If you’re wondering “can my partner use my stairlift” this one’s for you. We often get asked this question and we will tend to install a stairlift so both householders can use it. This is because stairlifts can last a long time, and your personal situation can change. Partners of stairlifts users who were able bodied when a stairlift went it, can lose their mobility.
With this in mind, we will usually ask for the weight and measurements of both household members, and use the largest person for the stairlift installation specifics.
Can My Partner Use My Stairlift?
Here’s an example of a stairlift installation of ours where the users changed over time. Because this installation was on a very narrow staircase, and very tricky, it was much more difficult to install with the other household user in mind, since he was much larger than his partner.
See also our post on stairlifts for narrow/awkward stairs. This made the corners more difficult to navigate and there was a small problem with knee room on the bends. Our chief engineer was on the scene to make the necessary changes to the stairlift.
Once the stairlift rail was moved back towards the wall, there was more knee room for the other household user and it was a good fit for both users.
Rare Exceptions
In rare exceptions and if your partner is over the weight limit of a particular stairlift, we may not be able to cater for both people. But this is usually only for very narrow or awkward staircases. In such a case we often choose the Flow X stairlift where nothing else will fit. This model is a modern day marvel and can navigate many staircases which would be impossible to cater for without it. However, the Flow X does have a weight limit of 19 stone. So if you’re pushing the limit you may be unable to use it.
Also if someone is particularly tall, this reduces the available knee room for a stairlift. The Flow X is superb for these kind of situations and faces the user down the stairs. This gives you much more room than a standard, outward facing stairlift would be able to.
Below is a Stannah 600 (left) showing the outward facing chair position and next to it the Flow X with the downward facing chair position. You can see immediately how this can help if you’re particularly large and for those with long legs.
Stairlifts With Partners Needing To Use The Stairs
The most common scenario we face however is where someone needs a stairlift and their partner is a non-stairlift user. They need access to the stairs. See our post on this “can I still use the stairs with a stairlift installed“.
This is normally discussed during the survey where we can ascertain your needs and those of your partner regarding the stairlift.
We will always help couples find a solution which works for them, regardless of their situation. Here’s an unusual situation with a very narrow stairlift. The user of the stairlift had a rare, muscle wasting condition and the stairs were very narrow. We used the Flow X because of the staircase width. The user’s partner also needed to use the stairs, so we took the stairlift out of the way of the stairs, so it would leave the staircase free. We even took the stairlift into the bedroom so it wouldn’t be a hazard on the stairs!
Summary
So if you’re wondering whether your partner can use your stairlift, usually yes. We will discuss this at the survey stage of the installation; especially if it’s very likely. But if possible, we will always make this an option, so that if your circumstances change, the stairlift can be useful for anyone who needs it.
If you’re looking for a stairlift installation, or alteration, give us a call on 0800 046 3438 or leave us a message on our contact page.
You can also see some of our installations on our YouTube channel here.