While stairlifts for the home are growing more common as the population ages, it’s still unusual for people to consider outdoor stairlifts
when they think about mobility and accessibility. In fact, many homes
need a stairlift outdoors at least as much as they do indoors. For the
homeowner who is used to getting around the yard and tending the garden,
a flight of stairs can be a frustrating barrier to activities that they
used to love.
Sturdy and Durable
Outdoor stairlifts are
essentially constructed the same as the chairlifts you’ll see rising
from a foyer to an upstairs hallway indoors, but they’re constructed of
sturdier materials, and often reinforced with protective, waterproof or
weatherproof covers. The chair itself is most often made of hard plastic
with marine vinyl covers rather than the fabric covers typically used
on indoor stairlifts.
Useful in Many Situations
Consider the
many places that outdoor chairlifts can help restore a person’s freedom
and ability to get around without assistance. Many homes have stairs
that rise from the street level or garage to the front door. Homeowners
who have invested in putting in a back deck or patio leading into their
gardens will recover their ability to get around in their yards and
leave their decks. Outdoor chair lifts are also a good choice to assist
someone who is mobility impaired into a hot tub, swimming pool or even a
lake.
No Need for Special Wiring
Most stairlifts plug
directly into a standard plug socket, so there’s no need for complicated
wiring. If you have outdoor sockets for lighting or other electrical
uses, it’s an easy and inexpensive matter to have a line run for your
chairlift as well.
Available for Straight or Curved Stairs
Outdoor
stairlifts come in the same configurations as indoor stairlifts, and
will fit both straight stairs and curved stairs. Outdoor lifts, however,
are generally made of more durable materials and have weather-resistant features, such as special coatings, sealed carriage cover and more sensitive remote control indicators.
Don’t
fall for anyone who tells you that indoor and outdoor stairlifts are
essentially the same. While they share the same basic structure and
form, there are some key differences between chairlifts designed for
outdoor use and stair lifts
designed for inside staircases. Before you invest in an outdoor
stairlift, take the time to do some research and make sure you’re
getting the best.
Wednesday, July 31, 2013
Friday, July 19, 2013
How Are Stairlifts Installed?
Stairlifts
make it possible for thousands of older people to remain in their homes
rather than moving to a place without stairs or an assisted living
facility. If you’re one of the tens of thousands of older adults or
mobility-impaired adults in the UK, you may have considered installing a
stairlift to make your home more comfortable, you may be hesitant about
having your walls torn up or your staircase made unusable. This
information about how chairlifts and stairlifts are installed can set
your concerns at ease and may help you make up your mind about whether a
stairlift is a good option for your home.
Attached to the Stairs Not the Wall
One of the biggest concerns and misunderstandings people have about chairlifts is the assumption that they ride up and down on a track attached to the wall. Many people ask if they’ll have to redo the paint or wallpaper in the stairwell after installing a chair lift, for example. Others make the assumption that their walls aren’t strong enough to support a chairlift. They don’t have to worry.
Stairlift rails, in fact, attach to the stair risers, about 3-6 inches from the wall. There’s no stress on the wall at all. And because of that, professional chair lift installers estimate that they can install a chairlift on up to 95% of the staircases they’re called upon to survey.
Stair Surface Not a Problem
Worried about your carpeted stairs? Since the rails for chairlifts are lifted off the surface of the floor, the lift won’t damage the surface of your stairs. Stairlifts can be installed on wood or carpeted stairs, and with the appropriate hardware, on concrete, tile or even marble.
Minimal Obstruction
Chairlifts are designed to be as minimally obstructive as possible. That starts with low profile rails or tracks to place the chair as close to the edge of the stair as possible, to folding arms and seat to get the chair out of the way when it’s not in use.
Access to Power
The biggest concern when installing stairlifts is the accessibility of electrical power. While most chairlifts are battery-powered, there should be an electrical outlet within 3-5 feet of one end of the stairlift or the other in order for the battery to be plugged in for a recharge.
Why leave the home you love because you can’t comfortably navigate the stairs any longer? Don’t give up your emotional investment in your home. Take a look at how stairlifts can make your home comfortable, safe and accessible again.
