Buyer s Guide
Stairlift Comparison - Buyer s Guide: Content Page 1: Introduction Page 2: Making the right choice Page 3: Other important things to consider Page 4: The staircase Page 5: The stairlift itself - Arms - Controls - Seats - Armrests Installing the lift Page 6: Installation Running costs Maintaining your stairlift - Fully comprehensive extended warranty - Service only - Emergencies only 2
Stairlift Comparison - Buyer s Guide: Introduction The number of people who live beyond their 100 th birthday in the UK has more than quadrupled since 1985, with 20 per cent of everybody alive today likely to celebrate their 100 th birthday. More than three million people are over the age of 80, with the figure likely to be closer to eight million by 2050. Despite the increase in the official pensionable age to 67, this age group represents one sixth of the UK population and this proportion will grow to be one quarter by the middle of the century. Yet much of the UK s housing stock was never built to make life comfortable for older people. More than 10 million of the UK s 25 million houses were built more than half a century ago, with little or no thought given to how they could serve somebody living long into old age. For many, this means that life at home can become progressively more difficult and uncomfortable. And the number one impediment to being able to live as-normal-a-life as possible at home is the staircase. Those in this position have a choice move to a house that is more designed to suit their needs, like a bungalow, or improve the situation by installing a stairlift. For most people this is the least disruptive and most practical way of restoring and maintaining independence at home. For more information, visit our website: If you have any queries do not hesitate to call our helpline, on 0845 519 7413. 1
Stairlift Comparison - Buyer s Guide Making the right choice A stairlift is a fixed mobility aid. The majority of Once the stairlift is in, it will be expensive and them run on tracks mounted alongside the stairs disruptive to take it out in order to make other and the user sits in a seat whilst being transferred alterations like replacing carpets. If it is likely to be from top to bottom or vice versa. There are, in place for any length of time, then you should however, some models which allow the user to consider replacing any carpets prior to installation. stand and these are designed for people who find However, if the stairlift is for relatively short-term bending their knees painful or difficult. use, you might prefer to leave any replacements until after it has been removed because there will Other stairlifts have platforms for wheelchairs but be small holes where the track has been screwed these can be very large and are not suitable for into the staircase. houses with narrow staircases or ones with sharp turns on the flight of stairs. Even more disruptive If you are unsure about which of these options is are vertical lifts or ones which are built through right for your particular circumstances, then the floors and the cost of these can be very prohibitive. engineer from one of the stairlift installers will be able to advise you further. Also on other such For those who have difficulty getting in and out of details as whether you should have a seat with a the house because of an awkward set of steps or a joystick instead of buttons, whether these should big drop from the door to the path, there are short be on the arm rest or remote controlled and rise lifts. These can also be installed where there is whether you should have a swivel or a very short flight of stairs inside the house. simple flip seat. When it comes to the lift itself, you will need to decide whether you prefer to sit or stand, or whether you need a platform to take a wheelchair up the stairs. 2
Stairlift Comparison - Buyer s Guide Other important things to consider If your mobility is likely to deteriorate further, then you might be better advised to consider one of the more disruptive options, like a lift with a wheelchair platform or a through-floor lift. Are there other people in your household? Do you have pets? Do you have lots of visitors? Where are your radiators sited? Do you have doors that open and impede access to the staircase? These are all questions that your engineer will help you with when it comes to choosing the right stairlift because, once it is installed, it can be costly and disruptive for it to be changed or altered. 3
Stairlift Comparison - Buyer s Guide The staircase The majority of houses are suitable to have a stairlift fitted. Although there are exceptions, Stairlifts can often be fitted on stairs with sharp bends. There are other things to consider as far as the stairs themselves go: 1. How curved is your staircase? Staircases can generally cope with angles of up to 58 degrees and the stairs themselves should be at least 75cm wide. If your stairs are narrower then you might consider a standing or perching lift. This might be advisable where there are other members of the household who do not have difficulty using the stairs. 2. Is there enough room at the top and the bottom of the stairs for the stairlift user to be able to get on and off the chair easily? There may be an obstruction at one end or the other making it difficult not to bang yourself when getting on or off. 3. Is there enough room at the top or the bottom to safely park the chair when it is not being used? You do not necessarily need room at both ends because you can send the chair back up and recall it when you need it. 4. Are there any doors close to the top or the bottom of the stairs or a landing part-way up? The stairlift track will have to travel across this and may partially obstruct doors. Modern stairlifts can now be installed with folding rails which can be moved out of the way of doors. 5. If you are a wheelchair user, are you able to get out of your wheelchair and get onto the stairlift? If not, then you might need to consider one with a wheelchair platform. 6. How much room is there around the top and bottom of the staircase? When there are other people in the house and the landing or hall is narrow, you will probably need to make sure that the folding seat along with the arms and footrests on the lift you are considering will leave enough room clear. 4
