Vertical Platform Lifts Vs Wheelchair Ramps

For a wheelchair user, the stairs can be a very difficult to use, if not impossible. Some manual wheelchair users are adept at dealing with staircases with no assistance, but this requires a good deal of skill and presents a risk to the wheelchair user. Instead, of trying to use the stairs in this manner, most wheelchair users choose to either install a wheelchair ramp or a vertical platform lift in their home. Both of these devices can greatly improve accessibility and make it much easier to get around.

The vertical platform lift is a very popular lifting aid, which is in many regards simply a self-contained elevator. It includes an elevator shaft, lifting platform, and lifting system all in one unit. They are placed next to the landing of a staircase and raise vertically from the ground level to the landing of the stairs. A metal platform is provided for users to drive their mobility vehicle onto, which is then raised and lowered by pushing one of the control buttons. Many vertical platform lifts also include wireless remotes, as well as call buttons at the top and bottom of the stairs.

Vertical platform lifts, which are frequently called wheelchair lifts, are usually designed to support at least 500 pounds, with some wheelchair lifts having weight capacities that exceed 700 pounds. They can be used by multiple people or to move goods, providing the weight capacity is not exceeded.

The wheelchair lift itself is quite heavy and requires a strong solid base to support it. The base should be made out of either concrete or wood, which is level and does not wobble. Installing a wheelchair lift is fairly simple, with the hardest part usually being moving the lift in place, as it is quite heavy. The lift is then secured to the base and plugged in.

Most vertical platform lifts cost between $3,400 and $15,000, but this varies by the model, as well as its features. For instance, most wheelchair lifts have a lifting height of 4 feet, which can then be upgraded for a fee to up to 12 feet.

Wheelchair ramps often offer a lower cost alternative to a wheelchair lift. They can be built from scratch using wood and there are usually several local companies that can build the ramp for you.

There are also modular wheelchair ramp kits available, which come in sections and are made out of metal. Each section arrives separately, then is fit together to form the ramp.

The size and length of the ramp, both modular and custom built, depends on the height of the staircase, although bends can be added to take up less space. However, even when bends are used, wheelchair ramps end up taking up a lot more space than a wheelchair lift would. Some wheelchair users will also find them difficult to use. In cases where there is only a step or two to bridge, smaller single piece threshold ramps are available, which are very affordable.

Deciding whether to go with a wheelchair lift or a wheelchair ramp is an important decision that should not only take into account cost, but also the needs of the user and where the device will be used.

Robert Dinland, an author, has a strong medical background. Finding a means of increasing accessibility at home is essential for wheelchair users. Many choose to install wheelchair lifts, as these devices are very, powerful, don't take up much space, and make using the home much easier. Learn more about accessibility tools and wheelchairs at the Wheelchair Guide

Wheelchair Safety During Transportation and Travel

This wheelchair safety advice is for people who use a wheelchair and for caregivers, family members and close friends who know someone in a wheelchair. It also applies to anyone who might be using a mobility scooter.

There are safety guidelines on how wheelchairs should be facing during travel. The best direction to sit is with the wheelchair facing forward because this offers the most protection. Positioning the wheelchair perpendicular to the vehicle is often dangerous because any jolts or jumps in the vehicle can tilt both the wheelchair and the user. No matter the position you intend on placing the wheelchair, make sure the wheelchair is secured to the ground of the vehicle and will not accidentally break free from the restraint during a pot hole. The heavier the wheelchair, the more you have to consider the strength of the restraint. There are vehicles with built in floor restraints that provide the best protection but make sure both the restraint and wheelchair are fitted.

When you are travelling, if have the ability to stand and sit in the vehicle seats without assistance and with little pain, then you should seek that option. Sitting in the vehicle provides more safety than sitting in a wheelchair.

Any kind of contents in the vehicle should be secured for the safety of the wheelchair user. If something looks heavy and could be knocked loose by the moving vehicle, store it as low as possible to avoid any potential injuries. Make sure all accessories on the electric wheelchair such as the battery is properly secured. If the electric wheelchair has a joystick control placed in the center, see if it is possible to remove that as it could be a hazard during any collisions or emergencies.

Wearing Safety Belts

Make sure the belts are fitted for the user and not be restrictive or suffocating. Place belt on the inside of the wheelchair and wrap across the pelvis, taking extra care that the safety belt does not creep up to the stomach during vehicle movements. The best kind of safety belt is the 3 point belt with two attachments of the belt going to the floor and an additional attachment that secures on to the vehicle.

If you are looking for better wheelchair models that can handle the longer travels, visit Handicap Equipment for more information. Read up on common mobility scooter problems that users face and see if it is time to upgrade from manual wheelchairs to power mobility wheelchairs. Also get a better idea of the handicapped equipped vehicles models available to you.

Different Types Of Wheelchair Lifts

Wheelchair lifts are known best for the best services that they could offer to wheelchair users. No wonder these have great importance to them since they could be transported easily while they are traveling or moving in a particular place where they need to climb up or down. In any place that they could go such as in a building, houses, hotels, stores, hospitals, or in other places, they could have a better transportation with these wheelchair lifts. However there are different types of wheelchair lifts which are good for specific purposes. These are the following.

