What are the essential safety features of our stairlifts?

As you get older, you might find that it is increasingly difficult to manoeuvre around your home, which can have a detrimental impact on your independence. Realising that you need a bit of extra help can help you or a loved one stay in their own home, and this is one of the biggest factors that encourages an individual to buy a stairlift.

Before investing in a stairlift, it is natural to have many questions, and one of the most common queries is about stairlift safety. This guide looks at the different safety features our models boast.

The different stairlift safety features

• Safety sensors
• Manual swivel seats
• Safety seat belts
• Additional sections of the track
• Long-lasting batteries that work during a power cut
• Easy-to-use controls
• Footrests
• Foldaway design

Safety sensors

Our stairlifts are fitted with safety sensors that automatically cut off power if any obstruction is detected in its path. This is an essential safety feature any stairlift model should possess.

If someone riding the stairlift drops their walking stick or an object while travelling up or down their stairs, and it falls in its path, the safety sensors will detect this and stop the stairlift. The object can then be easily removed, and you can continue going up or down the staircase.

ALSO READ: How to Choose a Stairlift

Manual swivel seats

Our stairlifts are designed with a seat that can swivel to make it easier for a user to get on or off the stairlift at the top or bottom of the stairs.

The seat will not just be able to swivel, but it will securely lock into position in the straight or swivel position, meaning that the seat will be secure whilst you ascend or descend the stairs.

A manual swivel seat is operated by a handle that can be fitted on either side of your seat, and it needs to be either pushed down or pulled up, depending on the model of stairlift you choose. All Handicare stairlifts are fitted with a manual swivel seat as standard, but there is an option for a powered swivel seat to be fitted that can be controlled with remote controls. With the powered swivel seat, you will only need to continue holding the toggle that you will be using to operate the stairlift.

Safety seat belts

Wearing a seat belt when you are in a vehicle is essential, and you should also wear one when using your stairlift. All Handicare stairlift models come with safety seat belts, and these simple, easy-to-use belts give you added confidence that you are unlikely to fall from your seat.

The seat belts work as they would when you are in a car, and this feature helps to keep you safe. At the end of your journey, you have to unclip the safety seat belt, and it will automatically retract, and you can safely step off the stairlift.

Additional sections of the track

Some curved stairlift models come with an additional section of track that gives you more space at the top of your stairs to secure yourself to your seat before travelling down the stairs.

It is best to speak to one of our advisors if this is a feature you would like for your home, and they can advise you on which models offer this and whether they are suitable for your home and staircase.

ALSO READ: Stairlift Safety

Long-lasting batteries that work during a power cut

Stairlift batteries typically last between three to five years, but this can depend on how often the stairlift is used and whether or not the batteries are left without power for extended periods.

Should your home have a power cut, your stairlift will continue to work for up to seven return trips, meaning that you can still travel around your home. This is why it is vital that the power supply to your stairlift is always left on to ensure that it has enough power. If the batteries are left to drain fully, there is a possibility that they will need replacing.

Stairlift batteries will charge when left at their charging points, normally found at the top and bottom of the stairs. However, some models within our range of stairlifts can charge wherever they are left.

Batteries use very little power per trip, and stairlifts are inexpensive to run on a daily basis. If you want to replace your battery, it usually costs around £50.

Easy-to-use controls

For people with limited movement in their hands, it can be hard to pull levers or move seats, and that is why many of our models come with controls for the stairlift.

It is important that any controls are well-designed so people can comfortably use them, and the controls that come with our stairlifts are simple and easy to use. The controls give people who have issues with their hands peace of mind that they are fully in control of their stairlift.

If a remote control is not working, flat batteries are the most common cause. When a stairlift is regularly used, the remote’s batteries will run out and need replacing.

ALSO READ: Stairlift troubleshooting tips

Footrests

When you are thinking about a stairlifts feature, something that can often be forgotten about is the footrests. Most of the models we sell come with footrests, and they have many benefits.

A stairlift is safe, but footrests make them even safer. One of its major benefits is that it helps prevent you from slipping and falling because of its textured surface. Footrests, along with the armrests and the seat, provide stability and support, which can be especially helpful for people with balance issues and those with mobility challenges.

There are manual footrests that are fitted with an easy fold mechanism that minimises the strength required to fold the footrest up or down, and there are automatic footrests which remove the need for you to bend down to fold or unfold it.

Foldaway design

If family members live or will be visiting your home and will go up and down the stairs on foot, you need to consider their safety as well. Trying to squeeze around a stairlift increases the risk of falls, especially if the staircase is narrow.

There are many straight stairlifts that are sold through Age Co Mobility, which are designed for narrow staircases and can be folded away after use. This allows other people in the home to go up and down the stairs without having to manoeuvre the stairlift.

Arms, seats, and footrests can be folded neatly when they are not in use, and there are models with slim rails, which gives others in the house more space.

Some of the best stairlifts for narrow staircases are:

• Age Co 1100 Stairlift - It features the slimmest track on the market.
• Freecurve Stairlift - For curved stair lifts for narrow stairs, the Freecurve is the perfect choice.

ALSO READ: Stairlifts for narrow stairs

Enquire today about an Age Co Mobility stairlift

If you want to regain your independence and make your home more accessible, enquire about an Age Co Mobility stairlift today.

This article is brought to you by Handicare, in partnership with Age Co, offering a wide range of home mobility products, including stairlifts, homelifts, and bathing solutions. For more information on how they can help improve accessibility in your home, please get in touch today.