Tired of going up and down steps but don’t want to move out of your house quite yet? You’re not alone and there are alternatives for you. Buying a Stair Lift for you or your family member can be the right move but there are things to think about first. As a licensed physical therapist and home health care practitioner, I assess those with physical disabilities on a regular basis and can provide insight to your in your stair lift purchase. Below are the 5 most important aspects of selecting your stair lift.

1. Cost -- You will need to take into account whether you will have to pay for the installation or you can install the device yourself. Will you buy a used or new model? Do you need all of the bells and whistles such as a remote control feature or extra wide seating?

2. Home Setup -- How many steps do you need to set it up for? Is there a landing area requiring more than 1 chair? Will you need one for the basement as well to do laundry tasks or get to the garage? All of these questions need to be answered to determine the feasibility of installation and usage.

3. Look into the Future -- How old are you? Do you foresee yourself or loved one living in this home for the next bunch of years or is a move to a one level setting coming sooner than later, making this type of purchase not worth its while?

4. Reselling the House -- Once such as large piece of equipment is installed in the wall or stairway area, removing it after installation is a very cumbersome and potentially costly task. If you’re worried about these things and potentially selling your house in the near future, most potential home buyers do not want to see anything relating to handicapped or disabled appliances. It’s a small factor but one that should not be ignored.

5. Safety & Function -- The most important factor is does it make you feel safe and give you function you were severely missing before? Will this piece of equipment drastically change the way you approach your daily routine and activities in and out of the home? Did you avoid going to the store simply because you could not get to the car in the garage? If so, find a respected dealer, preferably a nationwide lift chair supplier with years of installation experience to get the job done right. Don’t skimp with some local small business or you could pay dearly.