
Don’t Downsize, Rightsize – Planning Your Next Move
Downsizing can be a choice or a necessity but it doesn’t have to be a negative experience. It can be overwhelming when considering a move
As people grow older, the body becomes weaker in a lot of ways. Activities that used to be carried out routinely become difficult. Other activities that require a great deal of mobility like climbing for example become more and more difficult until eventually, seniors need help climbing the stairs at home and in other places as well. There is also an increased likelihood of accidental falls occurring whether it is as a senior is ascending a flight of stairs or when the senior is descending.
Another potential life saving device – a medical alert system – pairs well with a stair lift if falls occur. Check out our list of medical alert systems in Canada.
Stair lifts are a very viable alternative for the use of people who have trouble maintaining their balance, especially on a staircase. Family members looking to ease the struggles of their loved one and simultaneously reduce the risk of falling at the same time and seniors that want to maintain their level of independence, have begun to resort to the use of technological solutions known as stairlifts to meet their mobility needs.
A stair lift is a mechanical device that provide customers with an efficient solution to the problem associated with the climbing of a staircase. Fundamentally, a stair lift is designed to provide mobility aid to people with issues or complications interfering with their ability to climb a staircase, usually loved ones with impairments due either to injury or age or even both. Stairlifts provide a safety measure to guide against falls from a staircase and give customers peace of mind.
Asides from use in the home, stair lifts are also used in nursing homes and they can also be used to provide accessibility solutions to seniors who are residents of an assisted living facility.
The chair of a stair lift is arguably its most important part. It is the part that determines how comfortable people are when they use the stair lift. Fundamentally, the chair is what carries people up and down the stairs. The chair of a stair lift is customizable and it can be changed to meet the preferences of the customer, for example, the seat height can be adjusted to match the needs of each person.
Some manufacturers offer swivel seats that can be rotated to allow users to step out on a flat area rather than on steps they’ve just ridden up. These swivel seats are usually controlled manually using a manual swivel. Some manufacturers, however (e.g handicare) provide customers with a power swivel seat that swivels automatically. A power swivel seat is especially advantageous in situations where it may not be possible to operate the swivel manually. Some manufacturers in a bid to provide a measure of added security offer another kind of stair lift seats that are intended to recline somewhat as the user sits down.
Some stair lift manufacturers offer seats with a power folding feature that makes the seat of the stair lift fold up when they are not in use. As a result of this, they take up less room thereby ensuring that the stair lift poses less of a tripping risk to the movement of people.
For additional security and convenience, manufacturers include armrests and footrests in the stair lift structure. Some stair lift models feature a power folding footrest. The power folding footrest is designed to automatically collapse at the push of a button and fold up once the stair lift is no longer in use.
The seat belt is designed to keep people in place and prevent them from falling off. Most manufacturers keep the stairlift seat belt design very simple. For those who desire extra security for their loved ones, however, manufacturers offer optional harnesses for a more secure restraint.
It is also common for stairlifts to come with a lockable key that, when removed, prevents unauthorized or unsupervised use. This is important for the promotion of safety in the house particularly if the stair lift is to be installed in a house with children.
A rail stair lift can be designed to fit on any kind of stairs in the home however as earlier stated, the type of stairs will determine the type of stairlift to be installed and by extension the cost of the installation process.
The major determining factors of a stair lift cost are the rail/track and the type of staircase to be navigated. Generally, a curved stairlift is more expensive than its straight rail counterpart. A straight stairlift, which has no landings and does not handle bends, costs between $3,000 and $5,000. A curved stair lift however has its cost ranging from $10,000 to $15,000 depending on the number of curves and the number of landings.
ACORN 180 | SAVARIA STAIRFRIEND | HANDICARE FREECURVE | BRUNO ELITE | STANNAH STARLA | |
Capacity | 266 lb | 350 lb | 275 lb | 400 lb | 300 lb |
Seat swivel | top | top | top | top | top and bottom |
Folded width | Varies* | 16.63″ | 16.5″ | 16.75″ | 16″ |
Arm width | 19″ | 18.25″ – 21.5″ (L seat) | 17.1″ – 18.3″ | 17.75″ – 21.75″ | 19.3″ |
Rail type | modular aluminum rail | custom bent twin tube | single tube rail | custom bent flat steel rail | custom bent twin tube |
Diagnostic display | digital | LED light | digital | digital | digital |
Standard color/finish | white with beige seat | white with beige seat | off white with 3 seat colour options | white with grey seat | white with beige seat |
Parts warranty | 1 yr | 3 yr | 2 yr | 2 yr | 2 yr |
Minimum track to wall | 7″ | 6″ | 6.8″ | 7.5″ | 6″ |
Notable | hidden gear track | fits closely to wall, choice of seat | multiple rail colors and seat options | footrest lever | seat load sensor |
Disclaimer: SeniorsBulletin.ca makes ongoing efforts to keep information up-to-date but takes no responsibility for errors or omissions in information on this website.
There are several chair lift providers in Canada however here is a list of the best ones highlighting their pros and their cons to help you make a decision on which you find most acceptable. Read the reviews below. The top Canadian companies are listed.
Ameriglide incorporated is an American company that has its headquarters on the east coast of the southern US.
It was founded in 1989 and has established itself within that period as a major distributor of home medical equipment. Ameriglide offers a comprehensive array of mobility aids such as excellent stairlifts, wheelchair lifts, dumbwaiters, and others.
HME Accessibility is a company based in British Columbia, Canada, that specializes in providing accessibility solutions for seniors and people with disabilities. The company was founded in 2008 and has since grown to become one of the leading providers of mobility and accessibility products in BC. HME Stairlifts is a division of HME Home Health. It offers wide range of products and services including stairlifts, wheelchair lifts, home elevators, bathroom safety equipment, and mobility scooters. One of the things that sets HME Accessibility apart from other accessibility companies is their commitment to customer service.
Pros:
Cons:
Home Stairlift Rentals & Sales is a local Canadian company mobility aid rental service committed to making independent living easier. They offer rental services on straight, curved, and outdoor stairlifts for people who are for one reason or the other unable or unwilling to purchase their own. They also have local offices across Canada enabling them to deliver services locally.
Savaria is a Canada-based company that is committed to the provision of mobility aids to help people maintain their mobility. Savaria provides a wide range of products from those needed in the home to those to be used outdoors and even in cars.
Silver Cross is an accessibility and mobility product retailer with a history of providing solutions to mobility issues since 1993. The company is headquartered in Canada and operates stores in Alberta and Ontario. Silver cross also offers in-home assessments and showrooms with working demonstrator models for potential users to try out.
It depends on what features you are prioritizing – whether that be price, comfort, design or something else. We’ve reviewed over 15 Canadian and US stair lift companies and rated each one to help you pick the best stair lift in Canada for your needs.
Downsizing can be a choice or a necessity but it doesn’t have to be a negative experience. It can be overwhelming when considering a move
Aging is a natural process that occurs as we grow older. While some individuals may fear aging and view it as a decline in physical
As the population ages, the need for home security systems that cater to the specific needs of seniors is becoming increasingly important. Seniors often have
According to the survey from Ryerson University’s National Institute on Ageing (NIA), conducted in collaboration with HomeEquity Bank, 77% of Canadians within the 55-69 age
Cupping therapy is a form of alternative medicine that uses suction to create localized suction on the skin. It is often used to treat pain
In Canada, CARP refers to the Canadian Association of Retired Persons, a national non-profit organization dedicated to advocating on behalf of seniors and retirees. CARP