Stair lifts are mechanical devices used to lift disabled people and wheelchairs, up and down the stairs. Basically it is a rail mounted to the treads of the stairs. A lifting platform, or sometimes a chair, is attached to the rail. The platform moves around the rail carrying the person up the stairs.

There are two kinds of stair lifts: standing and seated. The standing ones are usually used by persons without disabilities, elder people with joints problems, or by people who find it hard to climb stairs. This type of stair lift is also small and can be used in narrow stairways. The seated stair lift, used for wheelchairs, is for people who have a hard time standing up, are not allowed to stand up or by disabled people (using wheelchairs to move).

A great solution for people who need to move around the house, but cannot do this because of their disabilities, is handicap stair lifts. If a person has any disability than a stair lift is the answer to that person’s problem.

There are many reasons why people suffering from different affections or disabilities should use a stair lift:

• Using the stairs is one of the most frequent causes of accidents around the house.
• Elder people can reduce wear of their ankles, knees and other body joints, by using the stair lift.
• The main reason disabled or elder people should use the stair lift is because it gives everybody the freedom to move around the house.

No matter what the reasons are, aging, illness or accidents, trying to walk up or down the stairs when you are losing your mobility is most of the times painful and dangerous. In some cases, climbing the stairs is actually impossible, because of the lack of mobility elder people suffer from. The stair lift will give you accessibility throughout the entire house.

All in all, stair lifts are a great invention helping elder, ill or disabled people to regain their mobility around their homes. It allows them to use the stairs, at a reasonable cost, in a safe and relaxing way, without wearing their joints anymore.