Since most homes have staircases, it often becomes necessary to ensure that all members of the home can use the stairs safely. For example, with young children, it is a good idea to use staircase gates to protect them from the stairs. The same is true of seniors, as staircase falls are a leading cause of serious injury among the elderly, which is why many use stair lifts.
Stair lifts are designed so that the user can sit in a chair or stand on a small platform, which will then carry them up the stairs. They are often called stair chairs, as the chair stair lift is the most common kind. In many ways stair lifts offer a service that is very similar to the elevator, but not only are stair lifts less expensive, but they are also much easier to install than elevators.
There are a number of different types of stair lifts and choosing the right one often depends on what type of staircase is in the home.
The easiest type of staircase to outfit with a stair lift is a straight staircase, as there are a number of inexpensive do-it-yourself stair lift kits available. These share a similar design with other stair lifts, but are designed so that the home owner can install it, rather than having to hire a professional installer. This can end up not only saving a great deal of time, but also money.
For non-straight staircases, it is sometimes possible to go with a do-it-yourself kit, but this is not always the case. Typically, curved staircases will require a much more expensive stair lift that must be installed by a professional. However, if the curve is square, there are several options that might work, which are mostly offered by Bruno Stair Lifts.
While stair lifts can greatly improve accessibility and generally make the stairs much safer, they are not the best choice for wheelchair users. This is because the most use a chair or small platform, which is not large enough to drive a wheelchair onto or configured to carry a wheelchair. Instead, for the wheelchair user, it is usually necessary to go with a inclined platform lift or an elevator. Again, the inclined platform lift is a less expensive option and basically works much like a stair lift, except instead of using a chair, a large platform is used to carry its user.
The platform used on these medical lifts is large enough that a standard manual or electric wheelchair can be driven directly onto it, without the need for the user to exit the wheelchair or send it up the stairs separately. They will usually be surrounded by walls or guard rails as well, to ensure the user remains secure as the lift moves up the stairs. Inclined platform lifts provide a very important service, however they take up a rather large amount of space on the staircase, so might not fit on some smaller residential stairways. However, when not in use, they can be folded up, so the staircase can still be used. Due to size restrictions, inclined platform lifts are more common in schools and other commercial buildings, but are still also used in residential settings.
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