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Best Stairlifts for the Elderly
The stairlift is a very useful accessory especially for people who have a challenge moving up and down stairs for one reason or another. The stairlift was developed in the 19th century by C.C. Crisped to help his ailing friend move easily between floors. Since then, there has been tremendous improvements on stairlifts and nowadays there are many companies that manufacture them. There are two main types of stairlifts – the straight and the curved stairlifts.
Highlighted below are 5 best stairlifts for the elderly.
What Is A Stairlift?
A stairlift is a motorized seat which is mounted on a rail which helps a person move up and down a stairway.
Factors to Consider When Purchasing a Stairlift for the Senior Citizens
Price
One of the factors to consider while buying a stairlift is the price. Generally, products with more features are more expensive. However, you should do your due diligence before purchasing a stairlift since some can be highly priced while they do not offer value for your money.
Quality
Apart from price, another factor you should check before buying a stairlift is the quality. It is advisable to go to the store and check the quality yourself before you order for the installation. Additionally, there are many customer review platforms on the internet which you can check out. After doing so, you will definitely get the general feeling over the quality of a certain stairlift brand.
Additional features
Different companies differentiate themselves by having additional features on their products. As a senior citizen, you should go for the one that caters for your specific needs.
However, the bare minimum of any stairlift should be:
• Safety
• Ease of operation
• Backup power source-if it is electrical
• Easily reachable controls
• Comfortable
5 Best Stairlifts for the Elderly
Since you now have an idea of what to check for in stairlift, let’s look at the 5 best stairlifts in the market.
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One of the best features of the AmeriGlide Horizon Standard stairlift is its slim design. This design makes it very ideal for staircases which are not as broad. Even with its minimalist look, the stairlift is very safe since it has a lap belt to secure the user safely into place.
The installation process of the AmeriGlide Horizon Standard stairlift is very simple since it fits easily into the standard staircase. Is your staircase steep? There is no need to worry because the stairlift can be fitted on a staircase with an inclination of up to 55 degrees. One of the downsides of the stairlift is its slim design. People with a few extra pounds might find it difficult to fit in the seat. However, it is perfect for senior citizens of standard weight.
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Although the stairlift is battery operated, it comes with very good features. First, it has a very durable circuitry board and the lift is fixed on the steps themselves instead of the wall.
Another additional feature of the Nautilus Stair lift is that it uses a technology known as the �worm drive’ which eliminates the need for greasing. Due to this technology, the staircase is very easy to maintain even for the senior citizens.
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The company that manufactures Acorn Stairlift started in 1992. By then,it was selling stairlifts manufactured by other brands. However, they started to design their own stairlifts and have since become a household name for the durability and inventiveness of their products.
The company is responsible for introducing the DC or battery powered Stairlifts which are usable even when there are power outages. Acorn manufactures both curved and straight stairlifts which are very ideal for any type of a staircase.
The Acorn Stairlift is not only reliable but also very easy to use. It has an extremely soft glide and the start and stop mechanism is gentle. It is also possible to “call” your stairlift up or down using a remote control! It is definitely one of the best stairlift in the market.
4. Bison Stairlift
The Bison brand has stairlift models for both curved and straight staircases. The company which was founded in the 1980’s is a strong player in the market because of its quality products. The Bison stairlifts have unique features. One unique feature is that the stairlift can be folded so that it is flush with the wall which gives other users access to the stairway.
It also has a cool safety measure that detects any obstructions in the stairlift rail or the stairs. When it detects an obstruction, it halts safely to avoid any accidents. It also has a swivel chair for easier boarding and alighting. For more comfort, the seat has adjustable heights.
To avoid the unpleasant surprise of a breakdown, the stairlift runs a self-diagnostic which informs the owner about its operational status. When time comes for it to be serviced, it alerts the user.
Additionally, the footrest lowers as close as possible to the floor so that the user can board and alight as effortlessly as possible.
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The stairlift was designed by a British engineer called Fredrick Brooks in 1972 and hence the name. Since then, the company has made tremendous improvements on the staircase and it is now one of the best stairlifts.
Although the company does not offer curved stairlifts, their straight stairlifts are superb. The Brooks staircase uses Batteries which are automatically recharged when the stairlift is not in use which ensures that the user has fully charged batteries 24/7.
It’s also designed in such a way that it is easy to operate, very safe and comfortable. Just like the Acorn, the Brooks also has a remote control feature which makes it very convenient when being used by more than one person.
The special feature of the Brooks Stairlift is its locking system. You can either lock the seat at a 90 or 45 degrees angle.
Conclusion
Going up and down the stairs can be a daunting and painful task for seniors and other people with joint ailments. But, thanks to technological advancements, stairlifts are available to make this necessary task easier. However, there are many brands in the market and it might be a bit confusing to know the best stairlift for the elderly. That is why we have highlighted the above brands to make your selection process easy.
Click here to learn about the best medical alert devices for senior citizens.
