Platform Lifts & Home Elevators vs Stair Lifts & Chair Lifts

If you’re living with limited mobility and stairs have started to become a problem, you may already be looking for an accessibility solution. However, as you’ve probably realized, there are lots of different options to consider. Between stair lifts, chair lifts, home elevators and platform lifts, you have a whole lot of options! So, which one should you choose?

Fortunately, we’re here to help! In this article, you’ll learn all about the different types of accessibility equipment, as we answer your most pressing questions about lifts.

• What is a Stair Lift?
• What is a Chair Lift?
• What is a Home Elevator?
• What is a Platform Lift (Wheelchair Lift)?

Although any of these options could potentially help you or your loved one navigate the stairs and regain your freedom of movement, they each have different uses and a variety of factors determine which type of lift is most appropriate in a given situation. The mobility of the user, space constraints, the architecture of the house and price are all key factors to consider. In this article, we’ll talk about the main features of each option, as well as factors you might have to bear in mind if you decide to opt for one over the other. Let’s dive in!

If you prefer to jump to end and check our ultimate comparison table, click here: Stair Lift vs Home Elevator vs Platform Lift

A stair lift is a lift that takes a person up and down the stairs while sitting on a chair. Operation is straightforward: you sit in the chair, push the controls in the direction you want to go and it carries you up the stairs comfortably and safely. One of the main perks of a stair lift is that it is the most cost-effective way of eliminating the problem of the stairs and giving you freedom of movement within your home. As no building work has to be done to install one, and they can be installed on practically any staircase, stair lifts a great solution for anyone who simply wants to get up their stairs, without having to make any significant alterations to their home.

There are a lot of different stair lifts on the market, and while they might all seem quite similar, there are quite a few differences between them:

• The look of a stair lift – is the stair lift designed to match your home décor?
• How it is controlled – is the hand control designed for accessibility?
• Comfort features – whether it has a cushioned seat and if the footrest is long enough
• Safety features – how easy is the seatbelt to fasten? What happens if there’s something in the way of your stair lift? Does it have safety edges?

There are lots of things to consider before you choose the right stair lift for you. Do some research online and read customer reviews – see what other people are saying about each company to make sure you choose one you can trust.

Like we said above, pretty much anyone. If you can hold yourself upright in a chair, you can use a stair lift (you need to be sure you’re securely in the chair all the way to the other end). If you use a wheelchair, the ability to transfer from chair to chair is also critical. This can be done with or without assistance, depending on your situation.

You can even use a stair lift if you find it difficult to bend your knees and hips, as we have several different chairs in our range, each one built to meet different needs. Stannah’s Sadler is the perfect blend between a perch seat and a chair, and if you find it difficult or painful to sit back into a chair, and get back up again, it’s exactly what you need to carry you up the stairs. The seat of the Sadler tilts back, supporting your weight as you sit back into it, taking the pressure off your knees, as you glide up the stairs in near-standing position. Then, when you reach the other end of your stairs, it tilts back up, gently helping you out of the chair.

Click here to watch a video of a Stannah stair lift in use to see how it works.

As mentioned earlier, you can even use a stair lift if you use a wheelchair, but if you want to use your stair lift independently, you need to be able to get in and out of your wheelchair, and in and out of your stair lift, by yourself. A stair lift also can’t carry a wheelchair, so you may need to have another one waiting for you at the other end of the stairs. As long as you can hold yourself upright in the chair, the standard safety features of each one of our stair lifts – from our ergonomic seatbelt to a footrest fold button – make sure our stair lifts are safe and easy to use.

A stair lift is installed on your stairs. They can be installed on the vast majority of staircases, whether they’re long or short, wide or narrow, indoors or outdoors, straight or curved. Stair lifts are fitted onto your stairs (whatever they’re made of), not your walls. That means that installing a stair lift doesn’t require any building work, and installations are quick (take less than a day) and clean. As long as you have a power outlet near your stairs, a stair lift can be installed easily – and can even be fitted to carry you up multiple staircases, and multiple floors.

Stannah offers stair lifts throughout the country. In addition to our direct markets, our dealer network provides nationwide coverage, with very few exceptions. Whether you’re interested in stair lifts in Ontario or anywhere else, give us a call today and we can help you get started.

• Cheap to run
• Quick to install
• Extremely quiet
• Comfortable to ride
• A cost-effective solution
• No building work necessary
• Folds away neatly when not in use
• Can be removed easily if necessary

• You can’t choose where you install it (must be on a staircase)
• Is more conspicuous than a home lift
• Can’t carry heavy cargo (e.g. a wheelchair)

Often, when people refer to “chair lifts” they really mean “stair lifts”. This can cause some confusion for those expecting a different mobility product to help them get up and down stairs. There are also “lift chairs” which help users to stand up more easily from a seated position. This product doesn’t really fit in with the other types of lifts we’re talking about, so we won’t cover it in much depth. But if you are interested, there are lots of great lift chairs on the market.

Anyone who needs help getting up from a seated position can benefit from a powered lift chair. And, as mentioned above, stair lifts (also called chair lifts or stair chair lifts) are a great option for those who have trouble getting up and down stairs safely.

Again, stair lifts can be installed by Stannah just about anywhere in Canada. But if you’re looking for a lift chair, you won’t even have to worry about installation. It’s a simple piece of furniture that you can have delivered, just like a couch or arm chair.

• Comfortable to sit in
• Lifts you up to a standing position

• Does not help with stairs