Seated Stairlifts


Many people who find they have mobility issues start to struggle with travelling up and down stairs safely.  This can be incredibly frustrating, as they may not only struggle in their own homes, effectively losing the ability to have full use of their house, but they may also struggle outside of the home, with accessing public buildings and the homes of their friends.  It has been reported that people who have mobility impairments regularly feel socially isolated and feel like a prisoner in their own homes.  Stairlifts are a great option to allow these people to once again have full access to areas that they want to access.

The Different Types of Stairlifts

There is a whole host of different stairlifts available on the market.  The first indication in types of stairlifts, however, is in relation to the rail of the stairlift.  If this is straight, i.e. doesn’t go around any corners or curves on the staircase, it is known as a straight stairlift.  Curved stairlifts, on the other hand, are specifically designed to fit an individual staircase that does have bends or corners, such as spiral staircases.

Seating Arrangements on Stairlifts

There are many different types of seating arrangements available for stairlifts.  Some of these include:

  • Seated stairlifts, whereby the user sits on a platform that faces away from the wall.  This is generally the most popular option and is available for those who are still mobile enough to walk to the stairs as well as being able to bend their knees and hips sufficiently to sit down without any pain.
  • Standing stairlifts, which are designed for those who are not able to sit down comfortably and use seated stairlifts.  In this option, the user faces the wall and holds on to two hand rails.  Unlike with seated stairlifts, the user of a standing stairlift needs to have a reasonable sense of balance in order to feel comfortable and safe.
  • Perched stairlifts, whereby the users faces away from the wall and is perched, basically in a position between sitting and standing.  Many users who are unable to feel comfortable on seated stairlifts but feel unsafe on standing stairlifts will choose this option instead.
  • Platform stairlifts, which come in a range of different shapes and sizes and allow a wheelchair user to wheel their wheelchair on the platform, reducing the need to get out of a wheelchair and onto seated stairlifts.
Most of the above stairlifts are available for indoor use and outdoor use, whereby the materials used are more durable and able to withstand adverse weather conditions.  Some of these are even designed in portable forms, whereby the stairlift can be folded away and stored, such as in the boot of a car for example.

With all the different stairlifts available on the market today – seated stairlifts, wheelchair stairlifts, standing stairlifts and perched stairlifts – and availability for both inside and outside use, there is no need any more for people with mobility issues to feel socially isolated, to feel uncomfortable in their own homes, or to feel like they have lost their independence.

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