A stand-up stairlift can provide a viable alternative to more conventional stairlifts when space is tight.
Generally speaking, a stand-up stairlift greatly reduces the amount of width needed with a more traditional seated stairlift, making them ideal for smaller houses or ones with a narrow staircase.
There can also be accessibility and safety advantages to using stand-up stairlifts too, all of which should be considered when you’re researching which stairlift to install. For example, for someone who has difficulty bending their knees, a stand-up stairlift may be a better solution regardless of space or budget.
A key part of the process of planning and buying your stairlift will be to consult with a reputable company and use their experience to help you decide. You should also invite at least two or three different businesses to your property to survey the space and make proposals and suggestions.
Here are some of the other key considerations when you’re choosing a stand-up stairlift for your house or property.
Is There Enough Space Even For A Stand-Up Stairlift?
If you have a small and narrow staircase, then a stand-up stairlift is probably the only solution for you. But in rare instances, you may have to consider whether or not you truly have enough room for one of those as well?
Thankfully, professional installers will be able to offer you advice on this. Stand-up stairlifts can also fold-up, in the sense that foot plates can be removed out of the way giving other residents or visitors to the home ample space to pass up and down the stairs as well.
There may be other space-saving functionalities that you can have built-in to your design as well, so make sure you ask professionals for the different options available to you.
Can The User Stand The Whole Way Up The Stairs?
As we have suggested above, stand-up stairlifts can be a great solution for people who suffer with bad joints or have trouble bending their knees. They allow the user to simply walk on to the foot plates and be transported up the stairs safely and pain-free.
However, in that comes other considerations. Is the user strong enough and steady enough on their feet to remain standing all of the way up or down the stairs? If not, or if they are prone to dizzy spells for example, the stand-up stairlift variety may not be suited to them.
Additionally, you will need to future-proof your purchase as much as possible, not only for financial reasons, but also for convenience. Have a think about the primary users’ condition. Are their joints likely to worsen? Or do they have a condition that will make using the stairlift more difficult in the medium and long-term?
Is There Enough Aerial Clearance For A Stand-Up Stairlift?
A simple, yet often overlooked, factor in choosing a stand-up stairlift is whether or not there is enough clearance room above the head of the user? With some smaller houses, staircases will have low ceilings or clearances at certain points, so it’s important to consider calculate whether there is enough clearance for the stairlift to operate safely?
Some users will say they can duck or bend-down when going through certain parts of the journey, but this should be avoided, and reputable companies should not proceed with this. It is not safe.
Even if the user does remember to duck down, what if the condition that requires them to have the stairlift worsens in the future and they are unable to duck or bend? It should be avoided at all costs.
Safety Precautions
All stairlifts come with safety features built-in, while others can often be added at additional cost. It’s always worth fully investigating which safety features are available, and which may be useful to you or the user.
Having safety rails and hand grips/bars are an absolute must on a stand-up stairlift and must be included as a matter of course. It may also be advisable to fit some sort of built which can be tied around the users’ waist when the stairlift is in use.
Also, consider additional safety options that may not be part of any stairlift. For example, is it necessary to install a handrail or handle on the landing at the top of the stairs to aid the user in getting on and off the stairlift?
Contact Us For A Quote
If you are ready for a quote, or you want to talk to experienced professionals to gather more information, then you can speak to our team today by contacting us directly on 0151 525 3610 or alternatively, completing our simple enquiry form here with your details and one of our friendly experienced team will contact you back to discuss your needs in more detail.