THE REVERE ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2023 Page 17 Best Stair Lifts of 2023 Stephen Ciarlone, Joe Faretra and John DeSimone at DeMaino’s Restaurant with Councillor-at-Large Anthony Zambuto Councillor-at-Large Anthony Zambuto with Candidate for Revere School Committee Anthony Caggiano and Candidate for Councillor-at-Large Bob Haas III 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 Councillor-at-Large and Candidate for Revere Mayor Gerri Visconti with his friend and colleague Councillor-at-Large Anthony Zambuto Taunton City Councilman John McCaul was on hand to support his colleague in government Councillor-at-Large Anthony Zambuto. stair lift is a great mobility solution for anyone who is unable, or has a diffi cult 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 Nancy Ciarlone and Ann Bellofatto joined Councillor-at-Large Anthony Zambuto at DeMaino’s last Monday night. Speaking on putting the residents of Revere fi rst, keeping taxes down and revenues up from smart common-sense decisions was Councillor-at-Large Anthony Zambuto’s main theme in his address to his supporters. The longtime city councillor noted that with the expected changes to the next City Council, experience and levelheaded thinking is needed to keep Revere stable and prosperous. State Rep. Jeff Turco, Candidate for Councillor-at-Large Don Martelli, School Committee Member John Kingston and Candidate for Ward 4 Councillor Paul Argenzio with Councillor-at-Large Tony Zambuto at DeMaino’s 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 nonprofi t organization that advocates for older Americans, put together a review team to research the diff erent 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/stairlifts/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 offer financings 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. Councillor-at-Large Anthony Zambuto gets a big welcome as he arrives from the City Council meeting. 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.
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