Electric Wheelchair Stair Lift
When going up and down the stairs in your home are becoming a problem you have two choices: move to a new one-level home or get a stairlift. A stairlift is a mechanical device attached to your existing stair. Most stair lifts available today are electric stair lifts. Based on rack and pinion method the electric motor moves the lift along the stairs.
Not all stairlift can lift wheelchair because stairlifts are essentially not for just lifting wheelchair users. It is designed to enable people with reduced physical ability to move up and down stairs. For example an elderly having problems on their hips or legs can hop on a stairlifts instead of going up there on their own. This can reduce strains on their lower body parts thus reducing the probability of injuries.
This is what an ordinary stair lift look like. Just a set of chair on rails. As you can see this lift cannot take a wheelchair user along with the wheelchair. This one is simply a stairlift NOT a wheelchair stair lift.
For a wheelchair stairlift the chair on the lift is replaced with a platform plus grab bar and other safety features. The wheelchair user can roll onto the platform, push a button and the lift will take him upstairs.
You can click on the image to see a list of other stairlifts models
Wheelchair stair lift differ from ordinary wheelchair lift in terms of longer travel distance. Ordinary wheelchair lift are made for short distance like l 2-3 feet while a stair lift can go from the first floor all the way up to the second floor of your home.
Will it take a lot of space? Do i have to make the existing stairs wider?
Wheelchair stair lift only take much space when in use. When it is unused it can be folded to save space. Other types have long rails which goes all the way to the side of the lift so when it's unused the lift just sit there next to the stairs allowing others to use the stair as usual.
Are there different tyupes of stair lifts?
There are two types of stairlift. Straight and curved. The first is designed for straight stairs. The footrest of the lift will normally stop level with the top stair. It may be possible to use a straight stairlift on some configurations of curved stairs.
How many person can a wheelchair stair lift carry?
Normally the motor power and the platform width of a stairlift can only fit one person. However if you require a special lift big and strong enough to carry two person (ex, for the wheelchair user and the care giver) you could ask stairlift companies to make custom ones for you. They will be more than happy to meet your needs.
If the power goes out can i still use the electric wheelchair stair lift?
That depends. Some models are equipped with a means to move the lift manually without power while others rely solely on electricity to operate without any other alternative.
What would happen if the power is out when the lift is halfway up?
Stairlifts are equipped with safety gear which is activated when the lift start moving faster than a certain speed limit. So if somethng wrong happen with the power source when the lift is in use then the lift may fall down for a split second activating the safety gear and the lift will stop moving downward.
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