Features of Outdoor Stairlifts

The need to install a stairlift depends upon the extent of handicap, injury or individual's limited mobility. If climbing a stair has become a painful experience and you do not intend moving homes, a stairlift is a boon. Due to the increasing demand for better mobility options both within the home and outdoors. Though there is no fundamental difference between indoor and outdoor stairlifts, the outdoor lifts are manufactured using weatherproof materials to resist both heat and cold.

The basic features of outdoor stairlifts are:

? As compared to indoor stairlifts which are molded out of aluminium, outdoor lifts are made from materials such as unstained metals and vinyl that can withstand heat and cold in extreme conditions.

? The chains and pulley blocks are generally manufactured with insulation to protect them from mildew, dampness and heat.

? Unlike indoor chairs, outdoor stairlift seats are made from highly durable vinyl that is weather resistant, preventing damage.

As the installation may require higher skills, considering the location, climate and quality of materials, it is best to get professional help from outdoor stairlift manufacturer's representative to come for an in house survey and see the place where you need the outdoor stairlift installed. As there are numerous sizes and models of such lifts, consider your requirements and then shortlist the potential models. Price is another consideration when you buy outdoor stairlifts as they are higher priced than indoor ones due to extra insulation, materials used and installation. However, the basic features of the stairlifts remain the same.

Both indoor and outdoor models have the trains, wheelchair or chair, chassis and rail tracks. The only difference is apparent is the location, terrain, weather proofing and high durability of material that is used. Indoor stairlifts are protected from harsh weather and wear and tear is low as compared to climatic ravages that outdoor lifts endure.

Jason Tate has been involved in providing more information on mobility aids and stairlifts for numerous years. To know more about stairlifts and other products, please browse Stairlift Comparisons.

Stair Lift Suppliers - Handicap Stairlifts

When handicapped family members have to access stairways, it can be quite heart-rending for other family members. More often than not these mobility challenged members are restricted in their movement in multi-level homes and office or shopping complexes. The good news is that now superior models of handicap stair lifts are being manufactured for better convenience of the physically challenged and the elderly. The chair lift suppliers ensure hassle-free installation of stair chairlifts on any kind of staircase, straight, spiral or curved.

Stairlifts Provide Comfort in Both Residential and Commercial Buildings

Now houses and commercial buildings can make it possible for mobility challenged people to access stairways easily by opting for a superior elevator model from a renowned manufacturer. Stair chair lift suppliers offer mainly models made by Savaria Concord, Bruno and ThyssenKrupp Access.

Superior Features of Handicap Stair lifts

The elevator suppliers provide maximum convenience to the disabled by integrating certain convenient and safety features in the models. Some of the features that are common to most models are-

- Emergency stop button

- Seatbelt with lock

- Obstruction sensors

- Swivel seats

- Emergency brake

- Power backup

- Hydraulic system

- Adjustable seats

Reputed Stair lift Suppliers Ensure Good Service

It is very important to get the required handicap stair lift model from a reliable supplier. These suppliers can install the chair lift and customize it according to the need of the disabled persons. They even maintain the chairlift and provide repair services if required. For better convenience it is advisable to research for a good elevator supplier and then opt for a superior model of stair lift for your home or for commercial use.

Handicap Stairlifts - DAY Elevator & Lift is one of the most popular mobility equipment providing firms in the United States, with a range of products in the categories of elevators, wheelchair lifts, and stair lifts.

Stairlifts - Take the Struggle Out of Climbing the Stairs

Buying a stairlift can have huge benefits for your quality of life, giving you back some freedom and independence. Stairlifts can be adapted to your individual needs, so no matter what your requirements are, there'll be one to suit you. The stairlift company representative who visits your home can assess what type of design would be best for you. There are two main sorts. Straight stairlifts are suitable for staircases that don't have any bends. They glide in a straight line up and down the stairs. If your staircase has corners or curves, a curved stairlift will be necessary to negotiate the turns.

Your mobility needs will be taken into account. As it is safer to sit down when using a stair chair lift, seated stairlifts are the most common design. It is possible to install a stand-on stairlift if you have difficulty bending your legs, but this type of stair lift can usually only be installed on a straight staircase and may have a weight limit. A perching stairlift is an option for people who can't bend their knees to a sitting position and are unable to straighten their legs out. Some public buildings have stairlifts with wheelchair platforms, but these need a lot of space and are often too wide to be fitted to a residential stairway.

Your new stairlift can also be adapted to make it easier for you to use. It's essential to be safe and comfortable when using a stairlift. Special features can be added to give you more confidence to operate the lift on your own. For example, if you suffer from arthritis in your fingers, you can have a joystick instead of button controls. By choosing a reputable company you can expect to get expert advice to help you choose the best sort of stairlift for your particular needs, which should make life easier and take the fear out of struggling with the stairs on a daily basis.

