Stair Lifts

It is often difficult or extremely dangerous for those who are afflicted by arthritis or other mobility ailments to safely climb the stairs. It comes as no surprise that falling down the stairs is one of the chief causes of accidental death and severe injury. There are ways to prevent these accidents though and one of the best ways is by installing a stair lift.

The installation of a stair lift is usually done to make it possible to safely move up and down the stairs. Like an elevator, a stair lift carries a person up and down the stairs, but does so in a manner that is quite differently. Where an elevator carries a person straight up and down, a stair lift instead carries a person lengthways along the staircase in the same way they would move if they were walking up it. A stair lift is extremely less expensive than an elevator would be and there are a good deal of lifts that can be installed by the homeowner in an afternoon. In addition there is usually no construction required, other than the bolting of the stair lifts track in place.

The safest type of stair lift to use is the stair chair. This is because the occupant of the lift will remain in a sitting position as they are moved up or down the stairs. Many of these lifts also feature safety belts, which can make the rider even more secure. In cases where the person is unable to bend their knees though, a stair chair might not be the best option, but instead they might be better suited by installing a perch lift. Perch lifts require that the rider remain standing as they are carried up and down the stairs though, so for most people they will not provide the same degree of safety that a traditional stair chair will.

Using and installing a stair lift is in many cases very easy and is the best way to improve safety and reduce the risk of falling.