In today’s world, when more and more people prefer building a multi-storey home, rather than a single level home due to the rising prices of land. The inclusion of a staircase right inside the home poses several problems to people, especially those with mobility problems, who cannot climb up and down the stairs multiple times each day. Such individuals usually stop going to the upper levels of their home and hence have to spend their most of their time right in the ground floor of the house. However, stairlifts are now allowing people with mobility problems to easily go and come down from the upper levels of their homes without climbing even a single step.
What is a stairlift?
As the name suggests, a stairlift is an electrical device that lifts people up and down the stairs. Essentially, a stairlift is a kind of a lift that runs on a rail, but instead of lifting a cabin full of people, it lifts a person who is comfortably seated on it. Stairlifts are powered by electricity and slowly move up and down the staircase, giving more movement and freedom to people with mobility problems. Stairlifts have been around since the 1930s, when an American company produced and sold it to the people in the United States.
Different Types of Stairlifts:
Although the early versions of stairlifts were nothing more than a seat attached to a rail running alongside the staircase, modern stairlifts are available in a variety of designs, each of which comes with a host of features. Here are a few different types of stairlifts that are available in the market.
- Straight Stairlifts:
Straight stairlifts are essentially the most affordable type of stairlifts that are available in the market today. As their name suggests, a straight stairlift can only be installed on straight staircase and hence if your home has a curved staircase you will have to find a different option. The rail of these stairlifts is fitted on the threads of the stairs, rather than on the walls and hence installing this would not change anything in your home décor. Powered by mains electricity, straight stairlifts come with a battery backup, which comes into action during a power outage.
- Curved Stairlifts:
Unlike the straight stairlift, which can only be installed on a straight staircase, the rail of a curved stairlift can be bent to suit a curved staircase. Here, the rail is mounted on the wall next to the staircase, rather than on the threads of the stairs, freeing up a lot of space on the staircase. Most curved stairlifts are powered by rechargeable batteries, which charge themselves from charging stations located at the top and bottom of the staircase.
- Seated stairlifts:
The seated version of stairlifts is definitely the most loved type, as it comes with a comfortable seat, which can swivel to make it easier for the user to get on or off it. Since this version comes with a seat, it does not have much room for the user to carry walking aids. Hence, the user will have to purchase a pair of walking aids, one that he/she can use downstairs and the other that he/she can use on the upper level of the home.
The benefits of installing a stairlift:
As we already know, installing a stairlift can add to the mobility and freedom of those with mobility disorders, while giving them an option to move around the house with ease. Here is a complete range of benefits of installing a modern stairlift at your house.
- Convenient:
Those with mobility problems often find it hard to move up and down a staircase repeatedly. However, a simple stairlift can allow them to move quickly and easily along a staircase, giving them the ability to go to the upper levels of the home without climbing even a single step. Since most stairlifts are either powered by rechargeable batteries or come with a battery backup, they can work even during a power outage. Hence, stairlifts give elderly people, or people with mobility issues, a greater degree of independence when moving around their home.
- Safe:
Modern stairlifts come with a host of safety features, which include but are not limited to seat belts. Modern stairlifts are programmed for a slow start so that the sudden movement of the seat does not jerk the person seated on it. Moreover, stairlifts have unique safety switches, which disconnect the power supply to the system if something goes wrong with it or if there is an obstruction on the staircase. In addition, modern stairlifts also come with a remote control, which can be used if the primary movement switch does not work or the stairlift is not at the end at which the user is.
- Easy installation:
Most modern stairlifts can be installed in homes without making any significant changes to the walls or the staircase itself. Usually stairlifts can be fitted onto the threads of stairs or on the side of the wall next to the stairs in a process that can be completed in just a few hours. This means that the homeowner will not have to make any major structural changes to his/her home and won’t have to be stressed by lengthy and unnecessary work.
What users say:
Thousands of people have installed stairlifts in their homes to give extra freedom and independence to their family members with mobility problems. Here is what some of them have to say about their new stairlift:
Mrs Edwards states that, “The inclusion of a stairlift in my home has made mine and my husband’s life liveable again. We cannot even think of life without it anymore.”
Mrs Brooks states that, “I am very happy with the stairlift and now I don’t have to stay back in my room throughout the day”.
Mr S states that, “I am very pleased with the stairlift, it was installed in just a few hours and now I move up and down the staircase with ease”.
Mr Sollins states that, “I installed a stairlift in my house for my mother-in-law. Right from the time the stairlift was installed, she has been just riding it up and down the staircase. I believe she is over the moon, and this is the most important thing for me”.
Mrs V commented that, “Previously I had to spend most of the winter trapped inside my room. Now I don’t have to worry about the steps to the front door, even when it’s chilly outside.”