An Explanation of the Different Kinds of Stair Lifts

There are many dangerous areas in a home, but for seniors, the staircase is the most dangerous area in a home. Each year, falls on the stairs represent the leading cause of hospitalizations, as well as accidental deaths for those who are over 65. Since a fall can be such a serious and potentially life changing event, it is very important to prevent them whenever possible. One way that falls are prevented is by using a stair lift.

A stair lift is a simple home medical device that is designed to carry a single user up and down the stairs safely and without major risk. Most stair lifts make use of a chair and track system, which is the reason that you will often hear these devices called stair chairs. The chair moves along the distance of the track, which runs the entire length of the staircase.

Standard Stair Lifts

The stair chair is the most common type of stair lift, but there are several other models that are also popular. This includes the perch lift and the incline platform lift. The latter, the incline platform lift, is designed to be used by those who are in a wheelchair or use other types of mobility vehicles.

Incline Platform Lifts

An inclined platform lift operates similarly to the way a stair chair works, except that instead of using a chair, a platform is provided. The user can then drive their mobility scooter or wheelchair directly onto the platform, which will carry them up or down the stairs.

While incredibly useful and costing less than a residential elevator, inclined platform lifts do require a fairly wide staircase. As such, they are not always as well suited for use on residential staircases, which tend to not quite be as wide as commercial staircases. They are, however, very popular at schools and other public areas.

Standing Stair Lifts

Perch lifts, on the other hand, also work in a manner that is similar to stair chairs, except instead of a chair, a small platform is used. The platform is not large enough to drive a wheelchair onto, but instead is only big enough for a single user to stand on. The user will stand on the platform as they are carried up the staircase.

Since the individual must remain standing as they use the perch life, a higher degree of balance is required to use a perch lift. This makes it a poor choice for seniors with limited vision, dementia, or otherwise might otherwise not have good balance. Instead, perch lifts are usually only used by those who can not, for medical reasons, safely sit down in a chair. This might be as the result of a hip or knee replacement operation, which prohibits them from both using the stairs and from sitting in a normal chair.

While the stairs can be incredibly dangerous, there are a number of devices available to help mitigate the risk of using the staircase. Stair lifts are the most common type of lifting aid used on the stairs, in part because of their lower cost. Even though these devices are most often used by seniors, they are used by people of all ages.