What is a Wheelchair Lift & How Does it Work? A wheelchair lift or platform lift is a device used to raise and lower a wheelchair. In this way, the wheelchair and its occupant can be lifted and lowered to overcome a vertical barrier or step. Initially, the wheelchair is placed on a platform attached to the wheelchair lift. It has the same mechanism as an elevator. Wheelchair Lifts for Vans & Stairs There are different types of wheelchair lifts for van and stairs. Wheelchair lifts for vans have three types of entries: slide mounted entry, rear door entry, and under vehicle entry. One can select the lift depending on the parking options available and how the vehicle will be used by the occupant. If the need for a wheelchair lift arises while you are working with a company, you may be covered for the cost of equipment under worker’s compensation and liability insurance. There are many different types of wheelchair lifts, including portable lifts, electric wheelchair lifts, and hydraulic wheelchair lifts.
Wheelchair lifts can be classified according to lift types such as platform lifts, hoist lifts, rotary lifts, and under vehicle lifts. They can also be classified by inclination, so there are inclined wheelchair platform lifts, vertical platform wheelchair lifts, and portable lifts. For the van, the lift can be used to move the wheelchair into the vehicle. There are also inside lifts and outside lifts. The main advantage of an inside lift is protection from weather. However, the inside lift can be very expensive as compared to the outside lift. Outside lift needs little modification and it helps to save space. Whether you are planning to buy a portable wheelchair lift or a platform wheelchair lift, it is best to look carefully at the features and quality of the products available on the market. The wheelchair lift that provides the highest amount of mobility is the best, but you should also check on the safety and insurance. A railing and a non-slip platform is provided in the wheelchair lift to provide safety to the occupant.
An electric lift has a manual backdrop that is used in case the power has run out. The lift is controlled by the occupant and it also has a movable control box to support the occupant. Some of the advanced features include audio-visual alarms, emergency brakes, automatic dual access ramps, and nonskid platform. Automobile lifts can be bought in the range of $700 to $3000, and some companies may offer free installation. Some other types of lifts can cost more than $10,000. There are options to finance the wheelchair lift; this may also be covered by your insurance company. Medicare covers 80% of the cost of the wheelchair lift. If you require a wheelchair after an accident, you are covered under liability insurance, so you should get coverage for the wheelchair lift. Check out these links to find the best wheelchair lifts.What Our Customers Are Saying About DME Elevators & LiftsXpress - Curved Stairway Artira - Straight Stairway Inclined Platform Wheelchair Lifts Inclined wheelchair lifts provide an accessibility solution for people in wheelchairs or those who have difficulty climbing stairs.
Our wheelchair lifts are custom designed and manufactured for each individual project and are suitable for indoor or outdoor applications. Inclined Platform Wheelchair Lifts - Xpress II for Straight Stairways Inclined platform lifts can be designed for straight stairways. The Xpress II is a safe, reliable and cost-effective accessibility solution. These wheelchair lifts can be installed on your site with little to no structural modifications. They are suitable for public building and residential application. The Xpress II is available in a variety of platform sizes, can be custom powder coated in any RAL color, is ADA and elevator code compliant, utilizes Mains power and has a capacity of 495 lbs. Inclined Platform Wheelchair Lifts - Straight/Curving Stairways The Artira has more safety features than any other inclined platform wheelchair lift available today. This wheelchair lift's computer based control system (Smart-Lite technology) makes it the easiest wheelchair lift on the market to use.
The Artira is designed to carry passengers up and down straight or curving stairways. It can travel on the inside or outside radius of the stairway, offering the optimum in design flexibility and can provide access for multi-level buildings. The Artira's variable speed drive system slows the platform prior to corners and provides a smooth start and stop at the landings. It is available in a variety of platform sizes, can be custom powder coated in any RAL color, is ADA and elevator code compliant, utilizes Mains power and has a capacity of 550lbs. Garaventa -Xpress II (straight-stairway) Garaventa - Artira (Inclined Wheelchair)A longer vehicle requires extra space when parking and can make parallel parking more difficult. There are four types of �inside vehicle wheelchair lifts� Platform Lift - By far the most common and generally the wheelchair lift of choice for public transport. When not in use the platform is folded, generally to a vertical position either inside or outside of the vehicle.
A platform lift can usually handle larger and heavier loads than other wheelchair lifts and some (though not all) are built to raise and lower an occupied wheelchair. The disadvantage is that they usually block the doorway and require a great deal of space for operation. If they are inside of the vehicle, they take up space and often restrict the movement of passenger seats. Hoist Lift� Looking like a small construction crane, the hoist wheelchair lift is an arm with straps that connect to the wheelchair to raise and lower it. The wheelchair attaches to the arm by the straps and is hoisted inside the vehicle. These are usually the least expensive inside wheelchair lifts and are never used for occupied wheelchairs. While effective, some users complain that the process is very time consuming. Rotary Lift or Swing Lift - Generally found on personal vehicles this wheelchair lift uses a platform that swings out of the vehicle and then lowers to the ground. This type of wheelchair lift requires a great deal of floor space in the vehicle and usually cannot handle larger wheelchairs.
However, rotary lifts do not block doors and do not require as much space to load and unload as a platform lift. Under Vehicle Lift � This type of wheelchair lift is stored under the vehicle, so it does not take up any space inside of the vehicle. The platform slides out from under the vehicle and rises to the height of the vehicle�s floor. The wheelchair moves out onto the platform and the wheelchair lift descends to the ground. This type of wheelchair lift may require modification to the vehicle�s exhaust system and is often the most expensive option. Outside vehicle wheelchair lifts usually attach to a trailer hitch on the back of the vehicle and therefore are quiet simple to install. If the vehicle has a rear hatch or tailgate, you may be able to buy a �swing away� wheelchair lift or adapter which will allow access even when the wheelchair lift is attached (but usually only when unloaded). Check to see if reflectors are included with your outside vehicle wheelchair lift, often they are not.
If not purchase them separately and attaching them after installation. What do you do if you do not have a hitch on your car? If you are mechanically oriented you can buy and install a wheelchair hitch fairly easily, just make sure the hitch is designed for your vehicle and has enough strength for your wheelchair lift. Alternatively, if you are in the in the USA and want to have a trailer hitch installed for you, U-haul is a leading installer of wheelchair lifts. Manual Versus Power Wheelchair Lifts There is another decision to be made about vehicle wheelchair lifts. Will it be manually operated or power operated? And if power operated, what is the power source? Obviously, manual wheelchair lifts are less expensive than power wheelchair lifts, but more difficult to operate depending on your disability. For example, when not in use, some manual outside wheelchair lifts detach and are left behind while others fold up and remain attached to the vehicle. Many people find the detachable wheelchair lifts very heavy and difficult to attach and reattach each time.
If you do not have a strong, able-bodied individual available to attach these every time you need them, consider another option. The folding outside wheelchair lifts, while easier to manage, also require strength that some older or disabled people may not have. Most disabled people prefer power wheelchair lifts. Power wheelchair lifts are usually more expensive, but much easier for older and disabled people to operate. Most power wheelchair lifts have a backup system which is manually operated in the case of power failure. Make sure yours does too or you could get stuck if the battery dies. There are usually two options for power to operate the wheelchair, the car battery or an optional �onboard� battery: Onboard Battery: The onboard battery is recharged by connecting it to a standard electrical outlet. Most are easily removable so you can take it inside the house and charge it up and get it ready for the next use. The onboard battery makes this wheelchair lift easier to install, but you will always be recharging it and you will have the additional cost of buying the battery and replacing it every 3-5 years.