People who are mobility challenged are often unable to use the stairs without outside assistance. A fall down the stairs can result in a broken hip or other injury and so many people simply avoid the stairs that are in their home. While simply not using the stairs can greatly reduce the risk of falls, it also means that you might not be able to use a significant part of your home. A stair lift is a medical device which can greatly decrease the risks of falls down the stairs, while still allowing you to make use of all areas of your home.

Stair lifts are devices which are attached directly to the staircase and carry a single individual up and down the stairs. Most often stair lifts use chairs, but there are a few that use a small platform called a perch to carry the user. A seated stair lift or stair chair has many safety features that greatly reduce the risk of falling down the stairs. It is important, however, that you do not operate the stair lift in a manner that is unsafe or otherwise differs from the manufacturers recommended usage instructions.

The weight capacity of a stair lift is one of the most oft overlooked and frequently abused specifications of a stair lift. It is very important that you do not exceed the maximum weight capacity because it can harm the electric motor on the stair lift and is unsafe. It is a good idea to pad your weight by about 20% and to also allow for any expected weight growth. For instance if you weigh 150 pounds then you would want to add 20% to that weight when considering a stair lift. This means that at 150 pounds, you would want to have a lift that at least supports 180 pounds. It is always better to air on the side of caution when considering the proper weight capacity required.

It is also important that you do not allow children to play on your stair lift. It is not a toy, but to a child it may appear to be one. If you are unable to always keep an eye on who is using your lift, it may be a good idea to purchase one that has keyed entry. This is also a good idea if the stair lift is outdoors or in a public area.

It is also very important to follow all regular maintenance requirements that are provided by the manufacture. Most stair lifts, like those by AmeriGlide, do not require excessive maintenance. They typically only require a little bit of lubricant and that you keep the track clean. Failing to do so can greatly reduce the life of your unit. The maintenance required varies by lift, but most only require service every few months. If you own a battery powered stair lift, then you will also have to periodically replace the batteries. Over time the time that a battery can hold its charge will reduce and eventually it will cease to hold a charge at all. It is important that you change the battery before it gets to this point and many units have a simple schedule you can follow or have a battery light on the device which will indicate when you need to replace it.

A stair lift when safely used will greatly reduce the risk and dangers that are presented by the stairs.