For all those wheelchair-bound people who don’t have the necessary space in their homes for installing a vertical wheelchair lift, the stair lift is the ideal choice. There are several kinds of wheelchair stair lifts – the straight rail lift, the curved rail lift, the platform lift and the chair lift.
Because they help the disabled person to move along a staircase, these types of lifts are also called inclined wheelchair lifts. They move the chair or the platform on an inclined trajectory, along the rail of the stairs.
The inclined chair lifts do not need a lot of space. They are usually foldable and easy to operate. However, their bigger disadvantage is the fact that the handicapped person has to lift himself/herself from the wheelchair and into the special chair of the lift. More often than not, they need the help of a relative/caretaker to get from the wheelchair into the wheelchair lift and vice-versa. Besides being tiring, this process is also humiliating for the disabled people, who need to feel that they can be independent as well.
That’s why the inclined platform wheelchair lifts are a better option, especially if the stairs are wide enough to accommodate the platform. This type of lift allows rolling the wheelchair onto the platform and transports it to the higher/lower floor of the building. Because of the maximum independence it provides for people in wheelchairs and its advanced safety features, the inclined platform lift has become extremely popular not only as a residential wheelchair lift, but also in public buildings like schools and churches.
The installation of the inclined lift may be rather problematic if there is not enough space for the landing areas or if the rack is not mounted on a sturdy wall; if the staircase is not wide enough, the installation will be impossible.
However, thanks to the variety of available designs of inclined wheelchair lifts, there is a good chance that you’ll find a model that suits the parameters of your home. The platform lifts are sturdy, easily lifting the weight of an electric wheelchair and its occupant. This device will allow you or your disabled family member to have full access to all the floors of your home. Most models can also be installed outdoors, on an exterior staircase.
In case your staircase is curved, you can order a custom made curved inclined wheelchair lift that will perfectly suit your unique rail.
If the wheelchair lift is needed only occasionally (for example in public buildings), the owners can acquire a foldable model. Platform lifts can be folded as well – with the help of the automatic fold and unfold function, the platform will take a vertical position near the wall, allowing the people to use the stairs freely. When the lift is needed again, a simple push of a button will lower the platform to its initial position.
If you decided to acquire an inclined wheelchair lift that will considerably improve the quality of your life, make sure that you purchase a good product from a reliable manufacturer. Don’t be lazy and make a thorough research – you will find plenty of wheelchair lifts manufacturers and dealers online and on the local market. Most companies will offer you a good warranty along with repair and maintenance services. Also, don’t forget to read reviews – the opinion of those people who are already using the model you’ve decided to buy.