Use a Stair Lift, Get Safety

If you are someone that suffers from health problems that negatively affect your ability to walk up the stairs, you might feel that you are limited, but this does not have to be the case. Instead there are several ways to overcome these limitations, and one of the most common ways is by using a stair lift.

Stair lifts are used in many situations, both residential and commercial, to make all areas easily accessible. Most use a chair that the user sits in as they are carried up and down the stairs. The chair is attached to a metal track and an electric motor moves the chair slowly along the track.

If you live in an area that has frequent power disruptions it is a good idea to go with a battery powered stair lift. These lifts have a slightly higher up front cost and, since the battery must be periodically replaced, it also has a slightly higher maintenance cost. However, if the power goes out, the lift will continue working, so you do not have to worry about becoming stranded up stairs.

When looking for a battery powered stair lift, make certain that you learn how the unit charges. Most modern lifts charge constantly, even when they are being used, but older lifts used a system that is sort of like a cordless phone. In order for older lifts to charge, the chair had to be parked in a specific place and if you forgot, the battery would not charge.

Most lifts you will find no longer use this method, but a few still do, so make certain that you find out about this before you purchase the lift.

Let a Stair Lift Do the Climbing

Climbing the stairs is frequently difficult and sometimes impossible for those who are afflicted by arthritis and other mobility related problems. It is easy to hurt yourself on the stairs and falls are the leading cause of hospitalization among those who are over the age of sixty-five. A stair lift is one of several devices that can be easily installed to most staircases and will prevent accidents on the stairs.

A stair lift is a type of mobility aid that is used to carry a person up and down the stairs. Usually a chair is used, but sometimes a small platform is used to carry to transport the person between floors. The chair lift is generally the best bet, because it is much safer, but the platform lift is used by people who cannot bend their knees enough to sit down.

Installing a stair lift is generally very easy if you have a straight stairway. They can usually be shipped and installed in less than a week. While many people do the installation on their own, it is important to follow all of the steps, so if you don't feel comfortable doing it, don't do it. Professional installers are available and in addition to installing the lift, they will provide in home instructions about how to use it.

Installing the stair lift is the first step in preventing accidents, but you still must be careful when using the lift. Always remain seated when the lift is moving and keep the stairs free from obstacles. The lift is designed to detect obstacles on the stairs, so it will stop before it damages you or the unit, but there is no need to take any risks.

Stair Lifts on the Stairs

A staircase is a common part of many homes in America and it is also one of the most dangerous areas of the home. A fall down the stairs can be devastating and the leading cause of accidental death and hospitalization among people over sixty-five is a fall down the stairs. One of the most accepted ways to prevent a fall down the stairs is to use a stair lift.

Stair lifts are similar to elevators in that they are used to carry people between floors. Unlike an elevator or a vertical platform lift though, stair lifts carry people across the length of the stairs, instead of vertically up and down. They are usually installed onto the steps, but in some cases, like in instances of a curved staircase or an exceedingly narrow staircase, the stair lift is instead installed onto the wall. A chair is most commonly used to carry the person up and down the stairs and it moves along a track that is secured to the steps or wall.

The amount of weight that a stair lift is capable of supporting varies by model. Most average between 300 and 375, but some are capable of supporting a considerably larger amount of weight. Those stair lifts that support over 375 pounds are usually called heavy duty stair lifts and feature reinforced seats that are usually also a little wider.

People that have and use a stair lift are able to quickly reduce the risk of an injury, which can occur when you fall down the stairs.

Info About Stair Lifts

People who use the stairs on a regular basis might not think twice about bounding up the stairs or running full gate down them, but if you are mobility challenged then you likely are not so carefree when it comes to the stairs. This is because the stairs can be exceedingly dangerous to an individual who is mobility challenged. While you should always be careful on the stairs, no matter your age or your physical condition, if you have difficulty climbing the stairs, then a stair lift can help to improve your mobility.

Most people choose to install a stair lift on the interior of their home and this is where you are most likely to see them, but some models are available that can be installed in outdoor settings. If you need one for the outdoors, it is important to make sure that the lift is rated for outdoor use, because an outdoor stair lift will be sealed against moisture and overall weather proofed.
In most cases a stair lift will carry a seated individual to the top of the stairs and back down again, but a few models are available that allow the occupant to remain standing as they travel up or down the stairs. A standing stair lift, which is called a perch lift, is great for people who have had knee surgery and cannot bend their knee to safely sit, but since you must remain standing, they are a little more risky than the traditional stair chair.

A stair lift uses a track system to carry its rider. The track runs the distance of the stairs and is usually installed directly to the steps. The rider is then sent up and down the track on the chair or perch.

Those individuals who use a stair lift are able to use the stairs safely with the knowledge that they have greatly reduced the risk of injury and accident.

Safe Stair Usage

Keeping safe while on the stairs is a major concern for people both old and young. Usually when young the concern stems from the child playing on the stairs and falling. When old the concern also stems from falling, but it is not because the adult is playing, but because they are unsteady on the stairs. The unsteadiness on the stairs can be a result of injury, illness, disability, or just age, but presents a clear and present danger. The danger on the stairs can be deadly in many cases and the number one cause of accidental death of those over 65 is as a result of a fall down the stairs.

To help prevent injury on the stairs a stair lift is often used. A stair lift is a mobility lifting aid that allows a single individual to safely use the stairs, which means that you do not have to stop using a section of your home just because you can’t safely use the stairs anymore.

To install a stair lift to a straight staircase, a metal track is affixed to the stairs. After the track has been firmly secured to the stairs, the car is attached to the track. The car is the part of the stair lift that does the actual work and contains the electric motor. The car moves slowly up and down the track and carries a single individual.

Those that do not have a straight staircase must usually have the stair lift professionally installed and frequently it is secured to the wall instead of the stairs. The cost of a curved stair lift is also much greater and is usually about 1000% more than a straight staircase. To help control costs and speed up the process, which usually take a few months, people who have an ‘L’ shaped staircase usually opt to install two straight stair lifts instead of one curved stair lift. This can usually be done, but you will want to consult a stair lift dealer to make certain your ‘L’ shaped staircase is compatible with a dual stair lift installation.

Staying safe on the stairs is very important and a stair lift is a very good way to maintain stair safety.