A reputable stairlifts company can assist you in getting the most out of your new stairlift, so there's no need to struggle with the stairs any longer.

Caroline Smith is a successful freelance writer who has written many articles for http://www.1-stair-lift.com the leading information resource on stairlifts, including curved and straight stairlifts from a vast selection of quality manufacturers.

Stairlifts Help You With Mobility Problems and the Ups and Down in Life

Today, stairlifts are well recognized as essential aids for people with a range of mobility problems which cause difficulties when climbing stairs and indeed are provided not only in domestic settings, but in public facilities where accessibility is both recognized and supported.

The invention of the stairlift is generally attributed to C.C.Crispen, an entrepreneur from Pennsylvania, USA, who wanted to help his ailing friends move from floor to floor. A self taught engineer, he created his first prototype and called it the In-Clinator - an inclining chair mounted on rails and powered by electricity. In the 1930s, The Inclinator Company of America commercially produced, advertised and sold their stairlift primarily to victims of the polio epidemic which swept the country at that time.

However, an earlier reference was found in 2009 by historian Doctor David Starkey whilst searching through the archives of King Henry VIII. Following a jousting injury, the king, weighing some 30 stone, was hauled up and down stairs by servants at Whitehall Palace in London on a reinforced chair using a block and tackle system.

Today, stairlifts are known variously as stair lifts, stair-lifts, chair lifts, stair gliders and are manufactured by a range of major companies including Acorn, Bison, Brooks, Churchill, Minivator and Stannah.

The modern day stairlift now boasts a range of features focusing on safety, convenience and comfort including seat height adjustment, flip up safety rail and seat belt, soft start and stop, folding steps, key switch, battery isolation and telephone station.

DC rechargeable battery systems are used to power the stairlift drivetrain to ensure continuity of use in the event of a mains power failure.

Conventionally, the standard layout for a domestic stairlift is for the seat to be at right angles to the rail so the user travels side saddle. Either manually or powered, the seat swivels at both bottom and top of the staircase to provide comfortable and safe entry and exit with a safety switch or locking device to prevent accidental movement. Special models are available to cater for a wide range of mobility problems. These range from the perch seat, a stand on platform to models with seats facing the bottom of the staircase for users whose condition prevents use of the conventional seat layout. Obviously, landing space needs to be sufficient to accommodate these special models. In addition, stairlifts which can accommodate a wheelchair are widely available and incorporate a platform, access ramp and locking system for the wheelchair.

Controlled using either a switch or toggle on the stairlift's arm or via remote control, modern day stairlifts incorporate safety cut off switches connected to safety edges to ensure that, on meeting any obstruction, the stairlift will automatically stop and only travel away from the obstruction.

With rail systems designed either as straight or curved rail, any staircase type can be accommodated although curved rail stairlifts require more design and customization, including seat incliners to avoid uncomfortable or hazardous travel angles for the user.

Thanks largely to the imagination and engineering efforts of CC Crispen with some earlier inspiration perhaps from King Henry, the stairlift has rightly found it's place as a convenient, safe, reliable and comfortable aid to those of us with mobility problems offering a freedom to move around the home or building which otherwise might be denied or at best be exceedingly difficult.

Manufacturers and installers have offered an extended warranty, rather like those available for domestic white goods and brown goods.

M Trevena
Mobility Consultant: Leodis stairlifts The premier supplier of stairlifts to assist with mobility problems in Yorkshire and Humberside

Tips on Finding Curved Stairlifts

Stairlifts are essential devices for disabled people to help them go up and down stairways. With these tools disabled people are not limited to living in one-story dwellings.

Stairlifts are generally devices that are mounted on the wall and that hook onto a wheelchair. A mechanical motor then transports the wheelchair up or down the stairs.

Some stairlifts also have their own chair where the disabled person can sit in. These are particularly useful if the person can walk but does not have the ability to go up and down the stairs by themselves.

As we know, not all stairways are straight. Some stairways are curved and that demands a particular kind of stairlift, also known as the curved stairlift.

Curved stairlifts are generally more expensive than the straight type because they have to be custom manufactured or specially adapted for the particular stairwell. This process involves measurement and custom design as well.

There are several companies that specialize in stairlifts.

One of these companies is Easy Step Stairlifts, which are located in the United Kingdom. They provide new, reconditioned, and curved stairlifts to the general public. The manufacturer models that they carry include stairlifts from Brooks, Bison Bede, Liberator, Meditek, Minivator and Thyssen.

Apart from selling stairlifts, Easy Step Stairlifts also do stairlift repair and servicing.

