Chair lifts, also known as indoor stair lifts, are the perfect answer for those people who have several levels to their home that they can no longer navigate. They work for people who do not wish to be confined to one floor, or risk taking a fall. They are great for people who want to stay in their home and avoid giving up their independent living. People with chair lifts want a safe and reliable way of getting from floor to floor using a custom-made lift that will fit their particular staircase and answer their individual needs. They also want the lift to be worry-free, be easy to operate, be highly functional and comfortable, give a smooth and quiet ride, have an attractive design that blends into the home’s decor and environment, and fits into the space and into the budget.
A chair lift climbs up and down a staircase on an attached motorized rail whether it is a long staircase or a short one and no matter how many steps there are. A straight stairlift has a narrow vertical rail design. There is also a curved chair lift depending on the way the stairs are built. A seat belt is added for the security of keeping the rider in place, and sensors that are built-in stop the lift if any object suddenly gets in the way, as well as other benefits.
Features and Options
A comfortable power swivel seat with a folding footrest and an armrest allows the rider to get into and out of the seat easily and safely. A seat belt provides added security, built-in safety sensors to stop the chair if an object is in its way, two remote controls that can have the lift go up or down the stairs depending on which level the rider is, and much more.
Questions and Answers:
Despite that information, it’s likely you still have questions about chair lifts. What follows are additional questions that you might have along with their answers:
Q: When else is a chair lift needed?
A: The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has the alarming statistics that one in every three senior citizens falls each year, which often causes moderate or severe physical injuries. A doctor may advise to avoid stairs due to health concerns such as already having taken a fall, severe arthritis or joint pain, having had a stroke or heart conditions, stiffness and lack of strength in the legs, taking medications that may affect balance or vision, all of which make climbing stairs unsafe or impossible.
Q: What happens if there is a power outage?
A: A back-up power system will safely get you upstairs or downstairs.
Q: What if you don't want the lift to be in sight in the downstairs living areas when you have company?
A. You could send the lift upstairs by remote control when it isn’t needed and then call it back downstairs when you require it again.
Q: What about the cost?
A: A chair lift is an investment in safety and independence and gives peace of mind for the person and the loved ones. You actually save thousands of dollars in remodeling and/or construction costs because it only takes several technicians just a few hours to retrofit a chair lift to the existing stairs.
Q: What goes into the quote that you are given?
A: No two chair lifts are exactly alike because the staircase and available space to operate have to be measured to be custom-made to fit, it depends on the type of lift needed, the materials and installation costs, do a check for the proper electrical wiring, find out any local permitting requirements, and what else will fulfill the specific needs.
