Sterling Handicare Stairlift

Sterling stairlifts offer a safe and reliable way of overcoming the problem of getting up and down stairs

If you have difficulty getting up and down stairs you are not alone. Every year thousands of people look for a solution to the problems posed by the staircase in their home.

The decision to install a stairlift is sometimes a difficult one to take but when compared with the alternative of moving house, or living on one level of their house, many people have found a stairlift to be their much preferred option.

The idea of selecting a stairlift and having it fitted may be daunting at first; however stairlifts can usually be fitted in a couple of hours.

The Sterling Stairlifts offers you a range of straight and curved stairlifts so one is sure to meet your need. Handicare also supplies for staircases outside. To find out more about our stairlifts and how to decide which type you need for your staircase, please click the tab or button below.

Please check out our Resource Tab above for videos, literature and user manuals.

Access Construction & Design
3960 Tittabawassee
Saginaw, MI 48604

Access Mobility Center
7620 Eastman Ave.
Midland, MI 48642

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Choosing a Stairlift

Stairlift tracks fall into two basic categories: straight and curved. Here’s how to decide which type you need for your staircase.

Straight stairlifts

Straight stairlift tracks can only travel in straight lines, they cannot turn a corner or go around a bend.

The Sterling range offers you a range of straight stairlifts so one is sure to meet your needs: to find out more about our straight stairlifts have a look at the Sterling Simplicity+ and the Sterling 1000.

Curved stairlifts

Curved stairlifts have tracks that are specifically designed to suit staircases that turn corners or are spiral. All Sterling curved tracks are made to order following a survey of each individual staircase. The Sterling curved stairlift system is called the Sterling 2000.

Outdoor stairlifts

Handicare also supplies Sterling Stairlifts for staircases outside

It is important that we check your staircase before your stairlift is supplied

Before placing an order for a stairlift you should ensure the staircase has been assessed to make sure it is suitable for the stairlift you have chosen. It is rare that a stairlift cannot be fitted to a staircase but some systems may have limitations that mean they are not suitable for your home.

You do not need to worry about surveying your staircase, we will do this for you. We will advise you of any adjustments required to fit your stairlift (e.g. move a heater) and which is the best side of your staircase to fit your stairlift.

Sterling’s eSurvey system for quick and easy staircase surveys

Most staircase surveys are very quick and easy to perform. If your staircase is more complex with intermediate landings, fan stairs or a spiral for example, the survey may be conducted quickly with Sterling’s eSurvey system. Sterling curved stairlift tracks are designed to suit your individual staircase so it is important the staircase is measured accurately to ensure your track is the best possible fit for you and your staircase.

We use the eSurvey system for surveying curved staircases. This specially developed electronic system maximizes the accuracy of a curved staircase survey whilst minimizing the time needed to carry it out.

Cards are placed on and around the stairs and photographed. Our specialist software measures these images to create an accurate 3D model of your staircase so the track is designed to fit your staircase perfectly.

Wherever possible we should meet the user of the stairlift before specifying the stairlift

Stairlift seats and systems vary between manufacturers. Whilst it is rare that a stairlift is not suitable, carrying out a user assessment is advisable. This allows us to not only double check that the dimensions of the lift are suitable for the user and the location, but it also allows us to specify which side controls should go and to discuss the possibility of adding powered features to make using the stairlift even easier. These may not be needed now but could be of huge benefit in the long term.

We will normally wish to conduct a user assessment at the same time as conducting the staircase survey.

During this assessment some measurements may be taken to ensure the stairlift chosen is suitable for the user. There will also be some simple questions to see which would be the best side to place the controls, what sort of seat belt would best suit the users and to ascertain which features would be required now and in the future.

The assessment is non-intrusive and whilst it is preferable that this is conducted in advance the non-availability of the user will not prevent the supply of a stairlift so long as someone will undertake to provide the information on the user’s behalf.

Handicare’s Sterling stairlifts are designed to cater for a wide range of abilities and carry a series of adjustments (e.g. seat height) that can be performed during installation to tailor the stairlift to suit the user as required.

If you have a doorway or obstruction close to the base of your stairs you may need a hinged track

In order for the seat to get low enough for the user to sit on, it is necessary for the track to extend beyond the staircase to the hall floor. Some houses will have a doorway close to the bottom of the stairs and the track may intrude across this. In these circumstances a hinged track should be fitted. This means that the track can be folded away from the doorway giving clear access.

Manual hinge

Manual hinges can be lifted when the stairlift is not in use. The Sterling Simplicity+ and 1000 are available with a manual hinged track. This means you will need to raise and lower the track manually. However, the gas strut assisted hinge is designed to make manual operation as easy as possible.

Powered hinge

The Sterling 1000 and the Sterling 2000 are both available with an automatic hinged track. When operating the stairlift from the toggle, the hinge will lift/lower automatically.

When the stairlift is not in use the hinge is folded by holding a button on the remote control which means you do not need to move the track yourself. When the button is pressed your stairlift moves up the track and parks on a charging station, the hinge section then moves automatically leaving the doorway clear.

All you need to know about how easy it is to use a Handicare Sterling stairlift

Unless you know someone who is already benefiting from using a stairlift you may be a little unsure of what is involved in owning and using a stairlift.

It is a popular misconception that stairlifts are fixed to the wall. This is rarely the case with domestic stairlifts which are usually fitted directly on to the staircase itself.

A stairlift has three basic components. Firstly, a track is fitted to your stairs and a power pack (the drive unit) is fitted to the track. This is the unit that will travel along the track. Then the seat that most suits your needs is fitted to the power pack.

All stairlifts are operated by a switch or toggle that is held in the direction of travel to make the lift move. When it is released the lift will stop moving.

All Sterling Stairlifts are battery powered meaning they can still be used during a power outage.

Whilst stairlifts are very simple to use they are mechanical devices and do require servicing and maintenance.

Swivelling your Sterling stairlift seat to exit onto the landing safely

When you arrive at the top of the stairs you will need to swivel your seat round so that you exit onto the landing safely.

Manual Swivel

If you have a manual swivel you will find a handle at either side of the seat. By pressing either handle down, or pulling it up*, you can swivel the seat around to face the landing, where it will lock in place, allowing you to dismount safely.

*The Simplicity swivel operates by pressing down only.

Powered Swivel

If you choose the powered swivel option the seat swivel is operated by continuing to hold the toggle when you arrive at the top of the staircase. The seat will move automatically while the toggle is activated. Our powered swivels have a manual override for emergency release to improve stairway access if required.

When your stairlift is not being used you can fold it up to maximize free space in your your hallway

All Sterling stairlifts can be folded up to maximize the available space. The footplate and seat can be folded up to increase available space leaving the staircase as clear as possible for other users.