvySenior.org. Jim Miller is a contributor to the NBC Today show and author of “The Savvy Senior” book. ~ Home of the Week ~ SAUGUS...BRIGHT and SUNNY corner unit at Clifton Arms! This nicely renovated unit offers 5 rooms, 2 bedrooms wtih NEW carpeting, kitchen with NEW quartz counters open to dining room with hardwood flooring spacious living room with hardwood flooring, wall air conditioner and slider to private balcony, great open floor plan, freshly painted throughout, coin-op laundry in building, extra storage, one nicely located parking spot, located just outside Cliftondale Square. Perfect Opportunity for Affordable Home Ownership! Welcome home to Clifton Arms! Offered at $355,000. 335 Central Street, Saugus, MA 01906 (781) 233-7300 View the interior of this home right on your smartphone. View all our listings at: CarpenitoRealEstate.com LEGAL NOTICE City of Everett PLANNING BOARD 484 BROADWAY EVERETT, MA 02149 nior ior LEGAL NOTICE EVERETT PLANNING BOARD PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE Public Hearing on a Proposed Zoning Amendment Section 30 – “Lower Broadway Economic Development District” – of the City of Everett Zoning Ordinance The Everett Planning Board will conduct a public hearing on Monday, October 2, 2023 at 6:00PM in the Speaker George Keverian Room (Room 37, Everett City Hall) to consider a proposed Amendment to Section 30 of the City of Everett Zoning Ordinance. This proposed amendment is as follows: To amend Appendix A: “Table of Use Regulations,” in the following manner: Use: Kennel, pet day care establishment. Amending by deleting “-“ (not permitted) and insert “Y” to signify use permitted in LB-RMF. This amendment would make no changes to the permissive uses in any other Lower Broadway subdistrict. Use: Veterinary or pet grooming establishment. Amending by deleting “-“ (not permitted) and insert “Y” to signify use permitted in LB-RMF. This amendment would make no changes to the permissive uses in any other Lower Broadway subdistrict. All persons interested in or wishing to be heard on the proposals may attend and participate in person. This proposed amendment, along with all other projects to be discussed at the meeting, can be found on the posted Agenda at the following link: http://www.cityofeverett.com/AgendaCenter. Questions and comments can be directed in advance of the public hearing to Matt Lattanzi of the Department of Planning & Development at Matt.Lattanzi@ci.everett.ma.us or 617-394-2230. Frederick Cafasso Chairman September 15, 22, 2023
19 Publizr Home