Stairlifts
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Stairs probably cause more accessibility headaches than all other architectural features put together. Though an efficient way to connect different floors, a stairway instantly becomes an insurmountable barrier if your legs don't work. Stairs obviously stop a wheelchair cold but even if don't rely on an assistive device, climbing stairs with arthritic knees or hips is not something you look forward to. Heart patients or people with breathing problems also find stairways more of a hindrance than a help. At some point its likely that a majority of the population will have difficulty using a stairway.
Given the widespread nature of the problem it's no surprise that stairlifts are probably the most popular and widely used accessibility device on the market. We classify stairlifts as an "over the stairway" solution, that is the user is carried over the stairs by the lift. Inclined platform lifts are another example of an over the stairway device. Read on for more information about stairlifts and whether they are the right solution for your accessibility problems. As always you can talk with one of stairlift experts by calling our office at (847) 215-9490.
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What Is a Stairlift?
A stairlift (sometimes called a chairlift) is simply a chair that travels along a track that is mounted on a flight of stairs. Stairlifts can be installed quickly and require minimal if any changes to your home. The lift track is supported entirely on the stair treads and does not touch adjacent walls. Our experienced, factory trained technicians can usually complete an installation in a day or less. All of our stairlifts have excellent warranty coverage and you can count on EHLS to keep your lift running smoothly. Don't let a flight of stairs drive you from a home you love. Call us and we'll be happy to schedule a free no-obligation site visit by one of our stairlift specialists. They'll analyze your stairs, answer your questions and recommend the right stairlift for your home and needs.
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EHLS installs lifts made by two of the finest manufacturers in the stairlift business: Bruno Independent Living Aids out of Oconomowoc, Wisconsin and ThyssenKrupp Access based in Kansas City, Missouri. Both companies make excellent lifts and by working with two suppliers we can offer our clients a broad range of stairlift solutions. Most of our customers purchase new lifts but from time to time we have used equipment available at a reduced price. EHLS also offers a monthly stairlift rental program for clients with short term needs.
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Are Stairlifts Difficult To Use?
Not at all! Stairlifts are very easy to understand and operate. While there are minor differences between different makes and models, all of our lifts have similar controls and safety features. For example, all stairlifts have some sort of constant pressure switch that controls their movement. To make the lift travel up or down the stairway the rider simply has to push and hold the switch until the chair reaches the end of track where it stops automatically. For safety reasons if you release the switch at any point along the way the seat will stop immediately. All lifts are supplied with seatbelts.
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Here we have a picture of the popular Bruno Elite stairlift seat. Note the black switch at the end of the right armrest. Rock the switch one way and the seat will travel up the stairs. Rock it the opposite way and the chair will head for the lower landing.
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In this picture we see a lift from ThyssenKrupp Access's Citia line that is controlled by a joystick attached to the control panel by a short length of cable.
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All stailifts installed by EHLS come with a pair of remote controls that allow a user to call or send the chair to their desired location. The Bruno remote control shown here is a simple device that has two buttons - one for up and another for down. The remote controls allow you to do all sorts of clever things with the stairlift. Some people use the lift as a dumbwaiter by placing packages or a clothes basket on the seat and using the remote to send them on their way! The controls also offer a convenient way for a caregiver to control the seat's motion if the rider needs assistance.
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The rider in this picture is demonstrating how to get out of the stairlift seat safely at the top of the stairs. As the picture shows, the seat swivels away from the stairs while the footrest remains in place. The swiveling action places the rider's feet over the top landing which provides a level surface on which to stand. It also places the seat in the open stairway ready to catch a rider who loses her balance.
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Straight versus Curved Rail Stairlifts
Stairlifts can be grouped into two categories depending on the type of rail used to carry the seat. The lift shown in this picture is generally called a straight rail lift because, you guessed it, the rail runs straight as an arrow up the stairway. Straight track is mass produced and comes in eight or ten foot long sections that can joined or cut as necessary to fit a given stairway.
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But not all stairways follow a straight line. When a stairway changes direction we use lifts with rails that can be bent or formed to accommodate the twists and turns. These stairlifts are called custom or curved rail lifts. Our suppliers can bend rails in amazing ways which allows us to install lifts on some pretty complicated stairways. Pictured here is the Flow2 made by ThyssenKrupp Access. The Flow2 is probably the most technically sophisticated stairlift available today. The track the Flow rides on is actually a 3" diameter steel tube with a gear rack attached to its underside.
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In this picture we have a bird's eye view of another excellent curved rail lift called the Electra-Ride III made by Bruno Independent Living Aids. In this case the rail makes a 90-degree turn at the bottom landing which allows the client to park the seat out of the way when not in use. After an initial straight flight the rail makes another 90-degree turn as it travels up the stairway to the second floor.
