All About Stair Lifts

When the Baxter’s home caught on fire they were in a very dangerous situation. Mr. Baxter is partially deaf and has severe breathing difficulties. He also has poor eyesight and so without assistance, he surely would of perished on this night.

With complete disregard for her own safety his 45 year old daughter jumped into action. She wrapped a wet towel around his head to help block the smoke and led him to the staircase. Using the installed stair lift, she was able to safely and quickly get him down the stairs and into a wheelchair.  Mr. Baxter’s 80 year old wife was able to make her way out of the house on her own.

Teresa Steer, the daughter Mr. and Mrs. Baxter, was not the only hero that day. A neighbor drove his truck into the yard of the burning house, so that the Baxter’s grandson, who had become trapped upstairs, could jump to safety.

Mrs. Steer was at the house helping her parents get ready for a doctors appointment. She began to smell smoke and realized it was coming from their store room. The fire quickly got out of hand and began billowing thick smoke throughout the house.

Mrs. Baxter is quoted as saying, “I was stopped from going back in and eventually, it seemed ages, my daughter came out with her dad. She came crawling out, I don’t know how she did it I thought he would be dead.”

This situation could have ended tragically if Mrs. Steer had not been able to quickly get her father down the stairs in his stair lift. She would not have been able to safely move him down the stairs without it.

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The stairs present a very clear and present danger to many people who are over 65. Due to decreased balance and maladies like arthritis or muscular sclerosis, it can be very dangerous to use the stairs. It is no big surprise that the leading cause of hospitalization among those over 65 is from falling down the stairs.

There are several ways in which to improve the safety of the stairs and reduce the risk of falling. Many choose to stop using the stairs all together. This is rather extreme though and can mean not using a large portion of your home and having to completely move your bedroom and furniture. Others decide to move into a retirement community or assisted living environment, which, while a good choice for some, in many ways reduces a person’s freedom and independence. Most, however, decide to install a stair lift.

Stair lifts are devices used to help a person use the stairs in a manner that is safe and decreases the risk of injury. It is like having a 24-7 caretaker available to carry you up and down the stairs. Most often a metal track is secured to the stairs and a chair is sent up and down the track. They utilize an electric motor and many use battery systems in order to ensure the device can be safely used even if the power is disrupted.

The weight capacity varies by unit. Most can support around 250 to 300 pounds and span staircases that are 32 foot long. Many heavy duty models are available that have wider specially reinforced seats and increased weight capacity. Many times the heavy duty models are not able to span as large of a distance though.

A stair lift is the best way to make certain that you will always be able to safely go up and down the stairs.

It can be very hard for some people to climb up and down the stairs. Due to things like arthritis and other joint problems it might be painful and difficult to use the stairs. Others simply do not have the same sense of balance they once did and so it is just plain unsafe to use the stairs. For these people a stair lift can be used to help increase mobility and their overall freedom of movement.There are a few different stair lift designs, but the most common is the stair chair. A stair chair features a chair which is sent up and down the track. The chair is attached to an aluminum track that is secured to the stairs.

In situations where you have a straight staircase, they can be quickly and easily installed. Most people find that it is possible to do the installation their selves, but most dealers can also install the device for you if you do not feel comfortable doing it.

People that have a curved staircase will likely spend a great deal more on their stair usage solution. This is because they are custom built to fit each individual staircase, which also makes them incredibly expensive. In addition to not being able to likely re-sell a curved stair lift, they also usually take at least 6 weeks and usually much more.

A stair lift is a great way to bridge the gap between the bottom of the stairs and the top. It allows people to safely and reliably use the stairs and without any assistance. If you have a straight staircase you can have your lift up and running in a very short time and you will not be spending a lot of money.

People in many different situations use stair lifts, but most suffer from some sort of mobility related problem that makes it difficult to ascend and descend the stairs. Stair lifts are special lifting aids that affix to the stairs and are used to carry an individual up and down the stairs.

You can purchase a stair lift and install it yourself fairly easily if you have a straight stair case. When purchasing them you might be tempted to purchase a used one out of the newspaper or from a private individual. This is seldom a good idea because you have no way of knowing whether the device is safe for use. It could have easily been misused, missing parts, or broken when un-installed. The track must also be cut to fit your stairs so you will probably have to take the used track somewhere to cut it or if you do not have enough track, you will have to find out who made it and find a compatible track.

It is far better to find a company that refurbishes used stair lifts. These dealers take many precautions and thoroughly test and rebuild the unit following factory specifications. When you purchase a used stair lift from a reputable company that refurbishes stair lifts it will also be covered by a warranty. Usually they either provide the warranty as it remains on the device, which is sometimes over 5 years, or they provide a 6 months warranty depending on which is longer.

You do not really want to risk or life or the life of someone you love because you tried to save a few bucks, so in almost all cases you should refrain from purchasing stair lifts from private individuals.

It can be very easy to trip and fall down the steps, which do not tend to be forgiving. In fact not only are falls down the stairs more common in those over the age of 65, they also frequently result in hospitalization and broken bones. Stair lifts are very important devices that are used by people who have difficulty using the stairs.