Stairlift Comparison - Buyer s Guide The stairlift itself Arms: Every stairlift will have armrests that can be raised but some only have one arm. Chairs with two arms allow a user to push themselves up on one while the other is lifted out of the way and this makes more sense for people who will immediately transfer into a wheelchair. Controls: The stairlift itself will probably have two separate controls one that powers it on and another to move it on the track. The control to move the lift will either be a joystick or buttons. These controls will be on the armrest itself as well as ones sited at the top or the bottom of the stairs to call the lift back to you when you are not on it. Standing lifts will usually have controls on a guard rail so that you can reach them when the chair is in an upright position. All controls be they buttons or joystick will have to be pressed continuously to keep the lift moving so as to avoid accidents. You can order a remote control switch with most stairlifts. Remember that you may need controls to be sited in another position to enable a carer to operate the lift independently, if you have a regular carer visit your home. Installing the lift The supplier of the lift will usually install it including taking care of any electrical work and physical changes to the stairs themselves including changing bannisters, alterations to carpet or removal of any obstructions. Most tracks are mounted on the stairs themselves and this will involve making holes in any carpet. It is rare that the track is mounted on a wall but remember that the controls will be wall-mounted and so decoration (like wallpaper) may need to be altered for these. Once the lift is installed, the engineer will show you how to use if safely. This will include making sure that you are comfortable and that you can get on and off easily. If there are any issues a good installer will, within reason, be able to adjust the stairlift to suit your particular circumstances. Before the installer leaves, you should make sure that your feet can be placed flat on the footrest when sitting because if they don t, you might need a different chair. Some stairlifts are also available with an audible signal to alert blind and partially sighted users that the lift is at the top or the bottom of the track. Seats: Most users now choose seats that swivel. This is so that you are able to swing the seat around to face away from the stairs. Armrests: There will always be a minimum of one armrest and all armrests can be raised and lowered. 5
Stairlift Comparison - Buyer s Guide Maintaining your stairlift Every stairlift comes with a minimum one-year guarantee covering the cost of parts, labour and any call out. Second-hand stairlifts supplied by recognised companies will have either six or 12-month guarantees. Installation Most installations are straightforward and relatively quick and take less than two hours. If you have chosen a reputable supplier for a new lift, then it will have been made to measure in the factory and will simply be slotted in, attached to the stairs and then the motor and seat fitted by the engineer. You should always ask how long it will take to receive your lift when you order it. Some manufacturers can install within 5 days if they are for straight staircases and from 2-4 days for a curved staircase. Always ask how soon a stairlift can be fitted if you are looking for one urgently. Running costs They may be large pieces of equipment but stairlifts are remarkably low cost when it comes to running them. The total amount of energy that they use in a day is similar to that used by a kettle, because they run on rechargeable batteries that are trickle-fed so they only use power when the battery starts to run down. They are powered through a normal 13amp socket on one of your home s ring mains. You can choose to extend your guarantee and there are a number of options available: Fully comprehensive extended warranty: This is an extension of the existing guarantee with the same terms and conditions. It will typically cost about 150 a year although some suppliers offer longer periods of cover for proportionately less. Service only: Cheaper than an extended warranty, you might only be able to get this type of extension with a second-hand lift. It usually covers one service a year but will only cover the cost of labour, not parts. Typical cost is 60. Emergencies only: Some suppliers offer emergency-only plans where you can call out an engineer to repair the lift if it suddenly stops working. This kind of plan may be worth considering as a typical call out charge can be as high as 100 and that s before any work is done or parts are ordered. Make sure that your supplier has a 24-hour number you can call in an emergency. 6