Wheelchair lifts are mainly of two types, for use at home and for use when traveling, to be used for cars and vans.
The lifts used at home are either permanent or portable. Permanent lifts are fixed lifts that cannot be moved and portable ones as the name suggests are lifts that can be taken everywhere. Permanent lifts are installed when the construction is going or can be introduced during renovation.
Portable lifts are more in demand as they offer a solution for people who may wish to use them at multiple locations or if they are using them only temporarily in cases of temporary disability. They can be compressed to fit through a 3-foot doorway. These lifts can be used when there is a need and then stored away. They come in two designs, foldable and retracting.
Platform wheelchair lifts are the answer to difficult mobility within a home with multi levels. They are either inclined or vertical. The person in the wheelchair places the wheelchair in the center of the lift. Most models come with 2-inch sides to prevent the chair from rolling off. The lift controls are fixed to the wall side of the lift, so that the user can activate the lift. Once at the bottom or at the top, the platform folds itself compactly to the side and does not occupy any space. They come as semi-automatic and automatic. With the automatic models, it is not necessary to use any muscle power. They are very durable and sturdy and are considered best for daily use.
They come in two types: hydraulic and electric. The benefit of having hydraulic a wheelchair lift is that it does not need electricity, so it can be used even when there is no power. The disadvantage is the price as they are significantly more expensive than the electric type lifts. The electric wheelchair lift is reasonably priced and some also come with a batter back up, which is good enough for power outages.
With the choices of wheelchair lifts to be used at home, and several manufacturers bring out little additions to add comfort; it certainly is no problem dealing with disability.
Having a way to make using the stairs easier is import for individuals who use wheelchairs. This makes the front porch difficult to use, so many individuals that use these types of mobility vehicles use wheelchair lifts. Wheelchair lifts, or vertical platform lifts, are similar, in some regards, to having your own elevator; however, they are completely self-contained. This is to say, that there is no need, in most cases, to modify the home or do any major construction, as would be required of the installation of an elevator. There are some important things to consider before you make the purchase of a vertical platform lift, which will help dictate what type of lift you need. The height that you need to be able to lift is one of the most important considerations. It is sufficient to have a relative idea, so simply use a measuring tape and measure the distance. Most vertical platform lifts have a lifting range, so ensure that the model you decide upon will support this distance. Often these lifts can be made to lift up to 12 feet into the air. Depending on the height that you are lifting, it may be possible to secure the lift to the wall as well as the ground. In addition to the height that you need to lift being important, knowing the weight of the rider is also a consideration. Typically a vertical platform lift will support over five hundred pounds. One exception to this is portable vertical platform lifts. A portable wheelchair lift is made so that it can by set-up or moved easily. Usually a wheelchair lift is secured directly into the ground. Portable lifts, on the other hand, are made so that, at a moments notice, they can easily and quickly be moved. As a result, the weight capacity of a portable vertical platform lift is less than a regular lift. They also are not able to rise as high. The portable lift is most popular at schools, but they are also commonly used in churches and businesses, where it might be necessary to allow periodic wheelchair access. Those who use these mobility lifting aids are able to easily access most types of exterior stairs. Due to the way a wheelchair lifts raises its occupant, it might not work with all interior stairs though. This is because a wheelchair lift raises its occupant straight into the air. The occupant then exits onto the landing of the stairs. This is why they work so well with most front porches. Installing a regular wheelchair lift is usually fairly easy, but some do require some assembly. There are also models that come already assembled and only need to be secured into the ground.
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