"By
reading through these 7 essential stairlift features you will learn about the
features that will make living your stairlift trouble free."
Karen Hird - 25th Nov 2005
As we become older one of the most frequent
problems that arises is lack of mobility, which prevents you getting around like
you used to. Or perhaps you are recovering from a hip operation, a stroke or
maybe suffering from breathing problems. More often than not though it’s simply
that you don’t have the energy or the strength.
The stairs in the home which once seemed so easy to negotiate can suddenly seem,
well very daunting. Moving house or living downstairs is no way to live your
life, but there is an answer – a stairlift. Today’s stairlifts are very easy to
use, attractively designed, safe and most importantly surprisingly affordable.
But as in all things quality is the key. So here are 7 essential features that
we think you should look out for when choosing the right stairlift for you.
Safety Sensor – It’s vital that your
stairlift has safety sensors which automatically cut of the power to the
lift when the sensors are activated. This makes sure that potentially
serious accident can be prevented
A Swivel Seat – Many stair lifts have
a fixed seat which can make access awkward, a fixed seat makes you do all
the work when twisting and rising from a sitting position. Instead, make
life easy for your self by choosing a model with a swivel seat, it’s a real
boom, especially when getting of at the top of the stairs.
Soft Start/Soft Stop – The last thing
you want when you begin or end your journey is an abrupt jolt, not only is
this uncomfortable but it can prove potentially dangerous, especially if you
experience balance problems as many people of course do. So always opt for a
stairlift that begins to travel with such smoothness that you hardly even
notice that your moving.
Glide – As well as a smooth start to
your journey you obviously want a comfortable ride. Some stairlifts offer
smoother rides than others. Make sure yours gives a gentle glide ride every
inch of the way.
DC Motor – Stairlifts which run on
mains electricity will come to a sudden stop if there is a power cut, worse
still a direct connection to the mains supply can be hazardous and even
result in electrocution should your lift become damaged. So always make sure
that your lift runs on safe DC power. DC power makes use of special power
packs which automatically recharge themselves at the end of each trip.
Remote Control – Now this isn’t a
fancy gimmick, the remote control allows you to simply call and send for the
stairlift, so if a partner or friend should wish to use the lift you can
simply send it back to them once you’re finished. And thanks to the remote
control there are no messy wires or boxes that need to be fixed to the wall.
And finally you know how fiddly button controls can be, if you suffer from
arthritis for example they can be impossible to use, so select a stairlift
which has a joy stick control as well.
Joy Stick Control – A joy stick makes
operating your stairlift simplicity it’s self, with no fuss and no fiddling
about.
So there you are, the 7 essential
features to look out for in any stairlift.
"By
reading through these 7 essential stairlift features you will learn about the
features that will make living your stairlift trouble free."