Inclined Wheelchair Lift

For those handicapped persons who find hard from climbing up and down the stairs, then this kind of wheelchair is the best for him or her. It could functional well just like an elevator. This has safety features too that would avoid or prevent any possible accident. It has emergency stop switches, safety pan, and over speed device. This has anti-slip platforms to avoid falling and slips. This can be use both in outdoors and indoors.

Portable Wheelchair Lift

This kind of lift can give access to users in going up or down from staircases and cars. And since it is portable, this can be easily carried and be kept in a vehicle. It is powered by battery that need a bit of maintenance. This can be used also in outdoors and indoors.

Vertical Wheelchair Lift

For those locations which are not having ramps or wheelchair entry points, this vertical wheelchair lift is an ideal lift for this place. This can be used by lifting the wheelchair with the user sitting on it. The wheelchair can be lowered vertically. This lift too can accommodate different wheelchair of any weight. And in terms of its safety, a user must not be worried since it has safety parameters like safety nut, broken belt monitor, final limit switches, and platform safety pans.

Hydraulic and Electric Lift

This could be a bit expensive but would really ensure durability thus this would last longer. You can find the best of it by finding the best dealer or manufacturer of this. They would know better the best quality which is available in the marketplace.

So, these are the different types of wheelchair lifts that would cater your need if you are finding your wheelchair now for you or to the one whom you know.

Visit our website on used-wheelchairs for more information and get the latest second hand wheelchairs and Used wheelchair van.

Equip Your Car with Wheelchair Lift

Having wheelchair to get around is not enough no matter how adaptive structures are designed to accommodate disabled people. To extend more on giving comfort, wheelchair lift for car will make the whole idea complete.

Imagine having a manual wheelchair without any hoisting device to help the patient in the car, it will take helpers just to accomplish a simple need of getting in and out of the car. If you live alone with a disabled person, life would be impossible without help even by just going to groceries.

The patient will end up staying indoors all the time, or will only be limited to simple strolls around the block of a neighborhood. And his world simply ends up smaller and smaller and the world is gaping wide far from reach.

Now there goes a question: if there are at least 3 helpers who can carry and help a patient get out of the car, why buy wheelchair lift for car? Primarily, the three helpers may not be always present to do the job. Given enough monetary budget it pays to invest on car wheelchair lift to complete the accessories necessary to mobilize patients in wheelchair.

You will notice, living with a patient with such disability has the most car trip to hospitals and clinics for periodic check-up. The practical side of investing on a unit is the idea of re-selling it after it is no longer needed in the future. Wheelchair lift for cars is an item you can auction, which can get prospective buyer in times of crucial practical need.

Car wheelchair lift is commonly 30 kg in weight with an average cost of up to $900. It could go less if you avail slightly used items in auctions and sale. There are brands available with extended functions usually for car and other auto use. They are slick and transportable and safe to use.

Actually there are array of concepts and designs suited for specific requirements. There is even a van ramp only for those who would not choose extra complications with mechanisms. But actually, most of portable car lifts are skeletal frames with hoisting accessories, small enough to occupy space. The appearance itself guarantees the effective slimness.

Car wheelchair lift is made functional by electricity and hydraulics. It means it will cost a lot as an added device for electronic or any manual wheel chair. It guarantees to give satisfaction and added independence to a disabled person for any travel by vehicle.

Low Jeremy maintains wheelchair-lift.articlesforreprint.com. This content is provided by Low Jeremy. It may be used only in its entirety with all links included.

Wheelchair Lifts For the Physically Disabled

With the help of wheelchair lifts, physically disabled persons can access the different parts of their residences or offices rather easily. These accessibility equipments largely support the individuals struggling with mobility impairments, and help them lead a confident life with enhanced independence and momentum.

Convenient and Affordable Accessibility Solution

These accessibility devices are considered a more cost-effective accessibility option than elevators. To provide smooth and convenient access for physically disabled individuals, permanent and portable models of such lifts that are suitable for residential or commercial indoor and outdoor purposes are available in the industry.

With the help of inclined platform lifts, physically challenged persons can comfortably travel up and down the stairways. These lift models are suitable to be used on curved and straight stairways.

These lifts can be obtained in two operating modes namely electric and hydraulic. The hydraulic model wheelchair lifts use hydraulics for enhanced functioning. Electric wheelchair lifts are provided with battery back-ups, so the lifts can be operated even during power outages. Compared to hydraulic models, electric lifts are more flexible, less expensive and can be installed rather effortlessly.

Designed with Superior Safety Features

For ensuring the users maximum safety and trouble-free operation, these lift models are designed with user-friendly controls and superior safety features such as:

• Anti-skid flooring
• Under-platform sensors
• Emergency alarm
• Emergency stop switch
• Cable safety device
• Handrails
• Manual lowering device

Besides, the platforms of almost all wheelchair lift types are designed in such a way that these can accommodate different wheelchair models including power wheelchairs, child wheelchairs, adult wheelchairs and sports wheelchairs.

