Stairlift – What alternatives are there?

People with limited mobility, who have difficulties climbing stairs due to factors such as age or a specific illness, have a wide range of possible solutions and products available.

Until now, stairlifts have been one of the most common solutions, aside from expensive renovations or moving to a senior or nursing home. In this article, we will take a closer look at why a stairlift may not always be the best solution for everyone and what to consider when purchasing one.

Contents

What is actually a stair lift?

A stair lift is a device that transports you between two or more floors either indoors or outdoors. It consists of a rail specially designed for your stairs and a seat.

The lift moves relatively slowly along the stairs at an average speed of approximately 7 cm per second. Stair lifts can be used on both straight and curved stairs.

How much space does a stair lift require?

Comparatively, stair lifts take up a lot of space and therefore cannot always be installed on narrow stairs. Because that would mean that they restrict the walking width of the stairs for others.

When purchasing a stair lift, there are therefore a few things to consider, especially on narrow stairs.

The rail system of a lift typically takes up around 18 cm plus the distance from the wall. In addition, the seat unit takes up about 40 cm when not in use.

Since the structural conditions of staircases often do not have enough space to park a lift and provide a safe escape route at the same time, the seat unit must be able to be parked outside the staircase both at the top and bottom.

Example of the dimensions of a stair lift

  • Total height 98 cm
  • Seat height 44 cm
  • Total depth (from wall) 57 cm
  • Total depth (folded) 31 cm
  • Width of the footrest 31 cm
  • Total width 60.5 cm
  • Seat depth 60.5 cm

What does a stair lift cost on average?

The costs for a stair lift typically range between 2,500 – 12,500 euros depending on the stairlift provider. The final price depends on whether you have a straight staircase or a curved staircase.

Although technical challenges and structural requirements are often reasons why a stair lift cannot be installed, there is another equally important reason why alternatives should be considered.

The topic of everyday rehabilitation has become increasingly important in recent years. Everyday rehabilitation is about mastering everyday activities in one’s own home, as it is very clear that most people still want to live in their own homes.

Ältere Menschen spazieren

Keeping the body in motion has great effects both physically and mentally.

Physical activity contributes, among other things, to the following:

  • Lower risk for type 2 diabetes
  • Lower risk for colon and breast cancer
  • Better memory and other cognitive functions
  • Greater chance to remain independent and take care of oneself.
  • Fewer falls and fractures

Movement is ultimately the most important medicine for one’s own body and has been proven to help against dementia, cardiovascular diseases, and reduce the risk of stroke and heart attack.

That is why we have developed the TOPRO Step stair walker.

TOPRO Step stair walker

TOPRO Step was developed by former NTNU students (Norwegian University of Science and Technology) and introduced to the market in Norway in 2015.

The reason we developed TOPRO Step was that many people have difficulty going up and down stairs without assistance. Reasons for this include conditions such as Parkinson’s, stroke, and MS.

A fall on the stairs can have serious consequences, such as hip fractures or femoral neck fractures.

How do you motivate yourself to move more and at the same time secure yourself?

Since the European market launch of the TOPRO Step in 2015, over 1000 products have been installed in various European countries.

TOPRO Step is certified and tested by the German TÜV and is approved for people up to 120 kg. TOPRO Step can be installed on both straight stairs and curved stairs.

How much does a TOPRO Step cost?

Similar to stair lifts, the price of a TOPRO Step depends on various factors. Since TOPRO Step is a modular system, it does not need to be completely customized to fit your stairs.

  • the staircase layout
  • the number of curves
  • the length of the required rail system
  • the desired equipment as well
  • the conditions on site, such as wall material or differences in wall depth

are factors that influence the TOPRO Step price.

You will receive the final price for your staircase best in a personal consultation with one of our product experts. Contact us.

TOPRO Step Informationvideo

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