Stair lift Basics

Unfortunately, there are a plethora of obstacles that are faced daily by the disabled or elderly persons. Mundane tasks such as walking or simply using the stairway can be an unavoidable complication that may bring great levels of unnecessary stress, increase health risks, and create high levels of anxiety to one. However, there is a solution for those who face these particular hardships; the Ameriglide Stair lift.

The Ameriglide Stair lift is a device used to transport a person up and down a set of stairs. This device is fixed on an aluminum track that is factory cut to fit your set of stairs. One does not have to worry about it taking up the walking space of others. The track only occupies up to 10” of the stair case and the chair folds to 14” from the wall. The seat is quite comfortable, measuring at a wide 18” and is able to swivel at a 90° angle toward landing at both the top and bottom of the stairwell.

It is also easily affordable, safe, and quite easy to install. So easy to install, that in fact, the usual time allotted for installing this product falls approximately within a mere two hours. One reason is because the carriage is pre-installed on a short section of the track. Another particular reason is because of the clarity of the instructions; they are clearly illustrated, very detailed, and easy to follow. Just in case there are difficulties with installation, one can make an easy phone call and receive help right away.

In addition to the stair lift being safe, affordable, and easy to install, the buyer also has a choice between two power options. One can use the AC electrical operation or use the DC battery operated system. The DC operated system continually recharges, so there would be no need of worrying about using the Ameriglide Stair lift if power outages occur.

The Ameriglide Stair lift is an excellent product that will definitely be of great help to those who are unable to reach certain areas in their home. It is a very secure and durable device that is useful and will last for years to come.

Stair Lifts: Some Advantages

If you can not easily use the stairs then there might very well be many areas of your home that seem inaccessible. It is not practical to always rely on someone to help you up the stairs and this can actually put the person helping you at an increased risk of falling. A stair lift can be installed to help reduce the risk of falling and also help allow complete access to a multiple story home.

A stair lift carries a person up and down the stairs, most frequently using a chair. The chair moves along a metal track that is firmly and securely attached to the stairs. Operated by remote control, a stair lift moves very slowly and in a very steady and non-jerky manner.

Installing a stair lift is something that will drastically reduce the risk of injury and death as a result of a fall down the stairs, and if you have a straight staircase, you can quickly and inexpensively have the stair lift installed. Many people choose to install straight stair lifts themselves. Only a few normal household tools are needed to install a stair lift, but if you don’t feel comfortable doing it, you should hire a professional installation team to install the lift. Most dealers have an installation team or are partnered with a team that can have you quickly and inexpensively up and running.

If you are over 65 you are at an increased risk of injury or death on the stairs. Those who are mobility challenged are also at increased risk and so a stair lift can be installed to help improve safety.

A Stair Lift and Some Quick Thinking Saves Life

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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Stair Lifts and Staying Safe

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.