Savaria Concord Lifts is another stairlifts company that you can consider. They are located in Québec, Canada and carry curved as well as straight stairlifts.

They have been in business for over 30 years and their customers can choose from different models, sizes, features and finishes, and can even have wheel chair lifts, stairlifts and elevators custom-made to fit their requirements.

Savaria Concord Lifts sell their stairlifts through authorized dealers.

A stairlift for your home does not only have to be strong and reliable, they also have to be attractive because they are very prominent features in the home. In addition, they also have to be easy to use for the disabled person to go up and down the stairs.

It is best to speak with the professionals about a curved stairlift because it is definitely not a do-it-yourself task.

For more information on stairlifts visit InformationAttendant.com, where you can also find a wide selection of information and knowledge with RSS feeds for website syndication.

Will Your Home Accommodate a Stair Lift?

Installing a stair lift in your home is a great way to increase the number of years you can live at home, even if you or a loved one have health limitations that make it difficult to go up and down stairs.
I was out with an elderly woman last week who was looking to buy a new home. She already had bad knees, and had to take the stairs slowly. One of the things she was looking for was whether her new property would accommodate a master on the main level (if it didn't already have one) and a stair lift on the stairs.
I thought she might just want to look at one-level homes, but every home she looked at had a staircase in it. One home had a lovely Y-shaped staircase featured in the living room that split off in two directions. One home had a rickety old staircase leading to the finished basement, and one home had a plain old fashioned 2-level staircase that went to the upstairs. My client told me that this wasn't exactly what she was looking for and said she would "know it when she saw it." It had been hard for her to figure out online whether the homes she was interested in would accommodate a stair lift because most realtors don't feature the stairs in their MLS photos.
This client gave me a bit of an education about what it takes to install a stair lift. Basically, she was looking for a long, straight run of stairs from the first to the second floor. We actually found it in one of the new construction homes we looked at, so they are certainly out there. Stairlifts can be installed on other types of staircases, of course, but as with everything, complication adds expense.
If you are building or buying a home that you want to grow old in, it's a good idea to contemplate in advance how the home can be modified to suit your needs when you are older. Some things - like wide hallways that can accommodate wheelchairs - are nice features you might want to have anyway.
Other things, like grab bars in the bath tub, are easy to add on later if they become necessary.
What's not as easy to plan for is if you will need wheelchair access to upstairs rooms of the house. Even if you're not in a wheelchair, going up and down the stairs can be a challenge for many seniors.
Installing A Stair Lift May Be The Perfect Solution
A stair lift runs on a track that is installed on the side of the stairs and plugged into the wall for power. Your stairs must be against the wall or have a reinforced railing to accommodate the full weight of a person on a seat, and the track along the wall. A stair lift can help you bring groceries and laundry up and down the stairs, too. Pretty much anything you can carry, provided you don't exceed the safe weight limit for the chair lift.
Although they can be pricey to install, many seniors are so happy about the idea of having the ability to remain in their own homes as they age, they are more than willing to pay the price to have their home upgraded to accommodate their changing mobility needs.







Emily J. Cressey is a licensed real estate agent and investor in Seattle, Washington. If you are in the market for housing for seniors or disabled people, please click here to learn more about what's involved in installing a stair lift in your home.

Solution For Limited Mobility - Get Stairlifts

For those suffering from physical ailments, injuries or even physical disabilities, climbing stairs can be a monumental task apart from being a painful experience. These limit your mobility leaving you are the mercy of care givers or just limiting your area of movement within the house. But with numerous advanced feature stairlifts, you can go up and down the stairs with ease. All you need to do is press a button and viola! You are either up or down.

No longer do you have live a life of cripple but move around the house with ease with a standard stairlift in case you have a straight stairlift or get a curved stairlift installed. Riding up or down the stairs are no longer a hassle or a long drawn process. With advanced safety features, chances of accidents and slips are close to none. No longer do you need to be singled out for any event or occasion, be a part of the family events- join them at any floor with disability stairlift.

Most stairlifts have this safety devices- safety belt, one touch remote, wraparound arms, emergency brakes, foot rests, swivel chair, automatic obstruction sensors and foldable seats. Just sit and press a button and you will be transported either upstairs or downstairs as required. It also provides you with the freedom that you need to live independently instead of moving to another home. Consider mobility devices to help you live a full live and with advent of technologically advanced devices, elderly and physically challenged individuals can live an independently. Easy accessibility and commuting can put you back to tasks that you couldn't do as half the house was out of bounds. But not any longer!

You may research online for the best available stairlift models and considering your requirements and priorities search for the one that fits your budget. You may even ask the stairlift company representative to come and survey your home and suggest the best available model that fits your pocket and suits the requirements.
Jason Tate has been involved in providing more information on mobility aids and stairlifts for numerous years. To know more about stairlifts and other products, please browse Stairlift comparisons.


