For seniors, there are often a number of conditions that make it difficult to use the stairs in a safe manner. In most cases, it is not just a single condition, but rather a combination of factors, such as poor eyesight and arthritis, which can make using the stairs very dangerous and even deadly. Since it is neither practical nor preferable to simply ignore the staircase, it is usually necessary to find a way to allow the elderly to safely use the stairs. Stair lifts are one type of tool that is designed to make using the stairs easier and safer for seniors and others who are mobility challenged.
Stair lifts are medical lifting aids that are designed to do all the work for a senior when they wish to climb the stairs. The senior need only sit down in a chair and the stair lift will do the rest of the work, safely moving the senior up and down the staircase. In some regards, they are similar to an escalator, except instead of the steps moving, the stair lift moves along a metal track installed onto the steps of the staircase. Usually the stair lift takes up only a small portion of the staircase space and can be folded when not in use, so it is still possible to retain full use of the staircase, even with a stair lift installed.
While the seated stair lift, called a stair chair, is the most common type of stair lift used, not everyone can safely use a stair chair. Often, those who have had a knee replacement surgery or a hip replacement surgery, might not be able to sufficiently bend their legs to use a standard stair chair. In these cases, a standing stair lift, called a perch lift, is sometimes used. Perch lifts operate similarly to stair chairs, except instead of the user sitting in a chair and being carried up the staircase, they stand on a small platform. Perch lifts typically include several hand holds and sometimes even a waste high support that can be leaned against as the stair lift moves up the staircase. Due to the increased balance that is required to use a perch lift, they should not be used by most seniors. Instead, perch lifts should only be used in cases where the senior is unable to use a standard stair chair.
One of the great things about stair lifts when compared to other lifting aids, like residential elevators, is their low overall cost. Typically, a staircase for a straight staircase costs only a small fraction of what you would pay to install an elevator and do not require any major modification to the homes existing structure. There are also many do-it-yourself stair lift kits available, which can be installed by the homeowner very quickly and easily, saving money on installation costs. Also, a typical stair lift can often be shipped in less than a week, so the time it takes to install a stair lift is also significantly less than it would take to install an elevator.
Stair lifts have been around for over ninety years, but the stair lift of today is a great deal safer and more practical than the early stair lift prototypes. Stair lifts are used by millions every day to increase safety and reduce the risk of a fall.
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