Stair lifts are used to carry a person up and down the steps. A stair lift is commonly called a stair chair, because a chair is sent up and down the steps. Some models do exist that instead use small platforms called perches and these types of lifts are geared towards people who have difficulty bending their knees. The chair model is far more common and is best for most people.

In instances of straight staircases, a reinforced aluminum track is attached to the stairs. The track must be custom fit to each staircase, so it is important to get an accurate measurement of your stairs. Most reputable dealers offer a measuring service, but it is something that can be done by the consumer as well. As is always the case when measuring, remember to double check your measurements.

A quality stair lift will last for many years and requires minimal maintenance. There are a few different styles and many utilize a constantly recharging battery for their power. These battery powered stair lifts must still be plugged into an electrical outlet, but if the power goes out, the device will still function.

A stair lift can be used to greatly improve safety around the home for you or for someone you love.

Stair lifts are devices that are used to carry an individual up and down the stairs. They typically feature a chair or small platform that is attached to a track that is secured to the stairs. Like most things, it is possible to find used stair lifts for sale, but you should exercise caution when buying one used.

When you buy a used stair lift it is a good idea to purchase it from a certified dealer. You will still save money, but are guaranteed that the device will be completely restored to factory conditions. A reputable dealer of used stair lifts will also offer a warranty on the device, so should anything malfunction, it will be fixed immediately.

There are several risks that you face when you purchase a used stair lift from a private person. The history of the unit is generally unknown, so you have no way to know if it has been abused or misused. It may have been improperly maintained and frequently there may be pieces that are broken. You will also likely have to purchase additional lengths of track or cut the existing track to fit your stair case, because it is essential that they track be properly sized to fit your stairs.

While you can save money by purchasing a used stair lift, be very wary of purchasing a stair lift from a private person. Instead it is almost always better to find a certified distributor of used stair lifts and be assured that you will have many years of dependable service.

There are many things that you can invest your money in, but your health is one of the best investments around. If you have difficulty using the stairs than you might want to consider investing in a stair lifts.

Whether due to age or disability it may be difficult to use the stairs. In these cases a stair lift could be a beneficial health aid. Stair lifts, using a rail system, send a person up and down the stairs. They usually use a chair, but for those with joint problems sitting may be very difficult. Those with severe joint problems may wish to purchase a perch lift, which is similar to a traditional stair lift, but uses a small platform instead of a chair.

People that live in areas with frequent power disruptions will likely want to purchase a battery powered stair lift. They still plug into the wall, but instead of running directly off of the house current, they instead run of a battery or batteries. You used to have to remember to park the stair lift in a specific place in order for it to recharge, but modern stair lifts can charge at any point on the track.

Stair lifts can be found in many homes and businesses and can greatly increase your independence and ease of movement.

It was in the 1920’s that the first stair lift was implemented. It was created by a man that wanted to help restore his neighbor’s independence. Since, they have become a common way of ensuring that people can safely use their stairs. A stair lift is a medical aid that literally carries an individual up and down the stairs.

If you have a straight stair case, you can rather easily install a stair lift. Generally a reinforced aluminum track is secured to the stairs. After the track has been fully secured, a special ‘car’ is slid onto the track. This car will travel up and down the track and has a seat or small platform on it that is used to carry the individual as it traverses the stairs. In these cases the track is custom cut to fit your stairs and often comes in several pieces. While the installation is fairly easy, there are several companies that can do it for you inexpensively in a matter of hours.

A straight stair lift can be ordered and installed in a matter of days, but a curved staircase can present several difficulties. Stair lifts for curved staircases are much more expensive, because the track is custom built to your exact stair case. It is necessary to have an in home estimate to determine the proper measurements and cost of your unit. They can cost well over $15,000 and can take several months to be built and installed. The other major disadvantage is that they have very little resale value. The track will only work with your specific stairs, and because there is no standard when it comes to curved staircases, it will likely be useless in any other home.

If you are mobility challenged than a stair lift can greatly improve your standard of living. For those with curved stairs, speak with a stair lift dealer that specializes in straight stair lifts. Sometimes you can install 2 straight stair lifts in place of the curved one and in these cases you will save a tremendous amount of money.

Most stair lifts are designed to support around 300 pounds. If you need a stair lift that can support more than this then you will need a Heavy Duty Stair Lift. A heavy duty stair lift will be specially reinforced to support extra weight and strain. Many times they also have wider seats that are specially padded.

There are not too many models available that will support more that 350 pounds. AmeriGlide, a well known and reliable manufacturer of stair lifts, makes two models that can support over 350 pounds. The AmeriGlide Ultra Heavy Duty can span distances of up to 32 feet and support 375 pounds. Its armrests are farther for added comfort.

The AmeriGlide Heavy Duty Stair Lift is considered by many to be the Mack Truck of stair lifts. It can support up to 500 pounds and uses a ½ horsepower motor. It is built to last and has a wider seat and extra heavy duty armrests. It can span distances of up to 20 feet.

These two models are perhaps the best choice if you need a heavy duty stair lift. They are very durable and are designed to safely transport you time and time again.