Chair Lifts For Stairs

Independence and Choice – One obvious benefit is being able to get up the stairs and down the stairs. But hidden within this benefit is the freedom of choice. The freedom to move around at will, being able to stay in their home even if it has more than one story.

Whenever people develop mobility issues, they sometimes have to move to where there are not troublesome stairs to have to climb, but a good lift solution can change that for them. They don’t have to move away from their familiar surroundings, their family, or their friends. These stair lifts can give them peace of mind, and the help they need for navigating the stairs without incident.

How exactly does a stair lift work, and what can a person expect to find if they purchase one? Well, naturally the features will vary among the different models and designs, but here are some of the basic things you can look for:

First of all, stair lifts, or chair lifts for stairs, are extremely versatile. They can fit onto any type of staircase, no matter if it’s spiral, curved, or straight, or whether it’s indoors or out. It is basically nothing but a chair on a track, that follows the stair line.

Most of them are powered electrically, and some have battery backups that are charged continuously. That way if the power goes out, the user isn’t robbed of lift use. It’s crucial that their ability to make their way along the stairs unimpeded. Most often, the bathroom and the bedrooms are located upstairs. To be shut off could be uncomfortable indeed.

They use hand controls, buttons, or joy sticks for controlling the lift and making it operate up or down the stairs. Should they find themselves on a level different from the lift, they can use the controls located at the top or the bottom of the stairs to call the lift to them. This is a great feature and much needed.

They come with seat belts too, and a sensor for detecting objects that might get into the lift’s path. Some lifts can have as many as six sensors for picking up objects that are blocking the way. This helps to prevent carriage damage. Some sensors can even limit the stair lift’s speed for ensuring a smooth ride. Each model will have a different ride to it, you just have to try them out to see which one works best for you.

The next feature is a lockout switch. This keeps anyone else from being able to operate the chair. It’s very tempting for kids to want to play on these stair lifts, but this feature keeps them safe from any danger. If you choose one that works at 24 volts DC, then that takes away any danger of electric shocks.

Another safety feature is the old swivel chair. When the lift is engaged, the chair faces out from the wall. Whenever the user gets off or on the chair, it can turn 90 degrees and then lock, enabling the user to dismount safely while facing away from their stairs.