Stair Lifts

For the past 80 years or so, stairlifts have been around, helping move people who cannot move on their own from one floor to another. The modern version became fashionable only in the 90s.

Typically, these are electrically-powered devices attached to the staircase where a mobility-impaired person is transported from one floor to another. Today, stairlifts have been instrumental in making senior citizens, people with limited mobility, and those recovering from injuries or surgeries be mobile and be productive again.

Types

Basically, stairlifts are chair-and-platform devices that transport a single user along a staircase, either in descent or ascent. They run the whole staircase and are typically made of lightweight metals (aluminium), with the track attached to the steps of the stairway. (Wall-mounted lifts are those used for limited spaces or if the staircase is curved.)

In the old days, stairlifts use AC current (those used to power up the house) while new modern models are run mostly on DC current (run on batteries). These are a bit more expensive than that running on household power, but they have the advantage of working even if there are emergency power outages and the like.

One deciding factor in determining the type of stairlift that can be installed in your home is the actual design of your staircase. The easiest one would be the straight type following the form of your staircase.

Some companies offer Do-It-Yourself Stairlift kits where the requirement would only be the length of the staircase. However, most experts (and manufacturing companies) would recommend that a licensed professional should do the job, unless you are one yourself.

This is especially true in cases where the staircase is not straight but is curved, L-shaped, or has a landing. Moreover, companies usually add the installation fee to the final price of the stairlifts and have their own fully-trained professionals do the job.

Costs

With the proliferation of so many companies manufacturing stairlifts, prices become competitive and lower than in the old days. Today, many other innovations are tacked on to the device that makes it more valuable in concrete terms.

For one, stairlifts are less costly than installing an elevator in your house which needs a shaft and a strong holding beam.  Some people also opt for reconditioned machines.

Reconditioned stairlifts are definitely cheaper than brand-new models for obvious reasons. The cost might prove to be a winner but safety should definitely a topmost concern.

Even if the dealers have done their standard checks (it is said they need to check on 20 things before selling these reconditioned stairlifts), it is wise to verify things on your own.

Check on the wear and tear on the parts that are most susceptible.  Do the rollers show abrasions and look worn-out? Are the wires on the cables still intact? Even the seats need to be inspected for telltale signs of being worn out.

Productivity quotients

With stairlifts in homes where they are needed, old people and mobility impaired individuals are now given the chance of being productive again.

With their mobility unimpaired, they can move about in their normal (though slower) ways.  Boosting their confidence and having a good sense of well-being is one excellent start to a productive life.

To use a tired old cliché, necessity is indeed the mother of invention. When a paralyzing disease gripped the world in the 20s and 30s, an inventor made a wheelchair that can go up the incline of the stairs and move people from one floor to another. It was not long after when a device attached to the stairs itself was developed, and the stairlift was born.

Today, more than ever, the stairlift is now used by a large number of people, and not just those who are paralyzed. These are mostly senior citizens who are in their sixties or above, comprising more than forty million people in the United States alone.

This device is being used by people who are suffering from arthritis, recent surgeries and injuries and those with Alzheimer’s.

Stairlift use

Reducing the risk of accidents in the use of stairs by these mobility-impaired people does not mean avoiding the stairs altogether. Of course, this drastic move is impractical, unproductive and inconvenient.

With the development of today’s modern stairlift, mobility had been maintained as well as people’s productivity. Most of today’s restaurants, cinemas, offices and others have integrated a stairlift facility in their premises.

Of course, carrying bags of heavy items upstairs on a flight of stairs would suck out the energy of people who are not used to them anymore (old people, people with injuries, those who are weak and sick, etc.) The device can certainly help them, saving on time and energy.

Costs

Stairlifts may not come cheap, but getting one for yourself or for a loved one in the house is the best decision you can make. For one, the device is worth its price if you compare it to the difficulties without having one.

It pays to do first your research and comparisons on the web (and later demonstrations at the stores). This is to get the best possible options of your particular user’s needs and the corresponding costs.

The device would free you from the need to renovate your present house (two-storeys to a bungalow) or to transfer to another. At the same time, it will eliminate all your user’s mobility problems and make life easier.

Installation

Some stairlifts can be installed, in most cases, on your own with a few basic tools. However, it is recommended that the job is done by a licensed professional installer of the device.

Almost always, the company where you bought the device include the installation fee into the final price. This is the best arrangement since most companies know their products very well and know how to install them properly and safely.

Standard precautions

One of the most important considerations in installing a stairlift in your house is the condition of your staircase in particular. Again, this is best done by the company where you bought your machine.

Aside from the condition of your staircase, your present needs (or the needs of the one who will use the machine) have to be considered as well. The device and the needs of your user have to match perfectly.

This is to ensure the longevity (and effectiveness) of your stairlift and the safety of the user, symbols both of being modern and practical.