Stairs are a fundamental part of many homes in Toronto and the GTA. However, as mobility decreases due to age, injury, or illness, those stairs can quickly become a significant barrier, transforming a source of convenience into a daily hazard. The thought of moving to a single-level home can be daunting, but we believe that should not be your only option.
A stairlift chair, often just called a stairlift, is a powerful solution that restores independence and safety within the home you love. At Rehab Medical Mobility Equipment, we specialize in making this transition seamless. With over 120 years of combined experience in Home Health Care Equipment Service, we offer the right products and the expert knowledge to install them. We want to walk you through everything you need to know about these life-changing devices.
What Exactly is a Stairlift Chair?
A stairlift is essentially a chair or platform that travels up and down a staircase along a motorized rail. It is designed to safely transport a person who has difficulty climbing stairs.
Two Main Types of Stairlifts
The design of your staircase determines the type of stairlift you will need:
1. Straight Stairlifts
These are the most common and generally easiest to install. They are designed for staircases that run in a straight line without any turns, landings, or curves. For example, our Handicare 1100 Straight Stairlift uses patented multi-drive technology for a quiet and smooth ride, while the K2 Plus Straight Stairlift offers a heavy-duty capacity of up to 400 lb.
2. Curved Stairlifts
These are custom-built to fit staircases that feature bends, corners, or intermediate landings. Products like the Handicare 4000 Twin-Rail Curved Stairlift and the Handicare Freecurve Single-Rail Curved Stairlift utilize a custom rail design to ensure a smooth, stable journey, even on spiral, narrow, or steep staircases.
We also offer inclined platform lifts, like the Savaria Delta Straight Inclined Platform Lift, which is the best choice for wheelchair access over straight stairs. These are specialized chairlifts for stairs that can carry both the individual and their mobility device.
Prioritizing Safety in Stairlift Design
The primary reason to install a stairlift is to eliminate the risk of falling, and modern safety features are built into every unit we provide. Safety comes standard, which is why we only deliver quality mobility products.
Essential Safety Features
- Safety Sensors: All modern stairlifts feature sensors on the carriage and footrest that immediately stop the lift if they encounter an obstruction on the staircase.
- Safety Belt: A seatbelt is standard to ensure the user is securely held in the chair during transit.
- Overspeed Governor/Brake: This critical feature, found in models like the Savaria Delta, prevents the lift from descending too quickly, ensuring a controlled, safe speed at all times.
- Swivel Seat: At the top of the stairs, the seat can swivel away from the stairs (often powered, like the 2-way power swivel on the Handicare Freecurve) allowing the user to get on and off the unit safely without twisting or being near the drop-off.
- Battery Backup: Our lifts, including models from Savaria and Handicare, are battery-operated with continuous charging along the rail. This means the stairlift can still be used during a power failure, ensuring you are never stranded.
Maximizing Comfort and Convenience
Mobility equipment should enhance your quality of life, not just enable it. Modern stairlifts are designed with comfort, space, and aesthetics in mind.
Comfort and Space-Saving Features
- Slim Profiles: When not in use, the seat, armrests, and footrest all fold up tight. For instance, the Handicare 1100 Straight Stairlift folds up to a width of only 12.6″, leaving plenty of room on the stairs for others to pass. The K2 Straight Stairlift boasts an even slimmer 10 ¾” fold-up width.
- Ergonomic Seating: We offer a variety of seat options and colors to match your home décor and comfort level. The Handicare 1000 even offers an innovative Perch seat option, which is ideal for those who have trouble bending their knees due to hip or knee pain.
- Power Options: Features like a power footrest or power swivel (available on many of our Handicare models) allow the user to control the unit with minimal effort.
- Quiet Operation: Next-generation technology, such as the multi-drive system in the Handicare 1100, ensures a remarkably quiet and smooth ride.
The professional installation process
Installing a stairlift is not a do-it-yourself job; it requires professional knowledge and precision. We take great pride in our installation expertise.
Our three-step installation commitment
- Free in-home consultation: This is our first, crucial step. We offer a free in-home consultation to understand your client’s needs, assess the structure of your home, and take precise measurements of your staircase. We then suggest the best possible product to meet or exceed your needs. Call us at (905) 669-9191 to arrange your consultation.
- Custom configuration and ordering: For curved stairlifts, the rail is custom manufactured based on the precise measurements we take. Even for straight lifts, we configure the unit with the appropriate track length and power options. We deliver quality mobility products only.
- Fast, clean installation: Our experienced team installs the rail directly to the stair treads, not to the wall. This minimizes disruption to your home. We are able to prioritize and complete multiple tasks and follow through to achieve your project goals. We then test the unit thoroughly and instruct the user on its safe and proper operation.
At Rehab Medical Mobility Equipment, our after-sales service is as important to us as the entire sales process. We ensure our clients are 100% satisfied with our sales and services long after the installation is complete.
Book your free in-home stairlift consultation today
Contact Rehab Medical today to Get Free Quote for a custom stairlift solution and take the first step toward reclaiming your entire home.