For most people who live in a home that has more than one floor, the need for a stair chair lift is not an issue as negotiating the stairs is not generally a problem. But for people with limited mobility such as those with physical disabilities, the elderly, those with incapacitating illness or injury, a flight of stairs represents an insurmountable barrier to the parts of their home that healthy people take for granted.
For this reason, the prototype to today's stair chair lift was originally invented back in the 1920s by engineer and practical thinker C.C. Crispen. The general idea behind this device is to allow the user to sit on a sturdy seat that is raised or lowered the length of the flight of stairs on a rail fixed to the risers or to the wall by means of an electric motor installed in the base of the unit which operates along a chain or belt to move the unit up or down the stairs. The idea was and still is very simple, as often the simplest solutions to any problems turn out to be the best. In this case, the simplicity of the modern chair lift for stairs is its strength and makes it easily usable and accessible to almost anyone.
These fantastic devices are very easy to use. When at rest at the base of the staircase, most models have the chair facing toward the user, so the simply sit in the chair and then operate a swivel action that turns the chair through ninety degrees so that the user is now sitting with their back to the staircase wall. This is the travel position and is this way as it was found to be the most comfortable way of ascending or descending the stairs in the seat. The seat locks in position so that there is no lateral movement while the chair is in transit up or down the stairs. When it gets to the top, the chair is unlocked and swivelled a further ninety degrees so that it faces the top of the stairs making it easy and safe for the user to get off the chair. Going down the stairs is simply the opposite procedure to going up.
The movement of the stair chair lift is operated via a lever or toggle mounted on the armrest of the chair. This is so that the user can stop at any point during the journey up or down the stairs, or even reverse direction should they change their mind and decide not to go up or down the stairs at that time.
Installation of a handicap stair lift is generally carried out by professional fitters, as this is not recommended for the homeowner to undertake themselves unless they have skilled knowledge and experience. This ensures maximum safety of the unit as well as covering it under the manufacturer's warrantee should anything untoward happen.
A residential stair lift is a marvellous addition to a home where there is a family member who needs assistance in climbing the stairs as it gives them the freedom of movement around the entire house. The ability to move around at will in comfort and with dignity is perhaps one of the greatest benefits of having a stair chair lift installed in the home.
