The
hinged rail option is available from most suppliers but the
cost and quality can vary greatly. Seek independent advice and
consider if you would be able to fold the rail manually or if
you would require powered operation. Most people do need
the powered version as the mechanism can be quite heavy.
Unfortunately these options will add to the cost of the lift .
The only other option is to stop the rail of the lift short,
to prevent it protruding as far into the hallway. This might
make getting off the lift dangerous and is not an ideal
solution by any means. Again you must seek advice, preferably
from an occupational therapist. Also take into account that
while you may be able to use the lift this way in the short
term you may find it impossible in the future. Some companies
may not consider it an option as they feel there is too much
risk involved.
Parking positions
On curved stairlifts parking positions can be fairly flexible.
On straight lifts however, they are normally parked either at
the bottom, (taking up a space of about 700 mm (27") from
the first step), or at the top. A common belief is that the
lift continues along the landing at the top. This is not
the case, the chair will still be on the staircase. If you
have a hinged track, there may be a parking point part
way up the stairs. Obviously if the chair is parked on the
stairs it will restrict the space available for others using
the stairs. Most stairlifts fold up to a width of 300-375mm
(12-15"). If there are small children in the house or
others using the stairs, a narrow folded dimension is
desirable
Weight Limits
Most stairlifts have a maximum capacity of between 18 and
21 stones, however some have heavy duty options of up to
28 stones. This option will add to the price of the lift but
is essential for ensuring safe and reliable use. You must make
sure that you don't exceed the weight limit for the model that
you choose.
Previous Page
Next Page
