Platform Wheelchair Lifts
- As a wheelchair user, if you frequently encounter a hard-to-handle elevation change in your home or office, installing platform wheelchair lifts might be the solution you need.
- Even though wheelchairs provide increased mobility to disabled people, they do present some problems, as well. Wheelchairs are designed to travel on level ground. Many times the heavy wheelchair has to be hoisted up to a higher level such as staircase steps or into your vehicle and this indeed is an obstacle to a wheelchair user. Wheelchair lifts have been designed to get over this limitation.
- There are various types of lifts. Platform lifts have platform on which wheelchair is placed. The platform is then raised or lower. There are both solid and folding platform lifts that can be subcategorized into automatic and semi-automatic types. An automatic lift will fold, unfold, lower and rise by operating a single switch. A semi-automatic lift requires manual folding and unfolding of the platform. Another type is the rotary wheelchair lift, sometimes called a "swing" lift, which allows the wheelchair to be moved by swinging it inside, outside, and up-and-down. It is normally used in vans and minivans. Compatibility can be an issue when adding these types of lifts to an automobile. Choosing the type of operation, such as electric or hydraulic, will also vary depending on your location. Wheelchair Stair Lifts are built to go up the stair steps. Most stair lifts are custom-built for your particular staircase; it cannot be relocated and therefore has no value if and when you no longer need it. Due to their mechanical complexity, curved rail units are not as reliable as straight stair lifts.
- Wheelchair lifts are often costly and you could consider funding them. If you are a veteran, the Veteran Administration may have programs that cover all or part of your expenses for the lifts. You could also ask other state offices, including the Department of Vocational Rehabilitation or the Division of Developmental Services to access your eligibility for funding your lift.