For an older person, a fall can mean loss of independence and mobility. Because of osteoporosis, an older person’s bones are often much more brittle, so a low-impact fall can quickly turn into a very serious injury. Of all the areas of the home, the stairway is the most frequent place for a fall and it is also the most likely place to cause serious injuries among the elderly.

Since stairs are so dangerous, it is common for an older person to feel anxious on stairs, even more so if they have had previous falls. This anxiety can also increase the risk of a fall, which is why staying calm is so important. The older person may also decide to simply avoid areas with stairs or only use them when someone is ready to help. While they are effective to some degree, they don’t really or completely address the real issue at hand, which is being able to use stairs safely and with confidence. It is for this reason that stair lifts are used so frequently in homes and businesses across the country.

Stair lifts are a type of home lifting aid used to allow full and independent individual use of stairs. The elevator actually takes a person up the stairs, most of which are attached directly to the stairs. A meat or platform is used. In the case of the latter, a person must remain standing while using their lift, which is not as safe as the seated stairlift. Most recommend the use of a stairlift unless you medically require a standing stairlift.

It doesn’t matter if you choose a stairlift or a standing stairlift, both will use a track system. The rail is attached to the stairs first, then the chair or platform goes up the rail.

There are a few different types of stairlifts to choose from, but they fall into two main categories. The most common type of stair lift used is the battery powered one. The main advantage of using this type of lift is that it works even if the power goes out. This is not the case with AC powered stairlifts, which get their power directly from the home. An AC powered stair lift will cost a bit less, both in upfront costs and recurring maintenance costs, but if the power goes out, the lift stops working. For most, the added security of a battery backup outweighs the added cost.

The older battery stair lifts had actually been quite inefficient. Like a cordless phone, they required you to park the stairlift in a certain spot for it to charge. If the point on the track that charged the stairlift was missed, the battery could be depleted. Today, most stair lifts use a continuous charging system, so no matter where the stair lift is on the rail, it will charge.