Stair lifts can be an effective way to help elderly and handicapped persons move freely between floors of their houses, but what about when a house isn’t accessible from the outside? With
Electra-Ride’s Elite Outdoor Stair Lift, staircases outside of homes are ascended and descended with ease. This stair lift meets ANSI A18.1 requirements and runs on two 12-volt batteries that require no special wiring – just plug into any standard outlet. The Elite Outdoor Stair Lift also features:

• Fully adjustable, contoured seat along with a large, accommodating seat size.
• Adaptable armrests and footrests to make your seating as comfortable as possible
• A weight capacity of up to 400 lbs.
• A weather-resistant cover system that does not require any fumbling – it moves with the lift as it operates.
• Stainless steel hardware tested for use in temperatures ranging from 0°F to 125°F.
• Powder-coated paint for peak protection from any outdoor conditions
• A locking swivel seat at moves at the top and bottom of the stairway.
• Special soft-start and soft-start controls for maximum comfort.
• Easy installation – can be placed on either side of the stairway as close as 7” from the side.
• An on-board audio and visual diagnostic system for simpler and more concise service if problems arise.
• Available custom length tracks for difficult areas outside of your home.
• Effortless wheelchair transfers with flip-up armrests
• Battery power that ensures usage even during outages

The Electra-Ride Outdoor Stair Lift is a premiere system for anyone needing assistance with stairways on patios, decks, porches and any other area where ramps aren’t available outside of your home. It will make your movement up and down outdoor stairs effortless and will provide you with the comfort and security of any indoor stair lift.

One trend in homeownership seen over the past few years has been modifying an existing home to meet an elderly or disabled person’s physical needs. Common improvements have included adding an elevator to go between floors, installing a stair lift, and adding a wheelchair lift or ramp, in some cases. Modifying a home isn’t a one-size-fits-all approach, however, and a person’s physical needs are the most important factor. According to a recent article, modifying a home in most cases involves planning for living on a single floor. But, some other factors to consider in creating an accessible space include:

• Do certain rooms, such as the bathroom or the kitchen, need grab rails?
• Do some spaces need to be lit better through specific types of lighting and accessible switches?
• Making sure the hallway is at least three feet wide and brightly lit.
• All rooms on a floor should have a five by five area of open space to accommodate a wheelchair.
• Having a no-step entry, such as one with a wheelchair ramp or lift that goes directly to a door.
• Making sure that interior doors are at least three feet wide.
• Adding a device, such as an elevator or stair lift, to go between floors.

Home elevators, for this last point, are a common method for going between floors in a modified house. These can be installed through a closet space, depending upon the model best suited for your home, or through two or three floors. A stair lift is another option to make a home more accessible, and straight and curved designs are available.

In terms of accessibility from the outside, outdoor stair lifts are one possibility, particularly as these operate by 12-volt batteries. Wheelchair lifts can make your home more accessible by bringing your wheelchair directly to the front door through a ramp and a small lift.