The install is the moment everyone pays attention. The months after the install are when the lift either stays in service or quietly stops being used. A stair lift is a machine that carries a person up and down a flight of stairs, and it needs a routine the same way a car does. The goal is simple: the lift should run when Dad needs it, and anyone in the house should know what a normal run sounds like.
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Decide who owns what
Name the owner of each item before a problem appears. Someone should hold the manual, the warranty papers, and the service contract, if there is one. Someone should hold the key or keys. Someone should know the service company's phone number and the process for booking a visit. Write these names in one place so the job does not depend on memory.
The weekly check
Clear the track of shoes, bags, dust, and anything else that could catch the carriage. Run one full trip up and one full trip down with nobody on the seat, and listen for hesitation, grinding, or a jerk at the start or stop. Test the seat belt, the swivel, and the fold mechanism. Press the stop control at the top and the bottom and confirm the lift halts. If anything changes from the last trip, write it down before you call anyone.
The battery and the charger
Most stair lifts run on a battery and can keep moving during a power outage, which is a reason to check the charging indicator regularly. Keep the charger plugged into a dedicated working outlet, and check the indicator after each power interruption. Read the manual for how long the battery lasts and for the replacement procedure. Battery replacement is usually a service item, not a weekend fix, unless the manual says the owner can do it safely.
The key switch and who holds the key
The key switch is the lock that controls who can use the lift. Keep one key with the household and one with the service company, and keep a record of who holds each copy. Do not leave a key in the lift or tucked into the seat. A lift that cannot be started when someone needs it is no better than one that is broken.
Service visits
Ask the service company what the contract covers and what it does not. Compare the service interval the manufacturer lists in the manual with the interval the company proposes. Keep a log of every visit, with what was checked, what was fixed, and what was left for next time. Do not let the technician set the interval alone. The log is what lets the family ask informed questions later.
Dad's side of the routine
He may refuse the lift because he is proud, or because he has been told he needs it before he is ready. Make the routine feel like his own. Let him run the first trip himself with you at the bottom of the stairs, and let him choose the time of day for the weekly check. A man who controls the lift is less likely to feel controlled by it.
Next move: Tonight, run one full trip up with the seat belt on and the seat folded, note any hesitation or noise, then find the manual and write the service company's phone number on the first page. Put the weekly check on the calendar before you go to bed.