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Different Varieties of Stairlifts

Stairlifts are mechanical devices used for lifting people and their wheelchairs up or down a stairway. They are mounted on and move on a rail to which the lifting platform is attached. As the chair moves up or down the rail, the person is seated in a chair and lifted when the stairlift is operating. The first stairlifts to hit the commercial market appeared in the 1900's and today there are 6 popular types to choose from.
Curved rail stairlifts - designed to facilitate a curved staircase and more costly than the straight rail version
Straight rail stairlifts - the most common type of stairlift in use today primarily in private dwellings that have straight staircases

Wheelchair platform stairlifts - typically used in public access buildings and outside private dwellings, these devices are considerably heavier and designed to convey a person in a wheelchair as the name implies
Goods stairlifts - these stairlifts have trays attached instead of seats and are primarily used for conveying goods in between different levels of commercial and industrial buildings.

Outdoor stairlifts - can be manufactured with footplates, perches, platforms, or seats and are similar to the indoor varieties except for the fact that have additional weatherproofing to cope with outdoor climates
Pre-owned stairlifts - there is a second-user stairlift market as the name would imply.

On a historical side note, the original stairlifts that were being used in the beginning were driven by AC (alternating current) motors. They operated using 100 volts in the US and 230 volts in Europe. In recent years, stairlifts have been constructed to operate off of a DC (direct current) electrical source as well as rechargeable batteries. The reason for this was so the person could get up and down the stairs during power outages.

Jason Tate has been involved in providing more information on mobility aids and stairlifts for numerous years. To know more about stairlifts and other products, please browse Stairlift Comparisons.


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Wheelchair Lifts For Vans - Types, Benefits and Cost

Wheelchairs have become a very significant mechanism to all disabled persons. Although these devices are beneficial, precautions should still be observed in order to ensure the safety of the persons sitting on them. Even when the user is simply sitting on the chair, we have to ascertain his security. How much more if the disabled is being transported to another place? Definitely, the level of precautionary measures should increase as well. And in the case of transporting people sitting on a wheelchair, the best option is through a van which is large enough to accommodate the wheelchair inside.

However, transportation could sometimes be a bit difficult. For instance, getting the wheelchair inside the vehicle is very effortful and time-consuming, most especially if no capable device is used, like a wheelchair lift.
Basically, there are two kinds of wheelchair lifts: the electric and the hydraulic lift. The electric wheelchair lift, as the name implies, is powered by electricity, while the other one is powered by hydraulics. Either of these types makes the process of lifting the wheelchair into the van much easier. Traditionally, before the chair was boarded into the vehicle, someone had to fold the wheelchair, carry it inside the van, and then lift the patient into the automobile. But nowadays, patients need not to leave their wheelchair because the lift will do all the work for them.

Both types of wheelchair lifts may be used not just in automobiles, but also for residential areas and public buildings. Electrical lifts, however, are mostly preferred by customers because of their lower price. But unfortunately, these lifts are completely unusable in cases of power failure, unless there is a reserved battery for back-up. Hydraulic lifts, albeit not so very popular among wheelchair lift consumers because of their high-maintenance requirement, do not depend on electricity - a reason for them to be fully functional despite a black-out.

A platform wheelchair lift, a more specific type of lifts, includes a small dais that can accommodate the wheelchair and its user. One has to simply roll the chair onto the platform and then push a button that will raise or lower the platform into or out of the van. To maximize the space, the dais folds into the van when not in use. There are two types of platform wheelchair lifts: the automatic and the semi-automatic lift. Their difference is quite simple: the former automatically folds the lift when a button is pushed, while the latter still needs manual folding (and unfolding).

A rotary wheelchair lift, also called a swing lift, is another specific model. It carries the wheelchair in and out the vehicle through an electric or hydraulic boom arm. However, this lift is less popular in the market than the first type. Aside from its demanding maintenance, it is also less capable of lifting heavy weight. On the other hand, rotary wheelchair lifts cost less than a platform one.

Installing a wheelchair lift on a van could be very expensive since it needs modification in the interior of the vehicle; the height of the floor needs to be lowered, and the seats have to be remodeled to accommodate the lift. But the benefits that it gives us and our disabled loved ones are quite priceless.

Victoria Brightman is a former patient who successfully overcame a severe physical disability. Being bound to a wheelchair for more than a year, she has also helped many people suffering from similar conditions to gain a new hope for recovery. As main author at wheelchairvictoria.com, she writes about wheelchair lifts, their types, functions and benefits. Visit her blog if you want to learn more about the wheelchair lifts for vans and the way they can simplify a disabled person's life.


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