Wheelchair Lifts – Types of Lifts

Published: January 22, 2014

Being confined to a wheelchair can make accessibility a major issue. Put simply, private homes, vehicles and even businesses tend to do a poor job of accommodating wheelchairs. For the most part, businesses do the best job of providing for basic needs, thanks in large part to the Americans with Disabilities Act, but accessibility at home can be particularly difficult.

Even if your home is single-story, you may find that a wheelchair makes it nearly impossible to get around. And that is because even many single-story homes have a small staircase leading up to the front door. Thankfully, wheelchair lifts come in a variety of shapes and sizes, and are suited for a variety of different tasks, to help make your home or vehicle more accessible.

If you or a loved one relies on a wheelchair for mobility, you may find that the following wheelchair lifts can provide the solution you are seeking:

Vehicle Lifts

A vehicle wheelchair lift allows for either the storage of a wheelchair or, in vans that have been specifically modified for disabled drivers, cabin access. As such, there are a multitude of different types of wheelchair lifts for cars. What type of lift is right for you? Well, that will depend on your needs. If you are confined to a wheelchair and drive a wheelchair van, a ramp or vertical wheelchair lift will be best. If you just need a means to store your wheelchair while you're driving, a rear-mounted outside lift will likely suffice.

Stair Lifts

If your home has multiple stories, a stair lift can enable you to move up and down your staircase with ease. There are a variety of different types of stair lifts. One of the most common types is ideal for individuals who still enjoy some degree of mobility; it slides up and down a track built into the base of the wall or along the handrail (straight and curved path stair lifts are available), and provides a seat for you to sit on. If you have wheelchairs on both floors (perhaps a power wheelchair on the ground floor and a manual wheelchair on the top floor), or are able to walk around the confines of your home without a wheelchair, this type of lift is right for you.

Vertical Platform Lifts

A vertical platform lift is analogous to an elevator. You roll your wheelchair onto the lift platform, and the platform raises and lowers in a vertical fashion along a set of rails. This type of lift is ideal for situations where the height between the ground and the destination is minimal; for example, for a front or back patio or a small step-down or step-up on the interior of a home.

Incline Platform Lifts

If you are completely dependent on your wheelchair for mobility, and live in a multi-story residence, you will want an incline platform lift instead of a stair lift. A hybrid of a vertical lift and a stair lift, this type of wheelchair elevator is designed for individuals who are disabled from the waist down. Like a stair lift, the platform travels up the staircase by way of diagonal tracks. Unlike the stair lift, there is no separate chair that requires the user dismount from his or her wheelchair. Rather, this lift features a platform which a wheelchair can be rolled onto. As the incline platform lift traverses the diagonal track, the platform stays level.

Pool Lifts

A pool lift provides a means for disabled individuals to safely enjoy the pool. Anchored on the outside of the pool by way of a post, it features either an extendable swing arm or a vertical track, from which a chair can be suspended or mounted. Once you have transferred to this chair from your manual or power wheelchair, it can then be extended out or lowered into the pool. Whichever option is right for you, a pool lift will allow you to enjoy the pleasures of a pool whenever you please!

Wheelchair Ramps

One of the simplest and most effective ways to access an elevated platform is by way of a ramp. However, ramps are only applicable in situations where the angle between the ground and the destination is shallow enough that a wheelchair can be safely rolled up it. If the angle is too steep, a wheelchair lift – such as a vertical, inclined, or stair lift – will be required.