Buying A Stair Lift: Important Assessments To Make

If you or someone you love is immobilized to the point where climbing to the second floor has become either impossible or a physical hazard, it may be time to consider purchasing and installing a stair lift. One of the main causes of injury and death in the household for those above 60 years of age is a fall. If this fall occurs on the steps, the chances of major injury or death are increased exponentially. It's not worth taking the chance. While relocating to a one-story home is always an option, having an alternative method of getting to the top may serve your purposes well enough. Here are some assessments to make before purchasing.

The Condition:
Some immobilizing conditions are progressive in nature. Therefore, it is important to not only plan for the present, but for the future as well. You don't want to spend thousands on a stair lift today that will be functionally obsolete in a couple of years, as the condition gets worse. If you have reason to believe that you or your loved ones will be unable to walk or transfer from a wheelchair soon, it may be prudent to install a through-floor lift that can be used with a wheelchair. Also worthy of mention is the importance of buying a device that covers the entire length of the staircase. Don't buy one that leaves you with several steps to climb on your own.

Operation:
Most people want to have control over their own stair lift, but you may also want to ensure that a remote control will work as well. This not only gives you a backup should one of the control panels fail, but it will allow a caretaker to take control of the machine should you be unable to do so at some point. You may not be able to envision a scenario where this would be the case, but there is something to be said for planning for any contingency. The more options you have, the slimmer your chances of winding up in a precarious predicament at some point.

Other Users:
If you have others living in your home, you'll need to make sure the stair lift is designed to allow others to use the steps without it getting in the way. If you live alone or have no one else that needs access to the top floor, this may not be as important. However, keep in mind that emergencies happen. If a paramedic crew needs to access the top floor, you should make sure they could do so. The same goes for you. If there is a fire and you need to get down the steps quickly, taking the stair lift may not be a reasonable option.