Free Article: Unwanted Stairlifts

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Re-using Unwanted Stairlifts
By A. M. Kelly

Stairlifts are those mechanical chair devices that lift people up stairs by carrying them along a railing. They are also called chair lifts or stair gliders. Although modern ones are built to fit almost any type of architecture, they always have to be specially fitted to a staircase and designed to fit the needs of the person who uses it.

They began to be commercially produced in the 1930's in part to help the victims of polio. Because they have been around for so long, there are many unwanted stairlifts – devices that are no longer needed by the user or by the home it was made for. But stairlifts that have outlived their original usefulness are not unwanted by everyone.

Second Hand Rise

As the average age of the population continues to rise, the need for physical aids increases. Installing a stairlift can help an aging person continue to live in his or her home instead of having to move to a smaller place or even into assisted living. Many people discover that the price of a stairlift is actually less than the price of a forced home sale, moving and finding a new home.

Still, the cost may be high for someone on a fixed income. In these scenarios, unwanted stairlifts can become newly wanted. Pre-owned stairlifts can find a new purpose in a second home. Companies that sell new stairlifts can remove unwanted stairlifts and sell them again - at a good discount, of course. The straight track lifts are the easiest to re-use. The unwanted stairlifts custom built for curved staircases may remain unwanted stairlifts. They might be too customized to find a good fit in a new home. The owners of these lifts might have to pay to have them removed.

Those who purchase the previously unwanted stairlifts can purchase a kit to refit the lifts to a new home. Railings can be shortened to fit or extended with a “joining kit.” New models even adjust to either side of the staircase. Newly produced curved lifts are being designed in a modular way with components that can be refigured to fit more than one staircase during its useful life.

In addition to unwanted stairlifts for straight and curved staircases, they are available for outside stairs or to accommodate wheelchairs. Most stairlifts are made with the seat facing away from the wall. This is more secure than facing up or down the stairs and allows the seat to swivel, making the dismount easier and safer.

Author Details:
A. M. Kelly writes for various web sites including The A-Z of Wheelchairs and other information portals such as information junkie and the A-Z of.com

Source: Free Article Directory

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