5 Tips to Choose the Best Wheelchair Lift

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There is nothing quite as important for people in a wheelchair as personal total mobility. Wheelchair lift was invented to solve the problem of accessibility to the necessary highness and thus to overcome the challenge of moving from place to place using a wheelchair.

However the process of choosing a Wheelchair Lift is very complicated. Nowadays Wheelchair Lift Manufacturers around the world trained to listen to customers’ needs and offer the amazingly huge variety of devices. Our articles and reviews will help you to choose the best one for you.

Most of us at one time or another have seen wheelchair lifts but wondered why they are so necessary to use. When people can use their legs walking, running, going up the stairs, having access to the needed parts of their place is the thing not everybody ponders over and appreciates. But for those individuals with limited mobility such joys of life as getting into a vehicle or climbing up and down the stairs can be time consuming and, moreover, quite challenging. Wheelchair Lift for vanWhile a wheelchair may give them their mobility back, it can still remain restricted. Going up and down the stairs with a wheelchair, putting it into a vehicle, or even accessing multi-level spaces might be quite a complicated task. However, thanks to the invention of wheelchair lifts, one can nowadays achieve total mobility despite being in a wheelchair.

This is basically a simple device which lifts wheelchairs onto those places which otherwise would have been inaccessible with a wheelchair. Among such places are staircases, vehicles, raised platforms, bleachers, stages, etc. Now, using a wheelchair lift, one should not worry and depend on someone to assist in lifting your wheelchair onto these places.

The following information includes 5 major tips on choosing the best wheelchair lift.

TIP # 1. Choose the Type

It is hydraulics that is used in platform wheelchair lifts which moves your wheelchair from one place to another. Vertical lifts are of different styles, however, most of them can be positioned outside or inside. The most popular models include:

  • Shaft Wheel Chair Lift. It’s valuable for houses with constricted hallways.
  • Enclosed Platform Lift. It encloses a wheelchair both on all the sides and the top which ensures complete safety.
  • Stage Lift. It is used for short vertical distances.
  • Free-standing Lift. If there is an area which is not supported, this model will be the right one to use.
  • Opal. It has an open top and encloses the wheelchair on all the sides.
  • Stairlift. This model has special seat which moves gently from one level to another. It is easy to install.
  • Vehicle Mobility Lift. It is used to enter a van.

TIP # 2. Mind the Technologies

Wheelchair Lift photoThe operating technology for a wheelchair lift can be divided into the following categories:

  1. Hydraulic wheelchair lifts use hydraulics to operate the lift. These are considered to be more expensive due to the complexities of hydraulics system. Besides, these lifts provide a smooth ride and are able to adapt to and absorb speed fluctuations or changes on the surface level.
  2. Electric wheelchair lifts are powered by electricity and can also be run on batteries, which is very convenient if there happen to be a power supply interruption.

TIP # 3. Remember About Safety Features

Wheelchair Lift for stairsWhen choosing a wheelchair lift, make sure that the model you have set your mind on can provide these safety features:

  • Final limit control switch
  • Button to stop the lift if there is an emergency
  • Anti-slip surface
  • Obstruction sensors which are designed to stop your lift in case there is an obstacle beneath the surface
  • TIP # 4. Compare

    Don’t set your heart on one model. Try to contrast and compare the specifications. Will this wheelchair lift handle my weight together with the wheelchair? What is the nature of that device? Before proceeding with the purchase always consult a sales person or get recommendations from trusted sources.

    TIP # 5. Price

    Inside wheelchair lifts will cost you from $850 to $3000, while outside lifts and lifts for cars are approximately $500-2000. The price usually depends on such factors as weight capacity and features of the chosen lift.