Keeping Safety In Mind When Selecting A Stair Chair Lift

Keeping Safety In Mind When Selecting A Stair Chair Lift

12 October 2015
 Categories: Health & Medical , Blog

If you have a loved one who has been demonstrating trouble in their mobility around the home, the steps are bound to be one area where they have the most difficulty. Many people opt to purchase a stair lift if there is a steep staircase needed to be utilized to get to another story in the home. The chair lift you buy should be comfortable for your loved one rather than having its own set of difficulties. Here are some tips to use when selecting chair lifts or stair glides to help keep your loved one safe as they make their way up and down the staircase in your home.

Consider Some Swiveling

The chair attached to the lift mechanism is usually facing toward the staircase as it moves in an upward or downward motion. On stair chair lifts where the seat is rigidly in place, the person using it may have trouble getting in or out when they are on the bottom or top step. This is extremely risky as they may fall down the steps when they get out at the top of the staircase. To minimize this chance, opting for a chair that swivels can alleviate teetering on the top stop when they get out of the chair. They can swivel the chair outward before getting out of the seat, allowing them to move away from the staircase from a safe distance.

Look For Adjustable Settings

If the chair height is too low or high, your loved one may have trouble getting in or out of it safely. A chair that has adjustable settings for height will alleviate this problem. The settings should be in a location on the stair lift where your loved one can access them easily before they get into the chair. Adjusting with the push of one button is desired.

Utilize Safety Features

Most chair lifts will come equipped with safety belts. Make sure your loved one knows they must strap themselves in before starting the lift's movement and that they need to come to a complete stop before unstrapping it to get out. Look for a seat belt that works like a car belt without a difficult button to push to open the clasp. Make sure there is ample belt length as well. 

Consider attaching a buzzer to the armrest on the chair on the lift in case your loved one feels they will need help getting in or out of the unit. If they suffer from chronic pain, some days may be easier than others to be mobile. On days when they are having trouble, they can make some noise so someone in the home can help them get in or out of the chair.