No one wants to be confined in a single place for what seems like an eternity. Even birds that are kept in a very spacious aviary would still long for and prefer to be back on their wild natural habitat. Likewise, for someone who is bound to his wheelchair, the mobility that his wheeled apparatus gives him might be enjoyable but not entirely satisfying.
“Wheelchair-ridden” patients also need to go outside and unwind. More often than not, more than their desire to experience the world outside once more, they want to be “free” from the boundaries of their four-walled house and fenced backyards because they also need to exercise, to feel the warmth of the sun, to go out with their family and to regain the consciousness that they are also a part of the intricately woven strands we call Life.
Don’t deny them their freedom and independence. Provide them with wheelchair lifts.
Wheelchair lifts are designed to offer convenience and comfort to anyone who is confined to a wheelchair. These machines raise or lower down a wheelchair and its occupant to defeat any height-related barriers. They come in various models and version: for home, for public buildings, for stairs, for cars among others. Some wheelchair lift manufacturers came up with wheelchair lifts that you can set up in your vehicle so you can tag it along with you wherever you go, most especially when you’re embarking on an out-of town trip.
If you have a pick-up truck instead of a car, the most suitable lift for you is the wheelchair lift for trucks. Through this, you can bring your loved one’s scooter or wheelchair almost anywhere.
There are many wheelchair lifts for trucks that are available on the market. Different features per model. You can check them out on the Internet and see what version is most convenient and applicable for you.
One model, the Amerglide Universal 350 Truck Bed Lift, can raise the wheelchair or the scooter into the bed of the truck with just a click of the button. It can be installed on either side of the pick-up truck, regardless whether the vehicle has an extended cab or a bed. This battery-powered model is weather-proof and has a rotation limiter (180 degree boom range) that can be adjusted. This truck wheelchair lift could cost around 2,000 to 2,500 US dollars.
Another innovation of wheelchair lifts is the Elaine Anne Lift System. It enables pick-up truck wheelchair-bound drivers to still maneuver their vehicles without staying out of their wheelchairs. It includes some modifications on the driver seat of the truck to make it more accessible to the driver. The driver has to go on top of the ramp which will lift him into the driver’s sit in the vehicle.
If the handicapped person, on the other hand, has a spinal column injury, it would be best if you install an Equalizer Van Lift on your truck. It can weigh from 88 to 400 pounds depending on the model, and can lift up to 68 inches. This model can also be set up to either van or truck.
When buying, take also into consideration the comfort of the one who will be using it. It would be best to provide him with something he is at ease with. Also ask the wheelchair lifts manufacturer about the specifications of the model. Inquire about warranties and the person to contact if the machine malfunctions.