Chair Lifts

Stairway Chair Lifts

Stairway chair lifts have been designed for homes and businesses so that disabled individuals or the elderly can easily travel in homes and buildings that have multiple levels. Due to the increased affordability of stair lifts, they have become quite popular. They are gaining popularity over elevators, especially in homes, because of the cost that is associated with elevators can be rather extravagant.

It is not just the disabled and elderly using stairway chair lifts in their homes, however. Those that feel that climbing the stairs in their home is too tiring may find this investment worthwhile. Those with vision impairment also benefit because not being able to see where they are stepping can cause them to fall down stairs. A fall down stairs can cause serious injury and, in rare cases, can cause death. But why not just move to a one story house and save the money?

The reason why many individuals simply don't move to a one story home is because they have sentimental ties to the home that they are in. Their home is the home in which they raised their children, their parents once lived, etc. Moving can be extremely difficult too. Moving is hard enough on a young, healthy person, let alone a person who is unable to get around very well. In some cases, moving can be comparable in cost to lifts for the stairs, depending on what is being moved. For instance, basic moving costs may be cheaper, but moving large items like pianos and antiques can skyrocket the cost.

Choosing a Chair Lift

There are certain things taken into consideration when choosing one of the many stairway chair lifts that are available. First, you have to take size into consideration, both of the stair lift chairs and the lift device itself. You may need something more streamlined if your stairs are narrow. If you have wide stairs, then something larger may work. Sometimes, bulky models can be more affordable. On the other hand, smaller models with basic functionality can be cheaper.

Size also comes into play depending on who will be using the stairway chair lift. For instance, children use chair lifts that are smaller than what adults use. Keep in mind, however, that children do get bigger. They get bigger and that means the stairway lift will have to grow with them. In this case, you may want to look into purchasing a unit that will allow you to change the size of specific components without having to replace the entire lift. This can save a significant amount of money over time.

You may also consider guardrails if heights bother you. Having a seatbelt installed on the chair can also prove to be quite beneficial in order to relieve the anxiety that is associated with heights. For those with bad knees, you may want to look into stairway chair lifts that face forward as you go up the stairway versus facing sideways for easier access.

You also want to take a look at the controls. Some individuals don't like the controls that are on some stairway chair lifts. Simpler controls can make the whole experience much more pleasant. Simple controls are ideal for the elderly, those who simply don't want a complex learning curve, and children.

Lastly, you have to decide whether you want electric, battery powered, or both. Electric can be susceptible to power outages, but most stairway chair lifts these days have battery backup so that you don't have to worry about the consequences of a power outage. If you opt for strictly battery power, then you don't have your stairway lift plugged into an AC outlet.

Components

There are different types of stairway chair lifts. There are those lifts that simply have a chair that slides up the stairway and is frequently used amongst individuals who can walk but have difficulty climbing stairs. There are also the platform models that enable wheelchairs to be wheeled upon them and then the wheelchair is taken to the upper level.

If you have children in the home, you may want to opt for one of the lifts where the gear rack is hidden and other dangerous components are covered. Although stairway chair lifts have many safety precautions put in place, you can never be too careful. One of the safety precautions is that anything getting in the way of the chair or platform's path will cause the unit to stop operating. This includes little kid hands.

So if you are looking at stairway chair lifts that will serve you, a loved one outside of your home, or a child, you have many options. Although there is a price tax involved with stairway lifts, the cost can be very worth it for an individual to have their mobility back. And if they've never been so mobile before, they acquire a newfound freedom.