| The assistive devices known as stairlifts don't | | | | of a stairway. However, it should be noted that |
| have a long history, but consistent technological | | | | curved rail stairlifts are generally more expensive |
| advances in stairlifts have assured that they will | | | | than the simpler straight rail models because of |
| have a bright future during the 21st century. | | | | the added expense of measuring and fitting the |
| Believe it or not, the history of stairlifts is not that | | | | rails to curved surfaces that often vary widely in |
| long. They have only been around since the 1930s | | | | length and the angle of the curve. |
| when the Inclinator Company of America | | | | The history of stairlifts also includes the invention |
| introduced them. Many of the earliest users were | | | | of outdoor stairlifts. These are similar in design |
| disabled by the polio epidemics of that time and | | | | and function to indoor stairlifts, but of course |
| couldn't climb stairs easily. | | | | must be made weatherproofed so that water |
| Interestingly enough, the earliest ancestor of the | | | | and dust don't get inside the housing for the |
| stairlift device was created centuries ago for King | | | | electric motor that powers the device. Outdoor |
| Henry VIII, who, after being injured in a jousting | | | | stairlifts also generally come with removable |
| incident, used a block and tackle system operated | | | | covers for so that they don't become too |
| by servants to go up and down stairs. Modern | | | | sun-damaged, rain-soaked, or weather-beaten to |
| stairlifts don't require a large staff of servants or | | | | be comfortable for the user. |
| any block and tackle to operate, however. A | | | | One of the most interesting innovations in the |
| stairlift consists of a rail mounted along a stairwell | | | | history of stairlifts is the battery-powered stairlift |
| or staircase with a chair or lifting platform | | | | that includes a battery between the power outlet |
| attached to it. The person using it simply folds | | | | and the stairlift's motor. These are handy for |
| down the chair, sits, and then operates the | | | | areas that are prone to power outages because |
| controls for a smooth gentle ascent of the | | | | the battery provides power to the motor even |
| staircase. | | | | when there is no electricity in other areas of the |
| The history of stairlifts includes many technological | | | | home. Battery-powered stair lifts are generally |
| innovations and the addition of a variety of | | | | more expensive than models that plug directly |
| features to make them safer, more comfortable | | | | into an AC power outlet and have the |
| and easier to use. For instance, modern chair lifts | | | | disadvantage of having to replace the batteries |
| feature adjustable seat height, swiveling seats, | | | | periodically. There are also heavy-duty stairlifts |
| isolation switches, folding steps, armrests, speed | | | | available that can support people who weigh up to |
| governors, seatbelts, and so-called soft starts and | | | | 500 pounds. Since it appears that America's |
| soft stops. Stairlifts either run on a straight rail or | | | | population is growing bulkier, these heavy-duty |
| a curved rail depending on the shape of the | | | | stairlifts will undoubtedly become more popular, |
| staircase where they're installed. These devices | | | | and models that can support even larger people |
| can also be installed on either the right or left side | | | | will come onto the market. |