Select the Right Dealer for Making the Purchase

When planning to purchase such lifts for physically disabled persons, it is necessary to consider factors such as the extent of disability of the user, available models, their price levels and manufacturers. The leading manufacturers offering superior quality wheelchair lifts are Savaria Concord, Adaptive Engineering, ThyssenKrupp Access and Garaventa. Always make sure to purchase these branded products from renowned dealers, offering quality installation and maintenance services at reasonable charges.

Wheelchair Lifts for Physically Disabled - Day Elevator & Lift provides a wide range of mobility products in the categories of elevators, wheelchair lifts, and stairlifts.

Used Wheelchair Ramps Can Save You Money

It is an effective way to save on money expenses when you are interested in purchasing a used wheelchair ramp. If the word 'used' makes you as a consumer feel uneasy about the quality of used wheelchair ramps and whether it is too old or not functioning properly it is understandable, but it may not always be true.

Look around for ramps such as wood ramps or even metal ramps that are being advertised as having been previously owned. These used wheelchair ramps can not only make you as the wheelchair occupant feel you have more mobility, you will also benefit from the convenience of owning such ramps. In a time where we all encounter various difficult obstacles in our lives, it is a great relief to know that various accessories will help you as a wheelchair user to feel more at ease and comfortable with your situation.

When you are intending on buying a ramp, there are a few issues concerning the quality that you would need to take into consideration before spending money on the ramp. If you intend on purchasing a ramp that has been previously owned by a private user, you will need to examine the ramp in detail as the owner will probably not offer you a guarantee or your money back policy that you will obviously get from a wheelchair and wheelchair accessories company.

When you are considering buying a wood ramp it is advisable to check if the ramp may not have sustained rot and you will also need to have the wood treated to ensure that it will not be slippery when you use the ramp. You will need to check how much weight the ramp will be able to hold and also how steep it is. If you intend on buying a wooden ramp, keep in mind this would be less costly if you just get the building material and build it yourself.

Alternatively when you are considering purchasing a metal ramp, the first sign you will obviously need to look for is rust. There after, check the plastic grip, if there are tears or holes in the plastic you should probably keep looking for another ramp. Stability of the hand and toe rails need to also be tested carefully as many accidents can occur if these rails are faulty. You as buyer will also need to check how much weight the ramp will be able to hold to avoid any mishaps.

If the ramps are able to fold, test whether they fold properly and how good the durability is. It will inevitably decide on how portable the ramp is. Ultimately you can not put a price on the safety of the wheelchair occupant and investing in a ramp of quality will ensure longevity. Private owners offer portable and fixed wheelchair ramps that they no longer need, but before you consider purchasing one from them, see what offers the manufacturers of used wheelchair ramps have to offer you before making your decision.

Gavin Cruise was born in New York, his father was a wealthy business man in real estate. Gavin had the privilege of traveling extensively with his father learning about a wide variety of subjects. He attended Harvard where he majored in English and from the age of 26 Gavin supported himself by freelance writing. If you would like to read more articles about Gavin Cruise, please visit http://www.wheelchairliftsramps.net

Wheelchair Accessible Bathrooms - 5 Necessities For Easy Access

There are millions of people all over the world with many types of disabilities. Several of these disabilities make it extremely difficult for wheelchair-bound individuals to gain access to the necessities they need - particularly bathrooms

Bathrooms can pose extreme barriers for disabled people and can make an ordinarily simple task time consuming, frustrating and often impossible.

Creating a wheelchair accessible washroom - whether for residential or commercial purposes - has become more and more popular. If you're thinking of creating a new wheelchair accessible washroom - or updating an existing bathroom to accommodate wheelchairs - there are several things you'll want to consider.

1. Doorway Widening. Before you even consider the wheelchair bathroom accessories, you need to make sure a standard wheelchair can fit through the door of your washroom. A standard wheelchair is 24-17" wide. A wheelchair accessible bathroom doorway should be a minimum of 32" wide.

2. Grab Bars. Safety grab bars make it easier and more convenient for wheelchair bound individuals to gain appropriate access to all areas of the bathroom. Installing grab bars next to the toilet and near bathing areas and inside showers and tubs is essential. You may also want to consider installing grab bars behind the toilet and installing roll-under sinks and vanities.

3. Accessible Showers and Bathtubs. Residential washrooms where one or more of the residents (or even a close family member who visits often) should be converted to accommodate wheelchairs. Roll-in showers and walk-in bath tubs are a great way to make the showering process easier.

4. Tilted Mirrors and Accessible Cabinets. Wheelchair accommodating washrooms should definitely have at least one tilted mirror for disabled individuals. There's no sense building an entire washroom for easy wheelchair access if you're going to leave out the mirror. As we mentioned before, roll under sinks and counters are also very accommodating for wheelchair-bound individuals.

We hope our tips have helped and we're happy to hear you're taking the time to research the necessities of a wheelchair accessible bathroom. It's not an easy task, but it's worth the work in the end.

Rhonda Splinter has been helping disabled individuals with accessiblity issues for many years. She specializes in designing wheelchair accessible shower stalls. In her spare time she shares her knowledge with the readers of TheWheelchairSite.com.