A stairlift is a home device that helps reach every floor of a house overcoming any flight of stairs and allowing freedom of movement. It is the most common solution if you’re one of the thousands of people who every day are frustrated by not being able to enjoy all the spaces of their own home. There are many models, each with its own characteristics, reliability, comfort and usability. Choosing which suits you best can often be laborious and time consuming.
Choosing a home stairlift
Many people, faced with the inability to use the stairs at home with confidence, decide that it is best to move to an apartment. Very few think of a mobility solution because they believe it will be more expensive or simply because it does not occur to them. If you analyse the expenses involved with a move and compare them to those of installing a lift chair, you’ll be surprised to discover how little they differ. Also, the prices of stairlifts can vary. For example if your staircase is a straight line, accessibility solution is much cheaper for the simple fact that it does not require the preparation of any part except for its rail length.
Main issues to consider
There are several points you should consider before choosing the device that you are installing at home. Remember that, in principle, it will last forever so you cannot go wrong. Start by choosing the type of stairlift. Without going into too many details, there are two models: straight type and the curved type. Selecting between the two depends entirely on the shape of the staircase in your home.
A straight stairlift runs through a sequence of steps which have no interruption or curved landings. They are the easiest to install, require almost no work and you can have the chair within a few days. However, if due to having a curved staircase or with two or more straight sections, then curved stairlifts are the answer to your needs. But know that in this case the price will be higher because these seats are to be custom made. The value depends on the complexity of the project.
The size of the person is also a determining factor in choosing the stairlift. If you are a large person, you may have to choose one that is resistant with a wide seat and a higher loading capacity. If you are a tall person, you may need one with adjustable seat.
All current stairlifts have folding seats, armrests and footrests. They also have swivel seats to get you up and down from the chair. Standard safety features include seat belts, sensors in the footrest, remote controls. The latter will allow you to send the chair up or down without going into it. The addition of a further implementation of batteries is necessary especially if you want the chair to continue operating even in the case of a power failure.
The advantages of stairlifts in daily life
Whether your mobility has been reduced or not, these chairs provide great freedom to move around home comfortably in many cases without assistance.
They also take up little space. Folding seats make the chair stick against the wall, allowing the free access to the stairs for those family members who do not need it.
Stairlifts also respect your home decor. Over time, major manufacturers have made their creations better integrate with the overall look of your home thanks to the different fabrics, colors and styles.
They fit all types of ladders and can be installed indoors or outdoors. Do you have a flight of stairs on the outside? They are specially prepared to withstand the outdoor elements giving excellent service for many years.
Buying a stairlift can be a simple task or a frustrating business. In any case, it will be a good investment for you and for your home to increase your quality of life.
Article Submitted By Community Writer
