San Francisco Serving San Francisco Bay Area
menu Shape

Stair Lift Options

Posted on by Eric Rubel

Depending on the mobility of the individual that will be using the stair lift, there may be one or more options that may need to be added to provide extra comfort, convenience, and safety. The stair lift options listed below are the ones that are most commonly recommended to meet customers' specific needs.

Grandma sitting with grandchild on chair and smiling next to stair lift

Please keep in mind that the options listed are available for Bruno stair lifts, which are the types of lifts that Lifeway most often installs in the locations that we serve. Lifeway is proud to be a Bruno stair lift Diamond Dealer.

Adding an one or more of the options in this article may increase the total price of a stairlift, but they are worth the added cost if it will result in added convenience and safety.

1. Folding Rail (Bottom of Stairs Only)

There are two folding rail options that can be added to a stair lift at the bottom of the stairs:

  1. Manual folding rail
  2. Power folding rail

Both types of folding rails are only available for straight rail Bruno stair lifts. Folding rails are usually added for a few different reasons. If there are other family members living at home, the rail may present a tripping hazard at the bottom of the stairs if it is located in an area that receives a lot of foot traffic. The rail may be blocking a door opening or cross hallway, which would make it extremely difficult for someone using a wheelchair or walker to navigate through that area.

The manual version is suggested for those who have caregivers or other family members that can fold up the rail when the chair is at the top landing of the staircase. However, if the person who is using the lift is living independently, or if others living in the home find it difficult to manually fold up the rail, then we suggest adding a power folding rail.

Below is a video that will give you a better understanding of how the Bruno manual and power folding rails work.

2. Power-Swivel Seat

stair lift swiveled at top landing of staircase from power swivel option
power-swivel seat for stairlift

All Bruno stairlifts enable the user to manually swivel at the top landing away from the stairs. However, there are some who may find it difficult to manually swivel the chair due to mobility issues or weakened muscles. In that case, a power swivel seat is a perfect solution. A power-swivel seat will allow the person who's using the lift to swivel the seat with the push of a button. The button that controls the power swivel is located on one of the armrests of the chair. The seat can also swivel by using the remote control call sends that come with the unit.        

woman safely exits chair of stair lift at top landing of staircase after using power swivel

Learn more about how stair lifts work ›

3. Power Folding Footrest

On all of the stair lifts we sell is a footrest that can be folded up or down manually. If the person who is using the lift has trouble bending or balance issues, then a power folding footrest is going to be an option to consider. If a power folding footrest is added, the footrest will automatically fold up and down by a switch conveniently located on the armrest of the chair.     Lifeway Mobility stairlift equipped with power folding footrest option

4. Rail Overrun Park Positions (Curved Stair Lifts Only)

For custom-curved stair lifts, a rail overrun park position can be added at the top or bottom landing of the staircase. A rail overrun park position provides added safety and convenience when getting on/off the chair, and prevents the rail from becoming a tripping hazard. There are 90-degree and 180-degree park positions that allow the rail to wrap around a bannister or wall. The other park position is a rail overrun, which extends the rail away from the staircase.

 Lifeway Mobility installed curved stairlift with 90-degree park position Lifeway installed curved stairlift with rail overrun park position

5. Larger Seat

larger seat pad option for stair lift from Lifeway Mobility
Larger seat option for stair lift

If the standard seat size is too small for the person who is going to be using it, then a larger seat can be added to accommodate the rider. It will allow the user to be much more comfortable when riding the lift. Please note that this option is only available for the Bruno Elite stair lift models.

6. Larger Footrest

Larger Footrest for Stair Lift - OptionIf the person that is going to be using the stair lift has a larger shoe size or has trouble bending their knees, then a larger footrest is often recommended. Bruno's larger footrest option provides an additional size in both length and width to accommodate the user to rest their feet when riding up and down the stairs on the chair lift.

 

7. Choice of Upholstery Color

Upholstery Color Options for stair lift from Lifeway MobilityBruno offers five different upholstery color options to choose from if you purchase the Elite model stairlift. The standard color for the Bruno Elite chair upholstery is gray, which blends with most home decors. The four other color options that are available for an additional cost, are charcoal, cream, white, and espresso. Please contact us if you would like to see color samples in-person.

Bruno Elite stair lift seat color options from Lifeway Mobility
 

If you have any questions about these stair lift options or would like to schedule a FREE in-home stairlift consultation, please contact us today!

Additional Stair Lift Resources

Improve your mobility. Request a quote today!

Request a Quote
Request an Evaluation