Stair lifts - An introduction

After first being invented in the 1920s by C. C. Crispen, the stair lift has been developed to help thousands of people worldwide with mobility problems. The stair lift is a simple mechanic transportation device that helps people move up and down stairs automatically, with little to no effort from themselves. The stair lift was originally developed to help disabled people, but after being mass produced in the 1930s to help polio sufferers, the idea has spread to help elderly people as well. The stair lift is a brilliant way to help you stay in your current home and keep your independence, rather than moving in to a bungalow or care.

The way a stair lifts works is relatively simple. You sit in a chair and make the chair go up and down the stair using one of three different control systems: joysticks, control buttons and toggle controls. The control systems are something you should think long and hard about before you buy a stair lift, as they might not be suited to your disability or needs. For instance, the control button system requires you to hold down a button for the whole flight of stairs, and this may be uncomfortable for people who suffer from arthritis.

The actual mechanism of movement is fairly simple: it is just a rail that goes along the side of the stairs. The chair then attaches to this rail and it will transport you up. You can get custom made stair lifts if your stair case has a curve in it (see curved stair lifts), but the overall mechanism will be the same.

As stair lifts have evolved, the styling of them has also changed. You can now buy stair lifts that have a wide choice of materials and colouring, which can make your lift blend in with your house as if it was complete normality. Also, you can choose between several chair variations, all of which differ in both comfort level and appeal.

When buying a stair lift, always make sure that you buy it from a reputable brand such as Stannah, Acorn, Ameriglide or Bruno, or at least find testimonials from friends or real life people about the company you are interested in purchasing from. You should never trust online testimonials as they are often faked. You should always try and get as many quotes as possible; as this will help you get the best possible price. Also, make sure that you try out the stair lift before you buy, as there are a lot of different models from a wide range of companies. Don't just go for the lowest price, as some of the cheaper models are prone to breaking down, and with the more expensive models you generally get higher quality. Always try and negotiate the price of the stair lift, as many salespeople will often try and sell you the lift for more than it's worth, and you will find that if you haggle then they will probably go down in price.

When you choose which company to buy your stair lift from, you should always check that there is not only a guarantee on your lift, but also cover so that if your stair lift breaks down then you can get it fixed quickly and efficiently by professionals.