What most of us may take for granted can actually be a daily worry and point of potential danger for some---stairs. Whether you're a senior citizen or suffer from a physical impediment, one of the most logical and convenient answers to your situation are stair lifts. Don't let a simple architectural element lower your quality of life---take a load off and let a stair lift do the work.
Function
Stair lifts are fairly simple mechanisms, featuring a sturdy chair placed on a motorized track attached to your staircase, usually secured with heavy-duty screws. In most cases, there are no structural changes necessary for your home in order to install a stair lift.
Types
The ideal stair lift will feature a folding chair, so the stairwell remains unblocked while the stair lift is not . Another extremely convenient and safety-added feature is a swivel capability; a stair lift is supposed to make life easier for you, so it only makes sense to have getting on and off the stair lift be a simple process. Stair lifts will also vary in their maximum weight capacity and motor size. And if you're one of those on-the-go types, you'll to look into stair lifts with adjustable speeds.
Considerations
Pay careful attention to the safety measures that each stair lift promises. You should look for a stair lift that features a safety sensor to prevent the stair lift from hitting anything in its path, sometimes featuring instant reversing capabilities. Another vital safety feature is a fail-safe function that prevents the stair lift from operating until the seat is in its intended position. Not that you'll be traveling at any mach speeds, but you'll also want to make sure your stair lift has a seat belt.
Warning
A stair lift is much more than a matter of convenience; it's a matter of increasing your quality of life and ensuring safe daily living. While researching and shopping for your stair lift, make sure it meets the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) standards. When a stair lift meets ASME standards, you know that a set of technical classifications and guidelines were met during manufacturing.
Benefits
One of the primary benefits of a stair lift is to avoid falling and the occurrence of physical injury for the elderly. Stair lifts are also priceless in their ability to grant people the continued use of their entire home. Oftentimes, a lasting injury or old age impairs people from regularly accessing the second floor of their home, which can sometimes lead to the sale of a home simply because the economics don't make sense to pay for a full house when only half is being used.
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