Increased Mobility Wiith An Electric Stair Lift
As people age, climbing up and down stairs can become more difficult if not impossible. Stiff joints and painful conditions, such as arthritis, can slow even the most active person down. When this happens, it often means that the individual can no longer go up and down stairs in their own home. Bedrooms have to be set up downstairs, and the person's lifestyle is greatly restricted. Imagine having to ask for assistance every time you wanted something from an upper level of your home! When this type of situation occurs, an electric stair lift can give the person the mobility they need to get around within their home.
Electric stair lifts are also good for public places used by many older or handicapped people. With the recent laws ensuring the rights of the handicapped which demand that public facilities be made accessible by everyone, a stair lift can mean that the facility will not have to go to the expense of installing a costly elevator. A few years back I was attending a church which held many activities in the basement level of the building. The only access to this level was by two sets of very steep stairs. This kept older parishioners from participating in some of the activities held by the church. Therefore, an electric stair lift was installed on the straight back stairs, and everyone was able to ride up and down safely.
There are two different types of electric stair lifts available. The first are electric units powered by the building's A/C current. The second type are D/C which run on rechargeable batteries. If you decide to purchase one of these units, the choice is up to you. If you don't like having to change batteries and like the convenience of just plugging it in and taking off, then you would probably prefer an electric lift. However, you need to keep in mind that electric units are unusable during power outages, so if you live in an area where there are frequent outages, a battery-powered unit may be a better choice.
Electric stair lifts are designed for comfort and safety. You can buy units with padded seats, swivel seat action for easy off and on, and high-tech nylon wheels to give the perfect, smooth ride each and every time. They also have many safety features including locking seatbelts, automatic reverse, call stations at top and bottom landings, and footrest sensors.
If price is an issue, you can save hundreds of dollars by purchasing reconditioned units. What this means is that although the electric stair lifts have been pre-owned, they have been completely repaired and updated before they are offered for resale. Heavy duty stair lifts can be purchased that will carry between 350 and 500 pounds, so you know they are built to last. Stair lifts can be custom-built to fit different stairway configurations, such as curved designs. Of course, since they have to be built using your specific measurements they can run as high as $15,000.
If you've never considered an electric stair lift, and you or a loved one are having difficulty using staircases, it's time to take a look at the various models that are available online. Although you can buy stair lifts at some stores, it's easier to comparison shop and make sure you're getting the most for your money by shopping online. A stair lift can be the perfect solution to your mobility problems.
|
