Overcoming Difficulties on the Stairs

There are many things that can make using the stairs very difficult. Many people feel that their only option is to move or simply stop using the upstairs, but this can greatly affect your lifestyle. There is a much more eloquent solution, using a stair lift, which can allow an individual to safely use the stairs in an independent fashion.

Using a stair lift is one of the easiest ways to increase the safety of an individual who can not safely climb the stairs. These devices carry a person up the stairs and remove much of the difficulty that is associated using the stairs. Most of these lifts use a chair to transport its occupant, but some lifts use a platform, called a perch, instead.

The perch lifts are not as popular or generally recommended, unless you need it for medical reasons, such as those who have had knee replacement surgery and cannot bend their legs. This is because the occupant will be required to stand as they move up the stairs, which requires a stronger sense of balance. Instead the chair lifts are usually a better choice for most people.

These units either use battery power or direct electrical current. The models that use direct current are less expensive, but they will not work if the power goes out. The battery powered lifts cost a little more and have a higher maintenance cost, because the battery needs to be replaced every 12 to 18 months. Despite these extra costs, many people choose to use a battery lift, because they will not leave you stranded if the power is interrupted.

Using these lifts can be an excellent way to improve independence while increasing safety. An individual is able to independently decide when they want to go upstairs or back down again.

Stair Lift Advantages

The inability to use the stairs is something that can greatly limit the way a person gets around their own home. Due to the high number of serious injuries and deaths, using the stairs is something that should be done with care, so if you suffer from arthritis or some other mobility related disease, you need to be very careful when using the stairs. This is one of the reasons that stair lifts are so popular in homes all across the world.

Many people think that if they cannot safely use the stairs anymore, they will have to move, invest in an elevator, or perhaps hire someone to help them up the stairs. These options are seldom practical, both from a monetary standpoint and from a convenience standpoint, so a stair lift is in many cases the best solution.

Most stair lifts use a chair to help carry a person up the stairs. A few lifts use a small platform instead, but since these require the occupant to remain standing, they tend to be less safe than regular stair lifts.

The weight that a stair lift can support varies, but the majority of them can support over 300 pounds. Depending on the distance that the lift must span, the weight they support can vary, but some are able to support over 500 pounds.