How the Wheelchair Stair Lift Benefits Wheel Chair Users

There are many obstacles that get in the way of wheelchair users every day making the process of gaining access to certain places much more difficult than it often needs to be had a little forethought gone into the planning stage of wherever that place may be and this is the subject that this article on the wheelchair stair lift is aiming at. That's because one of these obstacles that cause probably more frustrations than any other is the perennial flight of stairs. It doesn't matter where those stairs are, if you are wheelchair bound, then they present an insurmountable barrier to the place that's at the other end of them.

Sure, you can get help to manhandle and hoist you up a flight of stairs while suffering the indignation of having to rely on helpers and the huffing and puffing and jostling that usually accompanies any attempt at getting up the stairs that way. There is a simple solution to this and that is the wheelchair stair lift.

What is a Wheelchair Stair Lift?

This is an adaptation of the personal home stair chair lift that was originally devised and created for allowing the elderly or infirm to travel up and down flights of stairs that would otherwise severely restrict their personal movement around the spaces of their own homes. The device is larger than the regular stairlift and in place of a chair or seat, there is a flat platform that is large enough to take a wheelchair.

The platform allows a wheelchair to be wheeled on, locked in place so the user is safe from unwanted lateral movement while the whole unit travels up or down the stairs along a track and is set in motion with a mechanical electrically powered motor and chain or belt system.

How Does a Wheelchair Stair Lift Work?

The wide, flat base of the wheel chair stair lift is generally locked in an upright position when not in use to allow able bodied people to use the stairs unrestricted. When the wheelchair user needs to use the lift, the base is unlocked and bright down to a horizontal position that allows the wheelchair to be easily rolled onto it. Usually, the user will wheel the chair on backwards and then they will lock it into place to prevent any movement of the chair on the base itself. The base will then unlock and swivel around 90 degrees, so the user rides up the stairs with their back to the wall. This is designed that way because it is the most comfortable position to be riding up or down the stairs making the user feel safest. When the unit arrives at the top of the stairs, the base then swivels another 90 degrees to face the landing, locking in position so the user can simply roll off travelling forward, which is the most natural motion and is the safest way.

The user operates the stair lift by a lever set into the unit at a height most comfortable for the seated position of the wheelchair and within easy reach so the user does not have to reach over to use it. The lift can be started and stopped at any point on the stairs simply by operating the lever. Most wheelchair lifts have their initial and terminal swivel motion operated mechanically as well, as it would be difficult for the user to operate this motion manually.

Are Wheelchair Star Lifts Safe?

Safety is a prime consideration in the construction and manufacture of these units as well as their installation, which must be undertaken by qualified installers who are generally provided by the manufacturer to undertake a professional installation. This is then certified safe and fully guaranteed against any defects or general operating problems. It is vitally important that installation is undertaken by certified installers to minimize any instances of faulty fixings or damage to the unit itself or the track or mechanism. This way, the homeowner is also covered fully by the manufacturer's own warranty.

The manufacture and quality control of these units is a very tight and closely monitored process because there can be no room for error as safety is of the highest order. The entire process from parts assembly to completed installation is undertaken by qualified, highly trained people so you can rest assured that as long as you purchase your wheelchair stair lift from a certified and well known manufacturer, you are getting the best quality assurance in the industry.

It is not under any circumstances recommended that you attempt to install a wheelchair lift on your stairs yourself or have a casual fitter do the work cheaply as the manufacturer's warranty may be invalidated.

Some Important Considerations

We can identify several important considerations that need to be taken into account when purchasing and having a wheelchair stair lift installed in your home.

Cost

The combined cost of purchase and installation is generally expensive and may be beyond the budget of many people. This is more especially so of those who are reliant on a pension as their main or only source of income. It may be necessary, in this case, to ask family members to perhaps club together to assist with the cost. There may be local charity organizations that can help in this respect, or there may even be local government grants available for people with disabilities to help with the purchase of mobility aids in this respect. There may exist certain local organizations that can obtain for you a discount on a particular manufacturer's products.

Installation

The installation of a wheelchair stair lift may present several problems for a regular sized house. The width of the unit's wheelchair platform may be too great to fit narrower stair cases and render some manufacturer's models unsuitable. There are narrower bases available for such circumstances, but you have to be sure the base is both wide enough to admit your own wheelchair and small enough to fit your stairway. The width needs to be sufficient for the base to sit in its horizontal operating position as well as the unit's mechanical base, the rail and any fittings, so exact measurements are needed to avoid disappointment or costly mistakes.

Conclusion

If you need to have a wheelchair stair lift installed on a staircase in your home and can afford the costs involved, there are several models from a variety of manufacturers to choose from and you should do your initial research to find the one that suits your home, needs and budget. Owning one of these devices brings a new feeling of freedom that you get by simply being able to gain access to all the rooms on the upper floor of your home without having to suffer the discomfort and indignity of relying on someone else to assist with getting you up and down those stairs.

It may sound a little contrived, but it has to be said that having access to your entire home is a basic, fundamental right that every person is entitled to. That goes for wheelchair users as well as the able bodied and a wheelchair stair lift provides the means to exercise that right just like everyone else can.

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