Attached to the Stairs Not the Wall
One of the biggest concerns and misunderstandings people have about chairlifts is the assumption that they ride up and down on a track attached to the wall. Many people ask if they’ll have to redo the paint or wallpaper in the stairwell after installing a chair lift, for example. Others make the assumption that their walls aren’t strong enough to support a chairlift. They don’t have to worry.
Stairlift rails, in fact, attach to the stair risers, about 3-6 inches from the wall. There’s no stress on the wall at all. And because of that, professional chair lift installers estimate that they can install a chairlift on up to 95% of the staircases they’re called upon to survey.
Stair Surface Not a Problem
Worried about your carpeted stairs? Since the rails for chairlifts are lifted off the surface of the floor, the lift won’t damage the surface of your stairs. Stairlifts can be installed on wood or carpeted stairs, and with the appropriate hardware, on concrete, tile or even marble.
Minimal Obstruction
Chairlifts are designed to be as minimally obstructive as possible. That starts with low profile rails or tracks to place the chair as close to the edge of the stair as possible, to folding arms and seat to get the chair out of the way when it’s not in use.
Access to Power
The biggest concern when installing stairlifts is the accessibility of electrical power. While most chairlifts are battery-powered, there should be an electrical outlet within 3-5 feet of one end of the stairlift or the other in order for the battery to be plugged in for a recharge.
Why leave the home you love because you can’t comfortably navigate the stairs any longer? Don’t give up your emotional investment in your home. Take a look at how stairlifts can make your home comfortable, safe and accessible again.
Thursday, July 11, 2013
Types of Stairlifts for Your Home
Do you find it more and more difficult to negotiate the stairs in
your home? Do you worry about falling on the stairs because of balance,
pain or mobility issues? A stairlift
may be the solution for you. Just as you’ve seen on television,
stairlifts allow you to ride up and down the stairs comfortably and
safely. Not sure whether stair lifts are right for you? Here’s a quick
overview of the different types of stairlifts available for your home.
Straight Stairlifts
If your staircase is one straight shot from top to bottom, a straight stairlift can give you back access to your whole home. Straight stairlifts are the easiest to install because there’s no need to figure out complicated angles and curves. In fact, stairlift installers can often arrange next-day installation once you’ve agreed to a quote.
In addition, because of its simplicity, straight chairlifts are often the least expensive models and styles, though there may be options available that make them slightly more expensive. Among the options you might consider are chairlifts that include a sit/stand platform so that you can sit or stand when being transported up and down the stairs.
Curved Stairlifts
Staircases that curve or go around corners require a specialized setup that fits the curve of the stairs precisely. Depending on the manufacturer, it can take anywhere from a few days to several weeks to have stairlifts fabricated and installed. Because of this, along with differences in quality, you should always check around to find out what’s standard in terms of price and timing.
Outdoor Stairlifts
There are also stairlifts designed specifically to be installed on outside staircases. Just like the standard chairlifts, they will be fitted to the stairs, not to a wall, and they’re available in straight and curved designs. The biggest difference is that they are made with sturdier materials, and may have a waterproof cover to protect them from rain and snow.
Options to Look For
Whether you choose a straight or curved stairlift, there are some common options you should look for in a high quality chairlift. They include:
Straight Stairlifts
If your staircase is one straight shot from top to bottom, a straight stairlift can give you back access to your whole home. Straight stairlifts are the easiest to install because there’s no need to figure out complicated angles and curves. In fact, stairlift installers can often arrange next-day installation once you’ve agreed to a quote.
In addition, because of its simplicity, straight chairlifts are often the least expensive models and styles, though there may be options available that make them slightly more expensive. Among the options you might consider are chairlifts that include a sit/stand platform so that you can sit or stand when being transported up and down the stairs.
Curved Stairlifts
Staircases that curve or go around corners require a specialized setup that fits the curve of the stairs precisely. Depending on the manufacturer, it can take anywhere from a few days to several weeks to have stairlifts fabricated and installed. Because of this, along with differences in quality, you should always check around to find out what’s standard in terms of price and timing.
