Most properties, especially old buildings, are not built to be age-appropriate. If it then comes to a walking disability due to arthritis, back disease, muscle weakness or stroke, the home sooner or later becomes difficult to live in. The consequences are often moving out or a stair lift. An extension with an elevator shaft is usually structurally too complex or not feasible and also costly. With the “Homelift”, another option is now available. It can be integrated into a property at a later date. The Homelift elevator from Lifton is integrated as a space-saving solution without an elevator shaft.
Basically, all that is needed is a power connection and a hole in the ceiling. The elevator is available for one or two persons as well as for wheelchair users. The technology is located in the car roof and the free-standing rails. 0.8 square meters for a standing person and only 1.3 square meters for wheelchair users can be easily integrated in most rooms. The advantages are the short distances due to direct access, for example from the living room on one floor to the bedroom on the other floor. So, compared to a stair lift, transportation is faster and scores visual points by enhancing the property and not being perceived as a stigma for disability or age.
From a medical perspective, a home lift makes sense and is probably safer than a stair lift. It eliminates the need to walk down the stairwell, and with it, potential tripping hazards such as door thresholds. By locking the elevator door, the home elevator ensures a safe elevator ride to the other floor and there is no risk of falling down the stairs. For people with certain conditions, such as hip osteoarthritis, transportation while standing can be less painful than traveling while sitting. Because of the faster transport, this can also be an advantage for people with back conditions such as a narrow spinal canal or osteoarthritis.
The cost of a home lift for this is higher than a stair lift and ranges from 25,000 to 30,000 euros. The leading manufacturer of home lifts is the family-owned company Lifton (www.lifton.de), which offers an individual and free consultation or feasibility analysis (contact info@lifton.de).