Wheelchair Stair Lift

Carrying a person with disabilities, up and down the stairs is really difficult for the accompanying person. It can become even more complicated if there is no elevator around. Moving such person within the house is also not easy. But, with the invention of the wheelchair stair lift, you can easily carry an old or ailing person at the push of a button.

Wheelchair stair lift is basically a mechanized way of carrying a person up and down the stairs. The person remains seated in the chair and it is driven by a motor, along a track or ramp. The best part about it is that, its installation does not interfere with the normal usage of the stairs and no major break down or reconstruction is needed. Moreover, the installation is pretty affordable.

Types of Wheelchair Stair Lift
Wheelchair stair lifts are differentiated according to their driving mechanisms. The different types include:

• Rack-Pinion: This is the most popular type of wheelchair stair lift. It is a light duty lift and emits very less noise, making it a popular choice for quiet areas like hospitals.
• Cable Hauled: This type of lift uses cables to haul the wheelchair up and down. Though the system is the quietest, it is known to give jerks to the occupant, thus making the landing rough.
• Screw-Driven: Screw driven lifts are driven by a set of screws. They are not a popular choice for individual usage.
• Running Chains: This type of lift is driven by the running chains. The thumb on the chair activates the chains which haul the wheelchair up or down. This is the noisiest type of wheelchair stair lift.
• Mains Powered: Mains powered lifts are becoming less popular. Their safety and reliability is highly questionable.

Cost-Effectiveness
Wheelchair stair lifts are very affordable. Also, no remodeling of the existing structure is required. The rack-pinion lift can cost you somewhere around $5000 for a straight track and $15000 for a curved track. If you choose to opt for some other type of lift, then the cost can shoot up to $25000. Still, the cost is much less than a cage lift, since no major break down of the structure is required.

Safety
The wheelchair stair lifts are safe and reliable. For people suffering from vertigo problem, most lift systems have mechanisms that turn the chair sideways or right around. Moreover, these systems are fitted with electronic devices that warn the user of any potential problem, thus enabling preventive maintenance.

Control and Maintenance
Most wheelchair stair lifts work on remote controls, push buttons or joysticks. Though, a straight rack-pinion is almost a zero maintenance lift, curved lift may warrant a periodic maintenance. Moreover, other types such as chain or cable lifts can be high on maintenance cost.

Wheelchair stair lifts are a great option for old people and people with physical disabilities to commute easily on their own within multistoried buildings. They can also be installed in historical or heritage buildings, where law deters any kind of construction or remodeling work.