The Benefits of Stair Lifts

It can be incredibly difficult for people who have difficulty walking to carry themselves up and down the stairs. Often as a result of this difficulty, they will not use a portion of their home or might be forced to rely on a personal assistant to help them on the stairs. These solutions though are not always practical and can be quite expensive, put a strain on others, and greatly limit your ability to use your own home. A stair lift is a great way to make the stairs easy to traverse and much safer.

Stair lifts are devices that are generally installed lengthwise directly to the steps. A track will first be installed and after the track is installed properly a car system is backed onto the track. The car system consists of an electric motor, possibly a battery, and a chair that can carry a single individual. The car will be sent up and down the track with a single occupant and allows for easy operation.

This means that you will be able to easily go up and down the stairs without fear of falls and without having to rely on others to help you. A battery powered stair lift is a good choice if you live in an area that might have power disruptions. This includes areas that get a lot of snow and ice and might loose power in the winter. The battery powered lifts usually cost a little more, but this cost is outweighed by the ability to always be able to use your device, with or without direct power.

If you use a stair lift, it is a good idea to carefully read the user manual before you operate. While many people choose to install these devices on their own, some people do pay professional installers. If you do go the professional installer route, they are a great wealth of information and will be able to show you how to use and maintain the lift. You should still read the manual though, but the installers do really know their lifts and are usually very friendly.

Increasing Your Safety While Using the Stairs

Falling down the stairs is something that frequently results in hospitalization, broken bones, and in some cases death. Seniors, those over 65, are far more likely to fall down the stairs and they are at increased risk of broken bone. In part this can be due to something like arthritis, but often as we get older our balance decreases. If you are a caregiver and must help a person up and down the stairs, this can also be risky and can result in two people being injured instead of one. A stair lift can be an excellent investment and greatly reduce the risk of falling.

If you have a straight stair case, then you can probably quickly and easily install a stair lift. A reinforced aluminum track is attached directly to the stairs and an individual is sent up and down the track. There are many models and designs to choose from and they can support, depending on the model, over 500 pounds. If you have a narrower staircase, it may be necessary to install the lift on the wall, which is much more complicated, but many models feature folding seats, so when not in use the device will take up much less space. You can install a standard straight lift rather easily in only a few hours using normal tools. They also can be shipped in only a few days.

Those with curved staircases are at a tremendous disadvantage when it comes to installing a stair lift. The lift must be custom built and will require professional installation. Since all stair cases are different, you will need an in home estimate and measurement. They usually take between 6 -8 to build and sometimes even longer to have installed. The cost of a curved stair lift can easily exceed $15,000.

The Importance of Stair Lifts

Stair lifts are personal lifting aids that have been in use for almost 100 years. The first recorded stair lift was designed in the 1920’s by a man who wanted to help his neighbor who had difficulty using the stairs. Since then there have been many advances and modern stair lifts are very durable and well built.

Stair lifts can be installed on both straight stairs and on curved stairs. However, a curved stair lift is much more expensive and can take months to be built and installed. Also the curved stair lift’s track must be custom bent to fit the angle of the staircase, so it will likely be of no use in other homes. Curved stair lifts can easily cost over $15,000 and usually require an in home estimate.

While curved stair lifts are expensive and take a long time to build and install, a straight staircase can be easily installed in a few hours and usually are shipped within 5 business days. The track will have to be cut to fit your stair case, so it will be important to get an accurate measurement.

Stair lifts are either battery powered or utilize direct AC current. In either case the stair lift must be plugged directly into the wall, but a battery powered unit will still function if the power is disrupted. This can be important in some areas which loose power frequently, but will require that you change the batteries periodically. Of course replacement batteries are not too expensive, but it is one more thing that must be done.

There are many places that you can find a stair lift, but it is usually a good idea to buy one from a dealer instead of private individuals. Now, with the advent of the internet, it is possible to find a new stair lift without ever leaving your home. Most online dealers also have call centers, which are usually staffed with knowledgeable people who can help you if you have any questions.