Wheelchair Lift
It is so easy for most of us to move around that this blessing is taken for granted. Not all human beings are fortunate enough to enjoy thisr freedom. A temporary or permanent disability can restrict an agile individual into a wheelchair. Combine the disability with accessibility issue and the problem becomes a predicament. Climbing the stairs, moving around in a building, catching a train, a boat, a plane, or visiting a school, church, or auditorium becomes very difficult. This is where the concepts of wheelchair lifts and ramps have come to the aid of the disabled person.
A wheelchair lift is a device to elevate a wheelchair to a certain level against stairs, a barrier, or a vehicle enabling the occupant to overcome or board it. A wheelchair lift can be a manual, hydraulic, or powered device. It facilitates the mobility of wheelchairs and their users inside or outside their homes and at places where a ramp is not feasible. A wheelchair lift can be classified into different categories based on how it operates, and the place where it’s used. Let’s first take a look at the types of wheelchair lift based on how they operate.
A wheelchair lift can be hydraulic, manual, or powered. A hydraulic lift, as its name implies, uses hydraulics to pull up the chair and ensure smooth functioning. They adjust quickly to any terrain or height requirement and are not affected by a power failure.
A manual version is very inexpensive of all and very simple to manage. If the disability is not severe, or if another individual is available to help the user, then it is quite economical to use this option.
A powered wheelchair lift is economical compared to a hydraulic one, but requires some repairs and maintenance. It is easy to operate so it is preferred by older people and people with a higher degree of disability. The possibility of power failure which affects the performance of this lift can be overcome by a battery or a backup system. You can even customize them with an automatic door opener or a telephone jack.
The second category of wheelchair lifts is based on their usage, which is basically lifts for vehicles and lifts for home use. A lift for a vehicle helps lift a wheelchair and its occupant in a van, car, SUV, or truck. A home lift comes in either a shaft type or an enclosed type. If you only need a platform, then you should go for the shaft type. For a safer operation, you can use the enclosed type.
As you can see, wheelchair lifts are designed to facilitate wheelchair and scooter access when a ramp is not practical due to height or lack of space.
