Page 18 THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FriDAy, SEpTEmbEr 22, 2023 THE SOUNDS | FROM PAGE 17 Say nr Sa a y nior 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. nior brary. The primary purpose is to give citizens in each of the town’s 10 precincts an opportunity to voice their concerns about top issues in their respective precincts. Viewers of the forums videotaped by Saugus TV will also get to learn a little about the history or interesting things about the precinct being featured each month. Stay tuned for more information as “Saugus Over Coffee” continues. Please check with The Saugus Advocate or library for any changes in dates. Residents can check the programming guide on the station’s website (www. saugustv.org). A video of the forum will also be available for viewing on the station’s vimeo page within a day or two after the event – www.vimeo.com/saugustelevision. For loss of loved ones and pets Rev. Ed Bernard, an associate pastor at First Baptist Church in Saugus, will be offering two grief/bereavement information and discussion groups through the Saugus YMCA this fall. The first group will be a one and one-half hour session dealing with the loss of a pet. The second one involves four one-hour group meetings dealing with the loss of a loved one. There is no charge for either program. The pet group will be co-facilitated with a bereavement counselor from a local hospice. Rev. Bernard is a certified health care chaplain. He can be reached at 508-245-8885. Fall concerts at the Kowloon The Kowloon Restaurant, located at 948 Broadway, Route 1 North, Saugus, continues its outdoor concert series with a post-hurricane lineup, including: The Rockery: “A high-energy music group,” live on September 22. Earl On Earth, whom critics call, “An indie rock artist band,” playing live on September 29. Different Strokez: hailed “A powerhouse group in the Boston music scene,” live on September 30. Doors open at 6 p.m. and the shows start at 7:00 p.m. Tickets for reserved seating are $10 and general admission is free. For tickets, call the Kowloon Restaurant at 781-233-0077 or access online: www.kowloonrestaurant.com Saugus 4-1-1 It’s been years since Saugus has had a Chamber of Commerce promoting its economic, cultural and historic assets in town. To fill part of the void, Selectman Corinne Riley spearheaded “Saugus 4-1-1” last October. It was such a success that Riley and others involved with the event are planning the Second Annual Saugus 4-11 for Saturday, Oct. 14, from 9 a.m. to noon at the Saugus Middle-High School Complex at 1 Pearce Memorial Dr. The event is tailored for new residents as well as established Saugonians. “Take in everything there is to find out about our town,” declares a postcard-sized promotion that circulated Saugus Center. “Learn about non-profit, youth sports and clubs you or your family may be interested in, town information, Senior Center, Library Groups, Houses of Worship, School District information.” Tours of the complex will be available. The Lion’s Club will have its eyemobile there. For further information or questions, please email Saugus411@gmail. com Saugus Cultural Council Seeking Funding Proposals Educational, artistic and community-engagement project organizers in Saugus and neighboring residents are encouraged to apply for a part of the $14,900 funding the Saugus Cultural Council has received from the Mass Cultural Council, a state agency, to award in a local cultural council (LCC) grant. The deadline to submit an application for a local cultural council grant is October 17. These grants can support a variety of activities in Saugus, including exhibits, classes, festivals, field trips, short-term artist residencies, performances in schools, workshops and lectures. Previously funded Saugus Cultural Council projects include Saugus Concerts at the Iron Works, classical music concerts at the Saugus Public Library, school field trips to the Boston Tea Party Museum and North Shore Music Theater, passes for the Museum of Science, various workshops for children, adults and seniors, and numerous other activities and performances throughout the region. Applicants are encouraged to refer to the Mass Cultural Council Website to learn more about the MCC LCC Program Guidelines, and view the Saugus Cultural Council’s priorities at https://massculturalcouncil. org/local-council/saugus/. Contact the Saugus Cultural Council at saugusculturalcouncil@gmail.com for more information or questions before submitting. Upcoming Fall events at Breakheart The state Department of Conservation & Recreation has released the following listing of events at Breakheart Reservation this fall. Full Moon Hike: Thursday, September 28, 7 p.m.-9 p.m. Join us for a moonrise hike while we talk about the importance of the full moon, moon cycles and phases. There will be campfire fun and activities. This program is for adults and families with children eight years old and up. Bring a flashlight and dress appropriately! Registration is required; please email jessica.narog-hutton@mass.gov for more information. Easy Like a Sunday Morning Hike: Join the park interpreter for this weekly guided hike! Each trip will highlight natural and historic features that make Breakheart unique. Hikes will be moderately paced and range from two to three miles over sometimes uneven and rocky terrain. Best for ages eight years and up. Meet at the Visitor Center. Heavy rain cancels. Wednesdays: October 4 and 11, 10 a.m.-12 p.m. Step Into the Past: Join our park interpreter on a guided hike to discover the site’s history. Topics and routes vary throughout the season. Hikes are approximately 2.5 miles, moderate difficulty, along rocky trails, with several stops – best for adults and older children with a keen interest in history. Meet outside the Visitor Center. Rain cancels. October 5 and 12, 10 a.m.-11 a.m. Breakheart Birding Club: Help our park interpreter identify and count the many different birds that visit Breakheart! Take part in this worldwide project to document the distribution, abundance and movements of thousands of species of birds. Binoculars are THE SOUNDS | SEE PAGE 19
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