Stairlifts are a perfect way to take anything upstairs without actually taking the stairs. Think of them as a small enough lift that will fit into your house without forcing you to build an elevator shaft. They can be used for more than just transporting someone up or downstairs. Stairlifts are also practical for carrying groceries, laundry, or other heavy objects up and down the stairs.
However, the stairlifts are more than just a convenient way of moving along the staircase.
Here’s Why You Need To Consider a Stairlift
Modern stairlifts are a convenience to anyone who cannot take the stairs for one reason or another. Living with seniors or someone with a disability in a multi-level home can be very challenging.
If your parents are moving in, they are a perfect way to let your loved one enjoy that feeling of independence and mobility since they won’t have to dread every moment they have to move from one level to another.
While moving to a new home might sound like a plausible solution, it can be quite traumatic since you will have to trade your beloved home for something else. Moreover, the stress of moving and settling in a new neighborhood can be extremely trying.
To injured or slightly disabled, the stairlift will not only make moving up and down the stairs simpler but also reduce the chances of slipping and falling.
Combine this with the fact that the lift will do away with the need to walk up and down the stairs with heavy loads and you get a happier family that doesn’t need any special care to accommodate illness, injuries, or old age.
How Exactly Do Stairlifts Work?
Stairlifts can work on either straight staircases or curved staircases. Curved staircase lifts tend to be costlier to install and maintain.
The stairlift consists of a comfortable seat with a footrest and easy-to-use controls. It rides a rail up and down the stairs and uses a small but powerful motor installed beneath the seat. Typical stairlifts will run on 0.5 or 3/4 horsepower motors that are just about enough to carry a heavy person up and down the stairs.
A remote or a switch on the armrest will control the seat’s speed and up or down motion. The power to run the stairlift can come straight from your mains supply or a rechargeable battery that will keep the seat moving even when there is a power outage.
Standard seats will carry up to 300 pounds while heavy-duty models have bigger seats and can easily accommodate up to 350 lbs.
Safety Features Are Improving By the Day
Even though the stairlift is designed to make life simpler and safer, most homeowners still remain skeptical of its safety features. While initial stairlifts might have been a nightmare, most of the modern builds are packed to the brim with safety that makes operation safer and easier than ever.
Soft start and stop make it comfortable to ride all the way while a swivel and lock feature makes it easier to embark or disembark. A couple of sensors that monitor leg positions, obstacles along the way, loading weight and armrest position sensors.
All these sensors ensure that the lift only moves when someone is seated in a safe position and will never roll over an obstacle making it safer for the user and all members of the house.