Stair Lifts for Wheelchairs

In this day and age, there is no need for people in wheelchairs to feel like prisoners in their own homes anymore, or to feel like only ground floor buildings are accessible to them, even if there are elevators in these buildings.  Nowadays, people in wheelchairs can participate fully in life by having jobs, active social lives, taking part in sports and much, much more.  Of course, people in wheelchairs are faced with struggles, but stairs no longer need to be one of these occasions.

What are Stair Lifts for Wheelchairs?

There is a wide range of stair lifts available and some of these are specifically manufactured to cater for wheelchairs.  Of course, as these types of stair lifts need to be able to carry a heavier load, they are generally built with heavy duty materials that are able to lift loads of up to 25 stone.  Some custom made stair lifts for wheelchairs are able to carry even heavier loads.  In their outer design, stair lifts for wheelchairs also look slightly different, as they require a large platform in order to be able to accommodate the wheelchair, instead of a single person.

Safety Issues with Stair Lifts for Wheelchairs

When looking at stair lifts for wheelchairs, it is important to make sure that the stair lift conforms to all the relevant health and safety precautions.  A wheelchair is, as the word suggests, on wheels, so it is important that the platform has things in place to ensure that the wheelchair is not able to move whilst the platform is moving up and down the stairs.  Some of the safety features you may expect to find include:

• Specific safety mechanisms
• Folding flaps
• Extra strong ramps

Indoor or Outdoor Stair Lifts for Wheelchairs

Generally, stair lifts for wheelchairs are outdoor models.  This means that they are made from materials that can withstand adverse weather conditions, such as extreme temperatures – both hot and cold – wind, rain and snow.  Generally, the paint used on stair lifts for wheelchairs is also made in such a way that it will not wear when it is exposed to sunshine.  However, just because most standard models of stair lifts for wheelchairs are built as outdoor stair lifts, this does not mean that they cannot be used indoors. 

Cost of Stair Lifts for Wheelchairs

Stair lifts for wheelchairs are generally quite expensive.  Public buildings are required to purchase new stair lifts in order to comply with health and safety laws.  However, if you are looking for stair lifts for wheelchairs for domestic use, you could look at second hand stair lifts.  Most second hand stair lifts were initially owned by public buildings, meaning they were of very good quality when initially purchased and have also been maintained and serviced regularly.  The price of a second hand stair lift for wheelchairs is considerably lower than a new one.

As you can see, being confined to a wheelchair does not have to mean that you are also confined to ground floor locations.  By investing in stair lifts for wheelchairs you can travel up and down stairs with ease and enjoy the same freedoms as able bodied people.

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