People of advanced age are the biggest beneficiaries of indoor/outdoor stair lifts. These are the people at the highest risk of tumbling down the stairs while descending. The fact is that people never consider them an important part of their property. The reason is their lack of knowledge that these lifts can increase accessibility and prevent accidents or injuries. In short, they don't know how these outdoor stair lifts will keep them safe in their homes for years.

Apart from this, there are several other myths about lifts and elevators, particularly outdoor stair lifts. We have covered the top five in this article, and later, we will find out the major differences between stair lifts and platform lifts.

MYTH NUMBER 1

PEOPLE IN THEIR YOUNG AGE DON'T NEED A STAIR LIFT AT ALL

Contrary to this, any pain or mobility issue can affect anyone at any time. In this situation, indoor and outdoor stair lifts will be beneficial, as they will provide mobility to people, particularly those facing mobility issues. It will restore accessibility in the entire house and even the outdoor part if you choose outdoor stair lifts.

One incredible feature of outdoor stair lifts is that they put your home on one level and eliminate the requirement of ascending and descending the stairs. This means a stair lift will impact your life positively and improve its quality by enhancing comfort and safety. In short, regardless of your age or how active you are, installing indoor and outdoor stair lifts will be beneficial for your property.

MYTH NUMBER 2

A STAIR LIFT IS AN EXPENSIVE AND UNWISE INVESTMENT

The fact is that any indoor/outdoor stair lift can be a brilliant investment when you see it from a safety and mobility POV. It has been reported that one in four people above the age of 65 fall every year, and the most common place to fall is the stairs. In this situation, indoor and outdoor stair lifts become instrumental in reducing the risks of falling on the stairs while moving up or down. These lifts are more required in retirement areas, as they will make the home more attractive and more accessible, and not to mention they also enhance the property's overall resale value.

The cost of indoor/outdoor stair lifts varies depending on the customer's requirements and the staircase orientation. Agencies offering wheelchair platform lifts and outdoor stair lifts have these installations for all types of stairways, including one straight flight to curved ones, and the beginning price is AUD 5,000. It is recommended that you contact a reputed installation agency to receive the exact quotation, as the team will evaluate the home to determine the dimensions and then quote you the exact price.

MYTH NUMBER 3

STAIR LIFTS CONSUME A LOT OF SPACE AND DON'T ALLOW OTHER PEOPLE TO USE THE STAIRS

This is a total myth, as these stair lifts don't consume any space. Secondly, most staircases in most properties have enough room to install a stair lift, and the stairs still have adequate space to allow other people to use them easily. A unique USP of indoor and outdoor stair lifts is that the machine is completely foldable, and all parts, like the armrest, seat, footrest, back support, etc., can fold completely to make staircases free for additional foot traffic.

MYTH NUMBER 4

INSTALLING A STAIR LIFT IS LENGTHY, AND DAMAGE TO THE AREA ARE SEVERE

Again, this is a complete myth, as lift engineers now use modern and advanced technologies, products and skills to install indoor and outdoor stair lifts. They claim that the installation can be completed in less than 4 hours and that the stairway will be open. Moreover, the installation does not impact the look or quality of the stairways or walls. The lift engineers mount the stair lift rail on the stairs and not the walls, and this way, the wall will not be affected at all. However, installing an outdoor stair lift on a curved staircase will consume more time. According to the experts, this installation can take between 8 to 12 hours or more than a day, depending on the process's complexities and issues like electrical access, etc.

MYTH NUMBER 5

THEY CAN OPERATE ONLY THROUGH ELECTRICITY

If you also believe this, I am sorry, but you are wrong. Any indoor or outdoor stair lift and even wheelchair platform lift is powered by a battery. When the lift is idle, electrical outlets on the bottom and top of the stairs charge the battery. The benefit of a battery-powered outdoor stair lift is that even if there is a power outage, you will still be able to use your stair lift easily.

HOW ARE STAIR LIFTS AND PLATFORM LIFTS DIFFERENT?

Understanding these machines and their unique features can help us distinguish between outdoor stair lifts and wheelchair platform lifts easily.

WHAT ARE STAIR LIFTS?

Stair lifts are also called chair lifts and are used indoors and outdoors to allow people to access the stairs easily. They are a good choice for people who can move to the lift and sit by themselves. Wheelchair users capable of transferring themselves from their wheelchair to the stair lift can also be ideal users. This lift can be installed on straight and curved staircases, and most of them are powered by a motor that gets its energy from the battery installed within. Indoor and outdoor stair lifts are of two types – straight rail and custom curved rail stair lifts.

WHAT ARE WHEELCHAIR PLATFORM LIFTS?

When thinking about lifts for wheelchair users, a wheelchair platform lift is the first thing to come to anybody's mind. It is very similar to elevators in terms of accessibility and design, but the main difference is a wheelchair platform lift is much easier to add to an existing property as no remodelling is required. Moreover, wheelchair platform lifts are cheaper than full-fledged elevators used at our homes. They are ideal for those unable to transfer out of the wheelchair but still want to access the property's upper levels.

The vertical lift is the perfect example of a wheelchair platform lift, as it can carry a person sitting on a wheelchair or a mobility scooter from the floor to the upper level. They will not require the person to shift from the mobility assistive device that he is using.

Choosing one of these machines for your property depends entirely upon your choice. You can also consult the teams at the chosen lift installation agency. They are responsible for answering all your questions regarding outdoor stair lifts and wheelchair platform lifts and how they will benefit you in a particular situation.