If you live in a home that inhabits an individual who has issues walking up and down the stairs, then a stair lift may be for you. As its name indicates, a stair lift is a motorized chair that slowly and safely lifts an individual up and down a flight of stairs. Naturally, the purpose of stair lifts is to ensure the safety (most notably, a protection from falling) of those who don’t possess the strength or balance to walk up and down stairs on their own.
Not all stair lifts are created equal, however. And that’s because no two staircases are exactly alike. It makes sense, of course, to consider the specifications of your staircase when selecting a stair lift to install. As you’re likely aware, there are both straight and curved stair lifts to accommodate for straight and curved staircases respectively. But there are some questions you should have answered before landing on the stair lift that is right for you.
How is a stair lift installed?
Stair lifts are generally fitted to the stairs as opposed to the wall. Most often, the rail on which the stair lift glides is secured to both the bottom step and the top step and has additional supports along the rail. It’s important for the company that is installing your stair lift to conduct an onsite survey to get an accurate assessment of your staircase.
What types of features do stair lifts have?
A standard home stair lift is designed to use battery power so that, in the event of a power outage, it will still be operational. As well, a standard stair lift can easily fold up when it is no longer in use. That way, it presents less of an obstacle for other users of the stairs. Of course, stair lifts also come with seat belts to ensure that all users are secure when gliding up and down the stairs.
Stair lifts also come with safety systems that will cause them to stop if there are objects of some kind blocking their paths. Stair lifts also have safety key switches that turn them off when they’re not in use.
What are the highly recommended brands of stair lifts?
At LifeCare Mobility Solutions, we offer stair lifts from both Bruno and Handicare. Among the most popular stair lifts for straight stair cases are the Bruno Elan and the Handicare 1000. Among the most popular stair lifts for curved stair cases are the Bruno Elite and the Handicare Freecurve.
What options do I have if I need a stair lift but can’t afford it?
Thankfully, there are several funding options in Ontario. At LifeCare Mobility Solutions, we’re proud to say that we have over five years of experience working with funding agencies to help our clients obtain the financial assistance they require. We have complete knowledge of all available funding sources, applications and processes necessary to get the funding you need.
If you have any questions about the various stair lifts offered by LifeCare Mobility Solutions or about how we can help you to obtain funding, please don’t hesitate to call us at 647-350-4488 or email us at info@lifecaremobility.ca. You may also contact us by filling out the form on our Contact page!