Home mobility equipment is important to consider when you begin having mobility issues due to age, injury, or illness. There are plenty of different types of equipment to choose from, and each has their individual purpose. Stairlifts are popular among homeowners with mobility concerns who want to navigate the stairs in their houses with safety, ease, and comfort. If going up and down your stairs has become painful or difficult for you, consider the following things that you may not have known about stairlifts.
Fact #1: Stairlifts are Installed on Staircases, Not Walls
One of the common concerns with all types of home mobility equipment is whether or not they will work well with the current layout of the user’s home. This is no exception when it comes to stairlifts. Contrary to popular belief, a stairlift is not installed on the wall of your home, but the stairs themselves. This means that if your stairs don’t connect to a continuous wall surface, or they are curved or include a landing, a stairlift can still be easily installed on the staircase.
Fact #2: Your Stairlift Won’t be Affected by a Power Outage
An additional misconception with this type of mobility equipment is that since it is an electronic device that uses power to transport the user up and down staircases, it will stop functioning if there is a power outage, leaving the user stuck either on the chair or on one level of the home. Fortunately, stairlifts contain a long-lasting DC battery from which they draw power. Although a wall outlet is needed to charge the battery itself, a stairlift with even a small amount of battery power will continue to work as normal when the rest of the home experiences a power outage.
Fact #3: Stairlifts Come Equipped with Special Safety Features
All mobility equipment is designed with safety in mind, but stairlifts come with added safety features that allow the user to feel secure and have the peace of mind that their stair navigation will be both easy and safe. Some of the features your stairlift may come equipped with include:
- Seatbelts
- Adjustable Headrests and Footrests
- Remote powered footrests and chair swivel
- Emergency Stopping (when track is obstructed)
- Battery Backups
- Smart Sensors
- Foldability (for when not in use)
Mobility Solutions from Aging-in-Place Specialists
As a Maryland stairlift store, Freedom Mobility is dedicated to providing the solutions you need to safely and comfortably navigate their homes and the world they live in. Whether you’re in need of grab bars for support in bathrooms and hallways, or you have difficulty climbing stairs and are interested in a stairlift, we can help. Contact us today to learn more about the mobility equipment we have available for rent and purchase.