Stair lifts save a lot of elderly people from having to make an otherwise stressful decision regarding their growing difficulty in climbing up and down stairs. Without stair lifts, these elderly folks would have to renovate their house so that they can have a bedroom and bathroom downstairs. If renovation is out of the question, then they would have to move to a bungalow or assisted-living community. A stair lift, however, makes these decisions unnecessary at all.

Nonetheless, it is not easy to buy a stair lift. Many people are actually intimidated by the thought of having to buy a stair lift. Still, if you have a full understanding of what you need in a stair lift, which of the varied features of stair lifts will be most useful to you, and how much you can afford to spend on a stair lift, you will be able to narrow down your choices and be able to make your purchase with confidence.

Buy Only from a Reputable Dealer

When it comes to affordability, stair lifts are very cost-effective. But since they can still set you back a lot, you may be able to save some money if you buy a used or reconditioned stair lift. Be careful when buying from a private individual, however. No matter how tempting the deal sounds like to you right now, you may end up regretting your decision later on.

Whatever stair lift you buy must suit your needs perfectly. Your stairs and that of the seller should be as similar in dimension as possible in order for the used stair lift to fit your own staircase. Aside from that, the stair lift itself has to be in good condition. Otherwise, you will not be able to use it with full confidence that you will be safe on your ride.

As much as possible, you should deal only with reputable dealers and suppliers that are licensed to distribute used and reconditioned stair lifts. They will at least make sure that the product they are selling you is really in good condition. This will give you peace of mind once you start using the stair lift.

The Seated Stair Lift

Aside from choosing whether to buy a used stair lift or a brand new one, you need to select between a standing lift, a platform lift or a seated lift. Standing lifts are great for people who prefer to stand up when climbing the stairs, while platform lifts are perfect for people in wheelchairs. Most stair lift users, however, prefer the seated type.

The seated stair lift is the most common one you will find in homes. That is because most of the people who buy stair lifts for their homes still have the ability to walk; they just cannot manage the stairs. A seated lift will have a chair that the user can safely sit on while riding it up or down the stairs. The chair is typically the swivel type and the armrests can be lifted up. These features make getting on and off the chair a lot easier.

When it comes to the swivel seat, you can get one that is either manual or operated electrically. As much as possible, you should get a chair that allows the user to work it independently. A caretaker can be on hand to provide assistance when necessary, but having a caretaker in this situation should be avoided as much as possible.

The User's Sitting Position

Believe it or not, you will also need to take into consideration the manner by which the user sits when buying a stair lift. Depending on the preference of the user, you can get a fold-down seat, a fixed seat, a sliding seat or a perching seat.

Whatever your choice would be, what matters is that the seat is appropriate to the height, weight and build of the user. You should also consider whether the user will need a harness for additional safety in using the chair. The direction that the user will face when seated on the chair also matters. Most stair lift seats come facing sideways, but in case the user has problems with the knee, a forward-facing seat may be more helpful.

Installing the Stair Lift

Another essential factor that you have to weigh in when buying a stair lift is how you can make it fit your home. For example, if you have a sub-landing at the top of your staircase with a few steps leading to the left or to the right, what most suppliers will do is to fit a folding platform that is meant to bridge the space between the landing and the top of the stair lift. This platform can either be manual or motorized. When installing this platform, however, it is important that the available headroom and the number of stair steps must be considered in taking measurements for the stair lift.

Not all stair lift users, however, like the idea of having to use a platform to go up and down stairs. There are times that the stair lift track cannot be extended beyond the top or the bottom step of the staircase. In most cases, it is because the track will block a door. In this kind of situation, suppliers install a fold-up and hinged rail to get over the problem. Whatever solution you take, what is important is that the other members of the household will still be able to use the stairs safely even with the stair lift installed.

Controlling and Powering the Stair Lift

How to control the stair lift is yet another vital aspect in considering what stair lift to purchase. You can have push-button controls that are located on the armrest of the chair, or you can have joystick controls. It is also possible to have wander leads on the control so that the user can hold these controls in a manner that is most comfortable to them. Some stair lift models have remote controls instead. These remote controls are convenient if the user has to be attended to by a caretaker or if there are other people using the stair lift. Many stair lift models are also able to make audible signals when they arrive at the target location. This is great for users who are either blind or have problems with their eyesight.

In case you live in a location where power outages are common, you can have continued use of your stair lift regardless if you have a battery backup. But then again, most stair lifts running on batteries are the curved ones. The straight ones are typically powered from the main electricity source of your house. If ever you do opt for batteries, you need to make sure that your batteries are rechargeable and that your stair lift is fitted with charging points at the bottom and at the top.

Caring for Your Stair Lift

The last important factor that you need to consider in buying a stair lift is the after sales maintenance plan and warranty. Most major manufacturers and suppliers provide a one-year warranty for their product. After this warranty is up, the company is supposed to do maintenance checks every six months as well as provide a complete servicing every year. Some companies offer their clients a kind of warranty renewal for another year in exchange for a fee, but you should check what they are charging as part of this fee before you avail of it.

To sum it all up, it is important to cover all the bases before you purchase a stair lift. Using the points discussed in this article, you will be able to buy a stair lift that is most suited to your needs. In case you still have questions, do not hesitate to ask the sales representative who is dealing with your potential order for a stair lift. Make sure that you know everything there is to know about the stair lift before you buy one. The comfort and safety of your loved one who will use the stair lift will depend entirely on the choices you make.