For a wheelchair-bound person, one of the most convenient tools ever invented is the wheelchair lift. A wheelchair lift, sometimes called platform lift, vertical platform lift, or stair lift, is a gadget that raises and lowers a platform (with the wheelchair and its occupant on it) to defeat a vertical barrier. It provides comfort and independence by aiding the person to get up or go down without bothering someone to help them climb the stairs. This gadget can lessen the need of installing expensive elevators and allows a handicapped person to move anywhere he wants.
Wheelchair lifts are either powered by electricity or hydraulics. Electric powered wheelchair lifts are, as the name implies, operated by electricity. They are also aided with an emergency battery which comes handy when power connection fails. Hydraulic wheelchair lifts, on the other hand, use fluid to govern gadget movement. The pressure applied to a pipe is transferred by a liquid to a bigger pipe in order to bring about a larger force. The use of fluid allows the lift to adjust in case of changes in speed or in surface. However, this model is more expensive than the electric wheel chair lift. When there’s no available electricity, most wheelchair lifts in general can still be operated manually.
These lifts are mainly used in homes and in hospitals. They are easy to install and operate. Wheelchair lifts are designed to ensure the safety and convenience of its user. They have a non-slip, low platform and safety railing. Most wheelchair lifts for home use have maximum lift heights of 50 inches or 72 inches.
To use, a wheelchair occupant has to sit in the lift sit which will transport them up or down using a mounted track connected to the stairway.
There are various types of wheelchair lifts. Let’s take a closer look at the main models:
Vertical Platform Wheelchair Lift. This type of wheelchair lifts is a good alternative for elevators. It is best used for commercial application and is usually set up beside the staircase; however, it is not really attached to the stairway like the inclined platform lifts.
Inclined Platform Wheelchair Lift. This wheelchair lift is constructed for both indoor and outdoor applications. It can be used almost anywhere and is usually found in schools, houses, churches and public buildings. This wheelchair lift is mostly installed on staircases and aids people on wheelchairs by raising them to a higher floor of a building.
Portable Wheelchair Lift. Also called as the Mobilift, this type of wheelchair lift is designed to provide convenience anywhere, especially outside house premises: on school stages, raised platforms and outdoor pews. It can be moved and can be “carried” anywhere. That is why this wheelchair lift is best for patients who are always “on the go.”
Portable Vertical Lift. The portable vertical wheelchair lift functions like the portable wheelchair lift and the vertical wheelchair lift combined. It is so small that it just can be simply towed behind your car. It can be set-up and installed anywhere, any time you need it.
These wheelchair lifts come in different looks and styles. They are sold in various stores and you can order them online. You can also find many other useful models of wheelchair lifts – for cars, vans and even boats! They do not only give wheelchair-bound patients the mobility they want, but also the freedom they deserve.