Buying A Straight Stairlift

Buying A Straight Stairlift: How To Choose The Best Stairlift For Your Home And Your Needs.

Stairlifts are a cost-effective way to make your home safer and more accessible. Whether you are planning for the future, aging in place, or recovering from an injury, a stairlift offers access and sustainable independence in your home at an affordable price. Buying a straight stairlift is an important decision that you should ensure you get right from the onset. You want to buy a stairlift that suits your budget and needs.

A stairlift is a simple piece of accessibility equipment, designed to help people with mobility limitations get up and down their stairs safely. Key components of a stairlift include a chair, a motor, and the fixed track it travels along. Stairlifts can be fitted to a variety of staircase types, including straight, curved, and outdoor stairs.

Stairlifts also include a number of convenience and safety features that make it easier (and safer) to use your stairlift. While the basic design remains relatively consistent, these features and the quality of the service provided represent the biggest differences between the various stairlift brands.

Tips for Choosing the Right Stairlift

Choosing the right stairlift is all about finding the best value for your situation and needs. Often, the cheapest option isn’t the best solution; neither is the most expensive model. Here are a few important factors that can help you find the right balance for your needs and budget, and choose the right stairlift.

Consider How Your Mobility Might Change

People often think about the stairlift process in terms of their current mobility level. Unfortunately, that can change over time. Ensure you choose a stairlift that can adapt to your needs as they change over time because if it is a struggle to use now, it is likely to get harder down the road.

Think About How Long You Want to Live in Your Home

Renting can be a great temporary solution, especially if you are expecting to make a full recovery or move in a few months. But, if you plan on living in your home for longer than 18 months, you are likely better off purchasing a stairlift outright.

Determine the Value of The Full Package

Many online dealers offer enticing prices, with little follow-through on the back end. There is a big difference between a stairlift in a box delivered to your doorstep and a safe, professional installation backed by a multi-year warranty.

It is important to consider the long-term value when buying a straight stairlift. Upfront costs are important, but you should always be asking, “What am I getting in the long run?”

Whatever factors matter most to you, the answer should include both independence and peace of mind.

Stairlift Options

Choosing The Right Stairlift Options For Your Home

What Sorts of Stairlift Options Do You Need?

It all depends on you. While Stannah offers a range of stairlift models for all types of stairs, such as straight stairs, stairs with landings or with a turn, and even outdoor staircases, most of our stairlifts have the additional benefit of added optional features.

During your free home visit, our friendly technician will walk you through your options and present the stairlift features he or she thinks are right for you. Here are some of the choices we offer.

Safety Features

Powered Swivel Seat Option

All Stannah stairlifts seat swivel at the top or bottom of the stairs so that the rider can get off safely. But, if manually swiveling the chair is difficult due to limited mobility, we have a powered swivel option to make turning easier.

This mechanism allows the stairlift user to swivel the chair to face away from the stairs, by simply continuing to hold the hand control or using the remote. The chair can also be swiveled back into the riding position using the remote, to allow others to use the stairs.

Retractable Rail Option

For straight stairs, you can go for a stairlift with a retractable rail that raises and lowers automatically as the chair rides up and down the stairs. This is a great option if the rail could pose a potential tripping hazard at the bottom of the stairs or if there is a door in the way.

With the retractable rail option, your Stannah stairlift will be there when you need it and out of the way when you don’t.

Seat Belt Options

The standard retractable seat belt on the Siena and Starla models is designed for ease of use and can be upgraded to an ‘Immobilizer seat belt’ so that the stairlift will not operate from the armrest control until the seat belt is engaged (standard equipment on the Sadler stairlift).

Stannah’s lap-diagonal and five-point seat belts provide extra restraint over the shoulders and, if needed, between the legs. We also have a center-clasp seatbelt option. Consider all these options when buying a straight stairlift and choose the one that suits you.

Choice of Hand Control

The standard hand control was designed to be ergonomic and easy to use for people with limited dexterity. However, some users prefer the vertical “rudder” style instead. Both are well-suited for arthritic fingers. It is all a matter of comfort, choose the version that is most comfortable for you!

Upholstery Choices

Stannah’s indoor stairlift models come with upholstery choices and a range of colors to match your home’s décor. The Starla model even gives you the option of getting woven upholstery and light or dark wood trim.

We understand that it is important for your stairlift to not only be functional but also fit into your life. That is why we design our stairlifts to look good, in addition to being safe and reliable.

Seat Width Options

The Stannah Siena stairlift comes with comfortable wide armrests as standard. An optional narrow chair allows the chair to be installed on stairs only 27” wide. This is a great option for narrow stairs or shorter users.