Stairlifts are powered lifts mounted on wall or stair-fixed tracks which follow the line of the stairs. Most stairways can be fitted with a lift. They can be installed on straight stairs, stairs with a turn, along curved walls, and on unusually shaped or narrow stairways. Straight-tracked stairlifts are significantly cheaper than curved ones. The most common limitation is the width of your stairs, but stairlifts these days are fairly compact. Generally, you can get a stairlift with a seat fitted if your stairs are wide enough to allow room for your knees when you are sitting down, with some extra space for clearance. If you have very narrow stairs, you may need to fit a standing or perching lift. The carrying capacity of lifts can vary too. There are lifts that will carry up to 30st (190kg), while others will only take up to 25st (158kg).
If you want to find out more about stairlifts before you contact any potential suppliers, RIDC (Research Institute for Disabled Consumers – a national research charity in the UK with specific focus on consumer research for older and disabled people) has a very useful Guide to choosing and buying a stairlift
Second-hand stairlifts
It is possible to save money by buying a second-hand stairlift, but it is advisable to purchase from a stairlift manufacturer, or an authorised company dealing in reconditioned stairlifts. The company should have checked that the stairlift meets all current safety standards and check that they will provide a guarantee. Stairlifts can usually be installed in a day and are easily removed if no longer required.
Stairlift hire or rental
A number of companies offer stairlifts for rent or hire, usually charging an initial fee for installation and then a regular monthly sum. The company may have a minimum rent or hire period so check this beforehand. Hiring may be ideal if you are recovering from an accident or operation. These rental stairlifts are often pre-used and so there may not be a choice of colour or style.
For more information, see below or visit Equipment hire companies for the contact details of companies that offer a hire or rental service.
Other types of lifts
A stairlift is not compatible with wheelchairs, but it may be possible to fit a wheelchair or platform lift instead which are specifically designed for domestic environments. There are other types of lifts also available which may be more suitable depending on the person and the physical environment. These include vertical or through-floor lifts, short-rise lifts and outdoor lifts. These can be expensive adaptations and it is recommended to consult an occupational therapist to ensure you get the most suitable solution.
Listed below is just some of the suppliers of access lifts for people with disabilities and older people. This list is by no means exhaustive and just intended as a guide to the many suppliers and sources of products available.
A1 Upgrades
Unit 22 The Business Centre
Ballinlough Road
Cork City
Tel: 021 432 0052
Email: john@corkstairlifts.ie
Web: www.corkstairlifts.ie
Products include: Straight and curved, indoor and outdoor stairlifts. Service and repairs to all makes and models of indoor and outdoor stairlifts.
Abbey Mobility
Office 201 Acorn Business Park
Mahon Industrial Estate
Blackrock
Cork
Tel: 021 461 4221
Email: tim@abbeymobility.com
Web: www.abbeymobility.com
Products include: Straight and curved stairlifts, though-floor lifts, lo-rise and high-rise platform lifts, reconditioned straight and curved stairlifts and through-floor lifts, service and repairs of all makes and models of stairlifts and platform lifts, buy back reusable stairlifts, remove and/or relocate unwanted stairlifts
