Moving Chairs for Elderly - Chair Lift for Stairs

Chair lift for stairs (also known as stairlift, stair lift stair-lifts, and stair gliders) is a mobility accessory for elderly and disabled whose mobility is severely challenged when they need to go up or down a flight of stairs in their homes. To help them more easily navigate between distinct levels of their homes without the risk of falling, they can take advantage of the chair lift for stairs. This device transforms traversal over stairs, enabling seniors to simply sit (or with some models stand) into it and with the press of the button effortlessly go up and down the stairs.

While there are several types of stairlifts, almost every one of them can be assembled over the current stairway layout of your home, and some models do not even require stairway with a good and sturdy handrail. If the stairway is sufficiently wide, the entire railing and device can be mounted in the corner of the stairs, directly on the threads of the stairs. If such installation is possible (it usually is), the installation of this device will leave stairway still usable for other members of senior’s household.

Elderly who have lost a part of their mobility can finally gain full access to their homed with the use of chair lift for stairs

It is important to note that chair lift for stairs (stairlift) should not be confused with “chairlift,” which is a large outdoor device for lifting skiers up the mountain.

Introduction and Benefits

Chair lift for stairs is an automated mechanical device for lifting elderly from one-floor level to another with the rail system that is mounted over the regular stairway.

Many elderly who can walk on level ground but do not have enough endurance, the physical mobility of legs or balance to traverse over stairs usually start completely avoiding going to different levels of their home. This leads them becoming more dependent on others and less sufficient during their daily activities, which are all things that may severely impact their quality of life. A presence of stairlift may enable them to finally stop changing their daily routines and easily visit all the floor levels of their home.

For example, elderly who have due to the lack of mobility become “locked” into their sleeping rooms that are located on a high floor, should seriously consider equipping their stairway with chair lift for stairs. This will enable them to gain full access to their home.

In the addition of enabling elderly to take full advantage of their homes without the risk of injury or exhaustion, other benefits of stairlifts are:

  • Reduced stress on caregivers - Elderly with stairlifts can move across their home without the help of their family or caregivers.
  • Quality of life - Stairlifts can enable elderly to remain more active, move more around their home and reach outside world and their community.
  • Emotional relief - Presence of stairlift can significantly reduce the feeling of being trapped and helpless, enabling elderly not only to move freely across their entire home but also to reach outside world.
  • Outdoor traversal - Some outdoor locations (such as shopping malls and tourist areas) may feature outside stairlifts for use by users who have compromised mobility. This enables elderly to more freely move when they are outside, both with the presence of caregivers or alone.

Chair Lift for Stairs Design and Features

When considering to purchase Chair Lift for Stairs, you need to take into consideration many design points of this device. Here are some of their most important features of stairlifts:

  • Type of railing - Stairlifts can be mounted directly on step threads, or drilled into the wall. Most rarely, the chair will travel vertically via a shaft that goes through one or several floors.
  • Straight or Curved stairway - Stairlifts that have to be mounted on curved stairways are much more expensive than those with straight rail.
  • Carrying weight - Most stairlift models can handle users who weigh less than 300 pounds. Stairlifts for overweight users are more expensive.
  • Sitting or standing star lift chair - If elderly cannot safely sit in a chair (due to leg injuries, mobility issues or body weight), they should consider getting a standing stairlift.
  • Wheelchair stair lift - A particular chair lift for stairs design that enables users of wheelchairs to move between floors.
  • Fixed or swivel seat - Swivel seats are considered to be more safe and convenient.
  • Fixed or foldable seat - Some models support folding of the chair and foot platform.
  • Braking system - Both electrical and mechanical brakes are often featured in stairlifts.
  • Control system - Majority of stairlifts features very easy to use controls, but make sure that elderly learn correctly how to use them.
  • The positioning of the control system - some models don’t even have an ability for making a “mid trip” changes.
  • Conditions of the stairs - This is very important for mounting, since damaged stairs or railing (if present) may lead to damaging of the stairlift rail structure and possible malfunction.
  • The width of the stairs - If the stairs are wide enough, stairlift can be installed in the corner, which will leave stairs still usable for regular travel up and down. If the stairs are narrow (less than 37”), then users may experience issues with foot platform length.
  • Adjustable seat height - An essential feature for elderly who have an issue sitting and standing up from the chair.
  • Acceleration of the chair - Stairlift may feature soft or quick and jarring start. Some models enable customizing the start, stop and overall speeds.
  • Flip up rail - Some models of stairlifts feature bottom section of the rail that can be flipped up out of the way (manually or with powered motors).
  • And more

Chair Lift for Stairs Types

  • Straight rail
  • Curved raid
  • Standing
  • Perching
  • Foldable chair
  • Wheelchair platform
  • Outdoor stairlifts
  • Vertical stairlifts
  • Reinforced for heavier users

Who Should Use Chair Lift for Stairs?

Anyone who has compromised mobility when walking up or down the stairs. This includes poor balance, disability, injuries to one or more leg, lack of strength, endurance and being unsteady on feet.

Any falls, and especially from stairs, represent a major source of injury for elderly. Installing a chair lift for stairs will significantly reduce the risk of injuries on stairways.

Finally, elderly or disabled who are experiencing a lack of freedom of movement will experience a new boost of freedom and convenience when installing this type of device.

Who Should Not Use?

Anyone who has enough strength and balance to go up and down the stairs safely. Elderly who have this ability but choose to use chair lift regularly may risk reducing their overall endurance due to lack of exercising.

Installation and Maintenance

These are the things you need to keep your eye on during Installation and maintenance of stairlifts:

  • Professionals and safe installation
  • Properly aligning tracks
  • Make sure footplate is not hitting anything during chair’s travel
  • Make sure not to damage stairlift during installation and use
  • Learn how to use stairlift controls
  • Regular maintenance (for some models, yearly)
  • Find a local service support that can react to your calls within hours

Cost

Chair lift for stairs is a costly device. For a regular straight set of stairs that lead from one floor to another, the price of purchase and installation can go between $3000 and $5000 depending on the chair model, built materials and installation complexity.

More elaborate models and railways that have curve are much more expensive and can go between $10,000 and $15,000 depending on the complexity of the installation.

Chair Lift For Stairs