subject: Improve Mobility And Safety At Home With Disabled Lifts [print this page] Stair lifts are some of the simpler versions of disabled lifts. They are secured to a rail along a solid wall by the side of the stairs. The user sits in a chair facing into the stair space. They are ideal for someone who can walk around on one level but has difficulties climbing the stairs. A stair lift can be folded discreetly by the wall and not look out of place even in a small home. It can also be a useful insurance policy for aging users. Elderly people who are still quite mobile can feel nervous climbing stairs. They may become dizzy, slip on a stair edge and break a bone. The stair lift removes this possible danger and makes the person feel happier and safer in their own home.
Wheelchair users who are able to slide themselves on to other seating positions can use a stair lift by sliding from one wheelchair at the bottom of the lift to a second wheel chair at the top of the lift. These kinds of disabled lifts can be adapted to include a platform that will accommodate the wheelchair, rather than just a seat.
A more sophisticated platform lift enables the user to move vertically to a higher level of the house if space permits. A through-floor platform lift can be installed even in the small space of a hall alcove and avoid the need for any unsightly machinery along the stairs. The lift controls are secured on the walls at each floor and the lift carriage can include a telephone for emergencies. The lift rise can be selected to fit the height of the floors. This can be as low as three to 10 metres, or much higher inside apartment blocks or tall period houses.
Platform lifts also work externally. These may be step lifts to navigate the house porch where the construction of a ramp may not be possible. The user will be able to leave home safely, walk round the garden, or go for an outing along the street or to the shops in a wheelchair or other mobility vehicle.