Able Healthcare
Unit 43 O’Brien Business Centre
Bandon Road
Bishopstown
Cork
Tel: 1890 253 332
Email: sales@ablehealthcare.ie
Web: www.ablehealthcare.ie
Products include: Straight and curved stairlifts, through-floor and platform lifts, outdoor lifts, service and repairs
Able Plus Stairlifts
Broombridge Business Centre
288 Bannow Road
Dublin 7
Tel: 01 839 0262
Other locations: Nass, Co Kildare Tel: 087 807 9993
Email: info@ablelus.ie
Web: www.ableplus.ie
Products include: Straight and curved stairlifts, reconditioned straight and curved stairlifts, service and repairs, rental of stairlifts
Access Stairs Ltd
Unit 59 Park West Enterprise Centre
Nangor Road
Dublin 12
Address 4
Tel: 01 460 0197
Email: info@accessstairs.ie
Web: www.access-stairlifts.ie
Products include: Straight and curved stairlifts, outdoor lifts and wheelchair lifts, stairlift rental, reconditioned stairlifts, service and repairs to all makes and models
Accessco Ireland
Northwood
Santry
Dublin 9
Tel: 01 513 4998
Email: info@accessco.ie
Web: www.accessco.ie
Products include: Straight and curved indoor stairlifts, domestic through-floor indoor and outdoor platform lifts, ceiling hoists and track systems, reconditioned straight and curved stairlifts, service and repairs of stairlifts and platform lifts, rental of stairlifts
Acorn Stairlifts
11a Letterkenny Forte Retail Park
Letterkenny
Co Donegal
Tel: 1800 936 565
Email: customerrelations@acornstairlifts.co.uk
Web: www.acornstairlifts.ie
Products include: Straight and curved indoor stairlifts, reconditioned stairlifts
Adapted Living
Unit 30 Eastlink Business Park
Ballysimon Road
Limerick
Tel: 061 294529
Other locations: Tipperary Tel: 062 33975
Email: info@adaptedliving.ie
Web: www.adaptedliving.ie
Products include: Straight and curved indoor stairlifts, through-floor lifts, platform lifts, reconditioned straight and curved stairlifts, service and repair of most makes of stairlifts, rental of stairlifts
Ambicare Group
28 Henry Street
Limerick
V94 X621
Tel: 061 991 999 and 1890 911 999
Email: info@ambicare.ie
Web: www.ambicare.ie
Products include: Straight and curved indoor stairlifts, standing/perch stairlifts, outdoor stairlifts, through-floor lifts, platform lifts, reconditioned lifts, service and repairs, lift rental
Beechfield Stairlifts
Clonminam Business Park
Portlaoise
Co Laois
Tel: 1890 989 353
Other locations:
Dublin Tel:01 539 0004
Cork Tel: 021 233 9127
Limerick Tel: 061 512 162
Galway Tel: 091 392 778
Waterford Tel: 051 327 798
Portlaoise Tel: 057 868 6090
Email: info@beechfieldstairlifts.ie
Web: www.beechfieldstairlifts.ie
Products include: Straight and curved stairlifts, outdoor stairlifts, service and repairs on Handicare stairlifts
BM Stairlifts Ltd
Unit A, R&G Complex
Naas Industrial Estate
Naas
Co Kildare
Tel: 1890 837 274
Email: info@bmstairlifts.ie
Web: www.bmstairlifts.ie
Products include: Straight and curved stairlifts, stand and perch stairlifts, outdoor stairlifts, stairlift rental, reconditioned stairlifts, service and repairs
Breffni Mobility Ltd
Ballydurrow
Virginia
Co Cavan
Tel: 049 854 8454 and 087 122 0000
Other locations:
Dublin Tel: 087 121 5000
Galway Tel: 087 121 6000
Donegal Tel: 087 120 7000
Email: john@breffnimobility.com
Web: www.breffnimobility.com
Products include: Straight and curved, indoor and outdoor stairlifts, service and repair new and reconditioned stairlifts
Cooley Healthcare Ltd
91 Kennelsfort Road
Palmerstown
Dublin 20
Tel: 01 547 0611 or 1850 211 667
Email: info@cooleyhealthcare.ie
Web: www.cooleyhealthcare.ie
Products include: Straight and curved indoor stairlifts, reconditioned stairlifts, service and repair of stairlifts
