A system now exists, known as a wheelchair stair lift, to transport the user of a wheelchair and the chair itself up or down a flight of stairs with ease. It is completely electronic and user-friendly.
The process is as simple as the person rolling into position, locking into the lift, and enjoying the ride.
This device is easily installed, pretty much affordable to anyone, and is a viable option in comparison to elevators that provide the same lift.
Fit for a King
This concept dates all the way back to the life span of King Henry VII where it is said that he utilized a similar device. Now his mechanics weren’t actually machines, they were servants that physically lifted him up and down stairways, but the idea shares similarities with the modern-day process.
The USA first presented the new futuristic wheelchair lifts for stairs in 1993 commercially around the same time polio was an issue within the ranks of its citizens.
Modern Stair Lift Designs and Prices
The modern age consumer stair lifts come already equipped with loads of new bells and whistles. The speed regulator, emergency stop button, safety sensors, and a batch of other features make it seem almost out of this world.
A wheelchair lift for stairs in the home.
At a price of $5000, you will be able to purchase your own straight running wheelchair stair lift. But, if you want to shell out somewhere around $15,000, you can be the proud owner of a new curved stair lift.
While at first glance the cost for these devices may seem a little steep, but in comparison they are a pretty fair bargain.
The cost of altering your house to put in a new wheelchair lift by any other means, especially an elevator, would hurt your pockets a lot more distinctively than the aforementioned options.
The kinds of wheelchair stair lifts will vary. They range from the more affordable pre owned stair lifts, curved and general rail stair lifts, outdoor lifts, and even platform stair lifts.
Indoor Stair Lifts
On the home front, the most likely system to be used is the straight rail stair lift because of most homes simple staircase layout. However, if it is desired to be placed on a curve, a curved rail lift would be required and its installation calls for precise placement, production, and measurement.
This version of the stair lift will usually call for more time to be spent in construction and is generally longer.
The lifts that you see in most private homes and public establishments are wheelchair lifts. This version has another area to accompany the entire electric wheelchair. Most of the time, they come with folding edge ramps that will assist the wheelchair with staying in place.
Outdoor Stair Lifts
Now the outdoor stair lift does resemble indoor stair lifts, but they have one major change to it. They come already weatherproof.
Pre owned stair lifts come exactly how they sound. They are a used wheelchair lift that has had previous owner.
The majority of these stair lifts are the ones that can readily align to straight rails. A utilized curved stair lift that has been previously owned is very challenging to input into a different staircase based on its measurements being original to the first stairway railing.
To counteract this, curved rails are now being created so that certain parts of the machine can be used on a different stairway.
Hydraulic vs Electric Models
Wheelchair lifts for stairs are mostly powered by hydraulics or either electricity.
Hydraulic lifts work off of pressure from a pipe that puts the lift into motion, while electric lifts rely on backup batteries if no power is readily available. Some of these newer makes of wheelchair stair lifts are remote controlled for even more usability and customer convenience.