Are you thinking about investing in a dumbwaiter lift to make life easier for your aging parents? Are you investigating the options on their behalf? Whatever the case may be, this guide will help you decide whether a dumbwaiter lift is the right choice for situations when stairs become a major obstacle. A dumbwaiter does require home modification in some cases, and the costs are worth considering then again, dumbwaiters often provide a generous return on investment.
Why Install a Dumbwaiter Lift?
There is one major reason that the dumbwaiter lift has been a household staple for decades: stair safety. Many people do not consider the fact that an armful of groceries or a basket of laundry obstructs a large portion of the stairs from view. After all, going up and down the stairs becomes a matter of instinct after living with them for a few years. This perspective changes quickly when one missed step causes a jarring fall or even injury. This can happen to anyone, not just aging parents.
Unfortunately, living in a home with a flight of stairs makes getting older an uphill battle literally. Getting up the stairs becomes more difficult, and sometimes even painful, any time that pain or joint stiffness are present. Arthritis, disability, and fatigue can happen to anyone at any age, making the issue of stairs awareness even more important. Independence is a highly valued right and dumbwaiters are just one way to retain it.
If installed with care and foresight, a dumbwaiter lift has the potential to increase resale value. Young families often need these types of resources during pregnancy, and individuals with restricted mobility will find the feature a great selling point. If the home is in an age-restricted community, you may see a significant increase in home value due to this accommodating addition.
Dumbwaiter Disadvantages
The most prohibitive factor is cost. A dumbwaiter lift is cheapest if constructed anywhere that two closets line up between floors. If aesthetics are not an issue, a qualified contractor can make room for a dumbwaiter shaft where it is most convenient many people choose to have at least one dumbwaiter door in the garage (or entry level in most cases) and plan from there.
Then again, a dumbwaiter lift might be cheaper than the alternatives: being forced to move in to a different house, falling on the stairs and requiring medical treatment, or investing in a stair lift system capable of safely transporting everyday objects. All of these alternatives have their obvious disadvantages it is up to you to consider your individual risk situation to see whether the results will justify the expense.
The classic dumbwaiter will never go out of style. As long as groceries and laundry baskets are still causing falls on the stairs, the dumbwaiter lift will remain a relevant investment that improves quality of life in homes all over the world. If you are interested in saving your parents some trouble, dont rule out the possibility while it may seem like a large investment, the possibility of needing a dumbwaiter lift only increases with age.