Vertical Platform Lift or Stiltz Home Lift: Where to Start
When stairs get harder, choosing a lift can feel like a big decision. Start with the person who will use it. Then look at the home, the daily routine and the help that may be needed.
A vertical platform lift, often called a VPL, and a Stiltz home lift can meet different needs. The right choice depends on the full route through your home.
Some Stiltz models are made for wheelchair access. A wheelchair does not, by itself, decide which lift you need. Check the exact model, the chair and the combined load.
Watch Damian’s video: Choosing the Right Lift for Your Two Story Home (10 minutes, 55 seconds).
The video gives a broad comparison. Use the current model documents for load limits, wheelchair fit, location and building work. Prices and examples in the video are not a quote or a plan for your home.
Two homes can need different plans
In the video, Damian describes two families with the same request: a way to get upstairs. One needed room for a wheelchair and a helper. The other wanted an indoor lift as stairs became harder. The request sounded the same, but the daily needs were different.
Who will use the lift?
Think about how you move now and what may change. Do you walk into the lift? Do you use a walker, a manual wheelchair or a power chair? Will a caregiver need to ride with you?
Bring the actual equipment to the planning process. A model name or a label that says “wheelchair accessible” is not enough to show that your chair, its footrests and your helper will fit.
Check the entry width, usable floor space and rated load for the exact lift. The combined load includes the person, the chair or other equipment, and anyone else who will ride.
Where does the route begin and end?
A lift needs more than a place to park. You need a usable path to it, room to enter, and a clear way to leave at the other level.
For an outdoor route, ask which products are rated for that setting. For an indoor route, check how the lift will sit within the rooms. Door swings, landings, floor openings and nearby furniture can all affect the plan.
Ask the team to show the whole route on the plan. Include the space needed to turn, open a door and receive help.
How will it work each day?
Think through a normal day. You may need to move a walker, groceries or laundry as well as yourself. Check that the planned load and use are allowed for the model.
Ask to see how the controls work. Discuss who will use them, how to call the lift from each floor, and what happens during a power outage. Review the exact model’s instructions with your assessment team.
Appearance and noise may matter too. Bring those goals into the discussion along with access and safety.
What belongs in the full project cost?
Compare written quotes for the full job. A price for the lift alone may leave out work that your home needs.
- The lift and selected options
- Structural and electrical preparation
- Any required permits and inspections
- Delivery, installation and finish repairs
- Training, service and warranty terms
Prices in an older video are context, not a current quote. Confirm the model and the site work before you compare totals.
You can begin with a plan
You do not need to choose a lift before asking for help. An assessment may also identify a way to make daily tasks work on one level, or another change that fits your needs and budget. That option still needs to work for the person and the household.
Thrive for Life’s occupational therapists look at the person, the home and the daily routine. Start with a plan, not a product.
For current model information, see the Stiltz US questions and answers and ask your assessment team for the documents for the exact lift.
This article and video are general education. Product limits, pricing and site requirements vary. A final recommendation needs an individual assessment and current product documentation.