Practical Do’s and Don’ts to Review Before Purchasing a Stairlift

If you are thinking about buying a stairlift this year, review some practical do’s and don’ts prior to making the purchase. This ensures you get the best deal on quality stairlifts from reputable vendors- who stand behind their product. It also helps to consider all your options and alternatives to make sure you are making the best choice for your distinct situation.

It is astounding the difference that mobility aids and devices can make in the life of someone with a physical limitation or mobility issue. Autonomy and freedom to age in place are often contingent on accessibility; quality aids like stairlifts preserve access and contribute to overall quality of life. Buying a stairlift is a big decision- don’t do it in haste.

Review these practical dos and don’ts before purchasing a stairlift:

Try and Try Again

It really can make a significant difference in your purchase decision when you try out various models of lifts before buying. Visit showrooms of reputable mobility retailers in your region; in Southern California, the choice is clear, Pacific Mobility is the place to go first. The attention to customer satisfaction and support is truly unrivaled.

Think Ahead

When making an investment for something like mobility equipment, consider your future needs. Is your condition progressive? Are you recovering from a short-term medical issue? Think about what you may- or may not- need later, down the road. This ensures that you buy something that helps you age in place, and that will accommodate you as long as possible.

Get Informed

It is more possible than ever before to obtain needed aids, like mobility equipment. Speak with your provider and do some research into the costs of a lift in your home. Do you have insurance? Talk to a mobility vendor about whether this will defray the costs- as well as identify the best devices for your distinct needs. This is a situation that pays to be an informed consumer.

Buy from Mobility Experts

As mentioned, talk with mobility professionals and qualified retailers in your area. Do not buy from a private seller or buy second-hand equipment from ads online or in the newspaper. Buying from a reputable vendor ensures that you receive the service and support that you are going to need for maintaining mobility equipment, like lifts. This bears repeating: only buy from mobility experts.

Be Wary

Be wary of people adjusting or making repairs to your lift; you should only allow your mobility service professional to install, inspect, repair, alter, or uninstall your lift. In fact, allowing someone other than a qualified technician to work on the lift may impact and nullify your warranty.

Go New

When contemplating options, it may seem prudent to go with a used lift. Unless you are recovering from a short-term injury or rehabilitating after surgery, it makes more sense to go with new. However, consider all your options and talk to your mobility retailer about any used models that they happen to have. Know that buying lifts from others that are more than 10 years old can be risky and sometimes not safe.

Should You Rent?

Whether renting is a sensible approach depends on your situation: is your medical issue temporary? Also, if you are attempting to find the right lift- or if you are looking to equip a temporary living solution, like a vacation home, with a lift, renting may make sense. However, if you are leasing to curb costs, there may be other viable, longer-term solutions. Talk to your mobility professional to learn more.

Consider Weight 

When buying, pay heed to the weight limits for Stairlifts. Never carry passengers on the lift during operation as it is unsafe and could damage the equipment. Failure to adhere to the weight restrictions can impact performance and possibly lead to a nasty accident.

Get Started Today

Finally, before buying a lift, consider some other ways of pinpointing the best stairlift options with the most ease:

• Talk to an Occupational Therapist about a referral- as well as for input regarding how a lift may help.
• Talk to friends, family, or neighbors that have a stairlift. Discuss their experience for some unbiased feedback that may help with purchase decisions.
• Work with vendors that put emphasis on safety and customer support.
• Don’t buy from cold-callers or private sellers.
• Visit sites online to request stairlift brochures and information that may help you tease-out what you want, specifically. This can be a great point of comparison when shopping.

Thinking about a stairlift? Make sure that talking with a mobility specialist at Pacific Mobility is something you do before you buy. The expertise and reliability can’t be beat; check out the online feedback and know that you are getting the best mobility aids and customer support around. Request more information today.