There are a lot of different safety features to consider for stair lifts. You will of course want for your loved one to be comfortable, but their safety is going to need to be put first. You will find that a lot of people that have to use stair lifts have sustained an injury or in a position to be easily injured should they fall or slip. This is why adding as many safety features as possible can help to make your loved one a lot more comfortable and safe whenever they are on the stair lifts installed in or out of their home. Just make sure that the safety features are going to be beneficial and not simply get in the way of your loved one while they are on the stair lift chair.
Stair Lifts and Seatbelts
Something that is almost becoming a standard option is the seatbelt. This is something that is extremely important when it comes to stair lift safety. You will find that this can help to keep your loved one securely fastened inside of the lift without worry of them falling out. If they happen to have difficulty unfastening the seatbelt on their own, then look for seatbelts that can be easily unfastened by a person that may not be able to use their hands very easily.
If you have a loved one that is stubborn and does not want to wear their seatbelt, then there are ways around this. There are stair chair lifts that have sensors on them. Some sensors will make it where the chair will only move once the seatbelt is securely fastened. This will help with the people that do not like wearing their seatbelts but need to. It will keep them safe while they are using the stair lifts for the elderly. Another type of sensor is one that you can put on the food rests. As soon as your loved one takes their feet off of the rests, then the sensor will cause the chair to stop. This is to protect them should they fall off of the chair or get stuck or tangled in something along the way.
Speed Adjustments
Another feature that a lot of people do not think of as safety related is the speed adjustment. This is something that can actually really come in handy for your loved one. While they are on their residential stair lifts they may find themselves needing the chair to slow down or speed up for whatever reason. You will find that this can be helpful to them if they think that they are about to fall or if they get nervous while riding on it.
Arm rests that do not move are the standard for these chairs. However, your loved one may not be able to fit into the chair with the arm rests or may need them to move so that they can easily get in and out of the chairs. Consider what will be more comfortable and easier for your loved one so that they can have a much easier time of getting in and out of their stair lifts.