Cuddihy Mobility Ltd
Brittas
Tullaroan
Co Kilkenny
Tel: 056 776 9121
Email: jcuddihy@eircom.net
Web: www.cuddihymobility.ie/main.html
Products include: Straight and curved, indoor and outdoor stairlifts, reconditioned straight and curved stairlifts, service and repair of stairlifts
Dolphin Stairlifts Galway Ltd
Unit 3
Kilkerrin Park 4
Lisoban Industrial Estate
Tuam Road
Galway
Email: dolphinstairlifts_galway@eircom.net
Web: www.dolphinstairlifts.net
Products include: Straight and curved stairlifts, service and repairs, rental of straight stairlifts
Goliath Lifts
Well Road
Nenagh
Co Tipperary
Tel: 067 37893
Email: info@goliathlifts.ie
Web: www.goliathlifts.ie
Products include: Straight and curved, indoor and outdoor stairlifts, reconditioned stairlifts, service and repairs
Leinster Bathrooms & Stairlifts (LBS)
Unit 27, Butterly Business Park
Kilmore Road
Artane
Dublin 5
Tel: 01 853 2722
Email: info@lbs.ie
Web: www.leinsterbs.ie
Products include: Straight and curved, indoor and outdoor stairlifts, through-floor lifts, short-rise lifts, platform lifts, reconditioned stairlifts, stairlift rental, service and repairs
Medical Mobility
Unit 5B, The Horan Centre
Clash
Tralee
Co Kerry
Tel: 066 712 0088
Email: sales@medicalmobility.ie
Web: www.medicalmobility.ie
Products include: Straight and curved stairlifts, outdoor stairlifts, service and repairs
MMS Medical Ltd
51 Eastgate Drive
Little Island
Cork
Tel: 021 461 8000
Other locations: Dublin 01 450 0582
Galway 091 768 868
Email: info@mmsmedical.ie
Web: www.mmsmedical.ie/
Products include: Straight and curved, indoor and outdoor stairlifts, through-floor lifts, short-rise lifts, platform lifts, Flexstep, internal and external lifts, reconditioned stairlifts, service and repairs, straight stairlift rental
Motion Lifts
Unit 2B, The Green Commercial Centre
Dunboyne
Co Meath
Tel: 01 556 2813
Email: info@motionlifts.ie
Web: www.motionlifts.ie/
Products include: Homelifts and platform lifts, service and repairs
O’Connor Carroll
6 Western Parkway Business Centre
Lower Ballymount Road
Dublin 12
Tel: 01 456 8000
Other locations: Glasnevin, Dublin 11 (01) 882 8442
Email: sales@oconnorcarroll.ie
Web: www.oconnorcarroll.ie/
Products include: Straight and curved stairlifts, reconditioned stairlifts, service and repairs
Olympic Stairlifts Ltd
2 Lissue Walk
Lisburn
Co Antrim
BT28 2LU
Tel: 048 926 22331
Email: sales@olympicstairlifts.co.uk
Web: www.olympiclifts.co.uk
Products include: Straight and curved stairlifts, outdoor and indoor wheelchair lifts and vertical lifts, reconditioned stairlifts, service and repairs, stairlift rental
Pollock Lifts Ltd
Unit 1, Sloefield Drive
Trooperslane Industrial Park
Carrickfergus
Co Antrim
BT38 8GX
Tel: 048 9336 8167
Email: info@pollocklifts.co.uk
Web: www.pollocklifts.co.uk
Products include: Straight and curved, indoor and outdoor stairlifts, through-floor lifts, platform lifts, service and repairs
SIL Stairlifts Ireland Ltd
12 Elm Park
Gort Road
Ennis
Co Clare
Tel: 065 6842641
Email: john@stairliftsireland.com
Web: www.stairliftsireland.com
Products include: Straight and curved stairlifts, reconditioned stairlifts, service and repairs
SYNC Living
Unit 1
3 York Road
Belfast
BT15 3GU
Tel: 048 9074 5333
Email: info@syncliving.co.uk
Web: www.syncliving.co.uk
Products include: Straight and curved stairlifts, service and repair of stairlifts they have installed
Western Mobility
Unit 9, N5 Business Park Road
Moneen Road
Castlebar
Co Mayo
Tel: 094 902 4994
Email: info@westernmobility.ie
Web: www.westernmobility.ie
Products include: Straight and curved, indoor and outdoor stairlifts, reconditioned stairlifts, stairlift rental
