Old age or an accident can limit mobility and make maneuvering around one’s home difficult. Stairs are often an obstacle that limits the spaces that a mobility impaired individual can get to. Stairlifts in Pittsburgh PA can take away the barrier by allowing the means to travel from one level to another in a safe manner. A stairlift can open up a new world of independence and help a person with decreased mobility to have access to all levels of a home.
About Stairlifts
A stairlift is a mechanical device that allows a person to go up or down a set of stairs while safely sitting on a chair. This type of lift uses a rail that is attached to the stair treads for the chair to travel on. A drive system, also called the carriage, operates the lift. A stairlift has a backup battery that allows it to continue working if a power failure occurs, and a loud beep will sound out if the chair is no longer charging.
Placement
Depending on what type of stairway the lift will be placed on it may require a straight rail or a curved one for the chair to travel along. Some stairs are straight while others have a landing in the middle. Some stairs are curved or are narrow in width. Since each set of stairs is different, the installation of each unit must be customized to the environment that it will be placed in.
Operating the Stairlift
When a stairlift is not being used, the seat can be folded up to keep it out of the way of people who don’t require its service. To use the stairlift, the seat should be placed in the down position so that the rider safely can sit on it. After the rider puts the seat belt on, the rocker switch, which is usually found on the armrest, must be pressed in order to make the lift go up or down. Once the desired location has been reached, the rider should lock the chair in place and exit it carefully.
Gaining access to all levels of a home can provide more independence for the person who struggles to get around. Stairlifts in Pittsburgh PA can help with that. McArdle Surgical has many styles of stairlifts available to accommodate both the needs of the user and the home environment. Most stairlifts can be installed in one day. You can also connect them on Facebook.
