For many elderly people who are struggling with the stairs in their property, installing a stairlift is a brilliant idea. This mobility aid has been used for many years now and there is no denying that it has the ability to completely transform people’s day-to-day lives. With a stairlift solution, simple things such as popping upstairs to the bathroom will no longer be a struggle and you will be able to move around your home with ease again.
Thankfully, due to the popularity of stairlifts, there is more choice than ever before on the market and you can guarantee that you will be able to find something that perfectly meets all of your individual needs. However, the vast market can be quite overwhelming and it is understandably difficult to narrow down the options you have. To help any homeowners who are trying to ensure they choose the right stairlift solution for them and their home, we have put together a list of important things to think about when deciding which to purchase.
Whether your stairs are straight or curved
Whenever any homeowners are looking at stairlifts, this is the first thing they will need to think about. More often than not, stairlift solutions are split into two categories; straight and curved. So, to instantly narrow down the market, you need to know what your stairs are like. Remember to think about whether you have an intermediate landing on your stairs as well.
How you’d like the stairlift to be controlled
You will find that the way a stairlift is controlled will differ from solution to solution. The most common control is a joystick which will sit on the armrest of the chair. However, you may find that some are slightly different or they’re able to be controlled by a wireless remote. It is beneficial to think about whether you’d like the control to be on your right or left side too.
If you want to be able to fold the stairlift
Many who install a stairlift will opt for a collapsible solution, especially if their stairs are quite narrow, but not all stairlifts have the ability to fold. So, think about whether you want to be able to collapse the seat, armrests and tread platform when it isn’t in use. If you decide that you’d like to be able to, ensure you’re looking at how easy it is for the stairlift solutions to be collapsed too, this tends to differ as well.
The way you’d like your stairlift to be powered
This is easy to overlook, but it is always worthwhile thinking about how the stairlift solution will be powered. Whilst some will be powered by mains electricity, others will be battery powered and you may even find that some can be powered in more than one way. When thinking about how a stairlift is powered, be sure to bear in mind situations like power cuts.
Whether the seat needs to swivel
Whilst the majority of stairlifts will be designed so that the user is facing sideways whilst travelling up and down the stairs, some have swivel seats. This means that for added convenience, they can be rotated at the top and bottom of the staircase making them easy to climb on and off of. Think about whether this swivel function would be beneficial to you.
Any design requirements you have
It is always worthwhile thinking about any design requirements that you have too. Once installed, the stairlift solution you choose will be a permanent feature of your home, so it is essential that you like the design. For this reason, make sure you think about everything from the overall style to the colour of the seat upholstery.
Purchasing a suitable stairlift solution
Hopefully, by taking the time to carefully think about everything mentioned above, you will have a much clearer idea of what you’re looking for in a stairlift solution. This will, in turn, help you to narrow down the market and choose your perfect stairlift. Of course, you may find that some stairlift solutions have customisable elements and this is worthwhile looking out for as it may make things slightly easier for you if you’re able to change certain aspects of the design.
When searching for a company that can provide you with a number of different stairlift solutions, be sure to reach out to our team here at Vimec. We understand just how much of a difference a stairlift can make to an elderly person’s life and, for this reason, we offer numerous solutions and designs for homeowners to choose from, you won’t have to compromise when you turn to us. We pride ourselves on providing exemplary customer service and incredibly high-quality products to our customers and we can assure you that you’ll be in the best hands with our team.