Advice on Choosing Stairlifts

Stairlifts are among the most popular home modifications, making it possible for thousands of people to remain in their homes rather than moving to more accessible living arrangements. There are many types and styles of chairlifts available on the market, and choosing the right one can be confusing. Age UK offers these bits of advice to help you choose among all the stairlifts and chairlifts to find the one that’s best for you.
Consider Your Condition
Stairlifts are generally expected to last 10 to 15 years. Will the one you purchase today still serve your needs in a decade? If you suffer from a progressive disorder that is expected to worsen, a basic stairlift may only serve your needs for a few years – or it may be perfectly fine for the foreseeable future.
Likewise, think twice before deciding to save money by installing the stairlift on just a part of the staircase and taking the last few steps after a landing on your own. It’s easier to install stairlifts all in one go. If your condition worsens in a few years and you can’t manage those stairs, it will be far more expensive to retrofit a modification to your existing stairlift than it would have been if you simply covered the full staircase from the start.
Can the person who will be using the stairlift bend their knees enough to use the seated stairlift While chairlifts are the best known type of stair lifts, there are also lifts designed for people to stand and ride safely, as well as combination stairlifts that combine a chair and a standing platform for households where more than one person uses the chairlift.
Consider the Environment
Are there doors or passages that will be blocked by the stairlift track? Consider a style that includes an optional motorized track extension that will retract the excess track when the chairlift is not in use.
Will other people be able to use the staircase when the stair lift is folded up out of the way? Is it easy to fold up and down for the person who will be using it?
Controls
Will the person riding the chairlift be using the controls? If so, are the controls located in a position that is easy for that person to reach, and can they operate them easily? If not, can the controls be modified to use a joystick or other type of control that they can operate? Many chairlifts also include remote control options so that the user can call the lift from the top or bottom of the stairs as well as operate it on board.
Stairlifts can make your home accessible, comfortable and safe again. Take the time to choose the right type and style of stair lift for your needs and it will serve you for years.