Outdoor Stairlifts
There are also stairlifts designed specifically to be installed on outside staircases. Just like the standard chairlifts, they will be fitted to the stairs, not to a wall, and they’re available in straight and curved designs. The biggest difference is that they are made with sturdier materials, and may have a waterproof cover to protect them from rain and snow.
Options to Look For
Whether you choose a straight or curved stairlift, there are some common options you should look for in a high quality chairlift. They include:
- Two handsets so that you can call the chairlift from the top or bottom of the stairs
- Slim lines to reduce any obstruction of the stairway for other people
- High quality construction
- Secure safety belt
- Swivel seat for easy access
- Easy to use controls
Thursday, July 4, 2013
Benefits of Stairlifts
You’ve probably seen the ads for stairlifts on television, but have
you ever considered how much of a difference one could make in your
life? Stairlifts
offer many benefits for older adults and those who have mobility
issues, but many people don’t realize the many benefits of having
chairlifts installed until after they’ve done so. The benefits that
customers most often recount are not necessarily those that the
companies selling stair lifts use as selling points. Here are the major
benefits you’ll enjoy when you install a stairlift.
Get Your Whole House Back
Do you dread going back upstairs after you get down to the main floor in the morning? Many older adults can negotiate stairs but are nervous doing so. Others who struggle with joint pain and arthritis can get up and down the stairs, but only manage the feat with a great deal of pain. For many who live in a 2-story home, the solution is to minimize trips up and down the stairs. In the worst case scenario, they move their bedroom to the main floor and don’t go upstairs at all. More often, they make simply make sure they have everything they’ll need before they negotiate the stairs for the day because once they make it to the main floor, they’re not going back up the stairs until bedtime. Chairlifts take the pain, fear and effort out of climbing the stairs and give you back your whole house.
Stop Worrying About Your Parents
Do you worry about your mom or dad falling on the stairs when they’re alone at home? Balance often becomes an issue for older adults, and people are more likely to suffer a loss of balance when negotiating stairs than when walking across a floor. A stairlift can relieve your worries by keeping your parent safe on the stairs.
Stay in Your Home
Many adults face the difficult decision of whether to remain in their homes or give them up to move to a more accessible environment – a smaller apartment or a one-level home, for example. In some cases, minimizing trips up and down the stairs just isn’t a practical solution – when the only bathroom is at the top of that steep flight, for example. Chairlifts provide access to the second floor, and make it possible to remain in the family home.
This is, of course, the biggest benefit of stairlifts because it carries with it a host of associated benefits, including better health, better quality of life and less expense than an assisted-living option outside the home.
Get Your Whole House Back
Do you dread going back upstairs after you get down to the main floor in the morning? Many older adults can negotiate stairs but are nervous doing so. Others who struggle with joint pain and arthritis can get up and down the stairs, but only manage the feat with a great deal of pain. For many who live in a 2-story home, the solution is to minimize trips up and down the stairs. In the worst case scenario, they move their bedroom to the main floor and don’t go upstairs at all. More often, they make simply make sure they have everything they’ll need before they negotiate the stairs for the day because once they make it to the main floor, they’re not going back up the stairs until bedtime. Chairlifts take the pain, fear and effort out of climbing the stairs and give you back your whole house.
Stop Worrying About Your Parents
Do you worry about your mom or dad falling on the stairs when they’re alone at home? Balance often becomes an issue for older adults, and people are more likely to suffer a loss of balance when negotiating stairs than when walking across a floor. A stairlift can relieve your worries by keeping your parent safe on the stairs.
Stay in Your Home
Many adults face the difficult decision of whether to remain in their homes or give them up to move to a more accessible environment – a smaller apartment or a one-level home, for example. In some cases, minimizing trips up and down the stairs just isn’t a practical solution – when the only bathroom is at the top of that steep flight, for example. Chairlifts provide access to the second floor, and make it possible to remain in the family home.
This is, of course, the biggest benefit of stairlifts because it carries with it a host of associated benefits, including better health, better quality of life and less expense than an assisted-living option outside the home.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)