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By their nature straight rail lift components can be delivered and installed more quickly than their curved rail cousins. Curved rail units are custom made to fit a particular stairway and this process takes a certain amount of time. Your EHLS representative can give you delivery times for the various lifts we install.
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Can a Stairlift Be Used Outside?
Yes, we're happy to report that manufacturers have introduced stairlifts designed for outdoor use. Bruno now offers an outdoor version of their Elite lift that has been popular with EHLS clients. The Outdoor Elite is an affordable and convenient solution for problems with stairways outside the home.
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Will the Lift Obstruct My Stairs or Landings?
This is often the first question clients ask when we visit their homes. The good news is that as long as your stairway meets our minimum 32" width requirement it will easily accommodate the lift while leaving ample room for people walking the stairs. Whenever we encounter an unusually narrow stairway we let the homeowner know right away that a stairlift is not going to be an appropriate solution.
The amount of space taken by the stairlift varies depending on the make and model of the lift. The Bruno Elite, for example, has one of the narrowest rails available measuring only 2 1/2" in width. Another Bruno lift, the LT, has a rail that measures 6 3/4" wide. The Citia family of lifts made by ThyssenKrupp Access all share the same rail which is 5 1/2" in width. All of these rails need between 2 1/2" and 3 1/2" of clearance between themselves and the wall. Adding the rail width and the required clearance gives us the total amount of stairway width that will be occupied by the lift. The prize for the least amount of space needed goes to the Bruno Elite which will take up between 5" and 6 1/2". The Bruno LT will take between 9 1/4" and 10 1/4" while the TKAccess Citia rail extends about 8 3/4" from the wall in total.
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Here is a closeup of the Bruno Elite track showing its tall and narrow profile. The Elite rail is only 2 1/2" wide - which is the narrowest rail in the industry. This picture also gives us a good view of two of the supports that hold the track in place. Note how the track extends all the way to the bottom landing. This is an important point because depending on the layout of the home the track could be an obstruction. Fortunately we have a number of solutions to deal with problems on the bottom landing.
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Here is a great example of how flexible the TKAccess Flow stairlift rail can be. On this stairway the Flow rail makes a "gooseneck" bend at the bottom landing which keeps it within 8" of the stair and out of the hallway.
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We can also solve obstruction issues at the bottom landing by using a lift with a folding rail option. In this picture we see a TKAccess StairGlide rail with a hinged lower section that can be folded up out of the way when not in use.
The rail in the folded position.
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As some of the previous pictures show, the stairlift seat extends beyond the rail a little further into the stairway. Most lift seats fold-up when not in use which minimizes the space they occupy. The Bruno Elite seat we see in this picture extends about 15" from the wall when folded. The remote call/sends discussed earlier allow you to store the seat out of the way by sending it to another floor.
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Is It Difficult to Install the Lift?
Since stairlifts require few if any modifications to your home, installations are generally completed in a day or two depending on the size and shape of your stairway. But don't let anyone lull you into believing installing your own lift equipment is a good idea. Reliable and SAFE installations are only possible when the installers are trained, authorized and certified by the equipment manufacturers. EHLS installers are certified and hold licenses from the city of Chicago and the state of Illinois.
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Could I Be Stranded By a Power Outage?
No, almost all modern residential stairlifts are powered by batteries which means your lift will continue working even if A/C power is cut. Our lifts come with automatic charging systems that keep the batteries fully charged without any user involvement. The charger does need to be connected to a standard A/C outlet.
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Stairlifts Sound Great But Are They Right For Everyone?
Though stairlifts are often an excellent solution to an accessibility problem there are times when they will not be appropriate. Before we recommend installing a stairlift for a client, an EHLS representative must gather some information about the nature of the user's mobility limitation and the layout of the stairway involved. Read over this checklist to find out more about the kind of information we will need from you. A person who uses a wheelchair fulltime may find it difficult to transfer between the stairlift and the wheelchair. Wheelchair users will find that inclined platform lifts or vertical platform lifts will be more helpful.
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Are Stairlifts Affordable?
Stairlifts are probably the most economical accessibility device on the market. Stairlift prices are affected by a number of factors including the make and model of the lift, special options, and stairway configuration. Due to their custom nature curved rail lifts cost more than straight rail units. Prices for new straight rail units start at around $2,600. Curved rail pricing starts at about $8,900 and varies depending on the number and type of turns the stairway makes and the options selected. To receive a quote for a stairlift just call our office and schedule a free, no-obligation, appointment with one of our knowledgable representatives. After examining your stairs and learning more about your needs the EHLS rep will be able to give you a written quote for the equipment. All of our prices include tax and installation.
From time to time we have previously owned lifts available at a reduced price. If you'd like to know more call our office and we'll be happy to give you price and availability.
Each of our new lifts is covered by a two year warranty on parts and a one year warranty on labor. Used lifts have a 3 month warranty on labor and a one year warranty on parts.
