There are so many among us who find it difficult or well nigh impossible to navigate stairways on their own. Such people are practically imprisoned to a single floor. Moving to a single-floor dwelling is an option that, at best, is a last resort, and at worst is a non-option for those who can't afford to. The wheelchair stair lift is truly a blessing for such people, because it helps them to navigate those formerly insurmountable stairs conveniently and safely. Best of all, it is easily affordable in most cases.
Basically, a wheelchair stair lift is a motorized means of carrying a person seated in a wheelchair up and down stairs. The motor is usually driven by an electric motor running off rechargeable batteries. It is installed over the stairs in such a way that the stairs can still be used in the usual fashion. There is no need of breaking down or reconstructing the existing building. It is the most affordable, and hence preferred, means of traversing stairs.
Cost being the prime operative factor to consider when planning to install a wheelchair stair lift, let's do a little costing here. If the stairway is straight then the installation bill will be less than $5000. For a curved stairway, a site inspection needs to be done by the installation contractor who'll prepare a quote for the installation. The cost could go up to $20,000 depending on the complexity involved, both in the nature of the curvature as well as the actual wheelchair stair lift that has to be installed.
A number of options are available regarding the manner in which the wheelchair stair lift is driven between floors. The usual system is the rack-and-pinion system. It is well-suited to light-duty residential usage and is widely used.
The cable-hauled wheelchair stair lift is the quietest among all categories and requires the least maintenance. The long cable tends to have a little play in it which makes its starting and stopping a little less than smooth.
Chain driven wheelchair stair lifts are meant for heavy duty use, but their noise is a definite vote against in residential environments.
The fourth type of wheelchair stair lift uses an Archimedean screw to traverse the floors. This type of wheelchair stair lift is powered by its own battery which can be recharged. This too is a heavy duty system which is used in large institutes and not so much in residential environments.
The rack-and-pinion system is well-suited to light-duty residential usage and is widely used. The rack is mounted on the wall along the sides of the stairway, and the chair carriage has a pair of motor-driven gears which engage the rack on either side. These systems are very reliable, do not require maintenance, and have the least amount of complaints going against them.
A variation of the rack-and-pinion system uses a rail or track on the staircase itself, instead of a rack on the wall. The chair carriage rolls along these rails.
Wheelchair stair lifts may be powered from the mains power supply or they may be powered by batteries. These batteries are of the rechargeable kind. Battery operated wheelchair stair lifts are increasingly in vogue. Using batteries eliminates the need to lay high voltage electric cabling. Secondly, they are proof against power outages which may occur in storms. The installation of wheelchair stair lifts is regulated by law in most states. So the requisite official formalities have to be completed when installing a wheelchair stair lift.
The user can choose between a wheelchair stair lift that allows the chair to be turned at right angle to the axis of the stairway, and one that allows the chair to be turned right around. Modern electronic technology ensures that these systems are able to "self-diagnose" themselves, and warn the user about potential problems. This eliminates big maintenance bills for the user.
In short, the wheelchair stair lift is the best way for people with special needs for traversing stairs to do so on their own. The most appealing feature of a wheelchair stair lift is that it does not require any sort of building work. They are absolutely safe and reliable. The wheelchair stair lift is without doubt a godsend for anyone who cannot use the stairs on his own.
Basically, a wheelchair stair lift is a motorized means of carrying a person seated in a wheelchair up and down stairs. The motor is usually driven by an electric motor running off rechargeable batteries. It is installed over the stairs in such a way that the stairs can still be used in the usual fashion. There is no need of breaking down or reconstructing the existing building. It is the most affordable, and hence preferred, means of traversing stairs.
Cost being the prime operative factor to consider when planning to install a wheelchair stair lift, let's do a little costing here. If the stairway is straight then the installation bill will be less than $5000. For a curved stairway, a site inspection needs to be done by the installation contractor who'll prepare a quote for the installation. The cost could go up to $20,000 depending on the complexity involved, both in the nature of the curvature as well as the actual wheelchair stair lift that has to be installed.
A number of options are available regarding the manner in which the wheelchair stair lift is driven between floors. The usual system is the rack-and-pinion system. It is well-suited to light-duty residential usage and is widely used.
The cable-hauled wheelchair stair lift is the quietest among all categories and requires the least maintenance. The long cable tends to have a little play in it which makes its starting and stopping a little less than smooth.
Chain driven wheelchair stair lifts are meant for heavy duty use, but their noise is a definite vote against in residential environments.
The fourth type of wheelchair stair lift uses an Archimedean screw to traverse the floors. This type of wheelchair stair lift is powered by its own battery which can be recharged. This too is a heavy duty system which is used in large institutes and not so much in residential environments.
The rack-and-pinion system is well-suited to light-duty residential usage and is widely used. The rack is mounted on the wall along the sides of the stairway, and the chair carriage has a pair of motor-driven gears which engage the rack on either side. These systems are very reliable, do not require maintenance, and have the least amount of complaints going against them.
A variation of the rack-and-pinion system uses a rail or track on the staircase itself, instead of a rack on the wall. The chair carriage rolls along these rails.
Wheelchair stair lifts may be powered from the mains power supply or they may be powered by batteries. These batteries are of the rechargeable kind. Battery operated wheelchair stair lifts are increasingly in vogue. Using batteries eliminates the need to lay high voltage electric cabling. Secondly, they are proof against power outages which may occur in storms. The installation of wheelchair stair lifts is regulated by law in most states. So the requisite official formalities have to be completed when installing a wheelchair stair lift.
The user can choose between a wheelchair stair lift that allows the chair to be turned at right angle to the axis of the stairway, and one that allows the chair to be turned right around. Modern electronic technology ensures that these systems are able to "self-diagnose" themselves, and warn the user about potential problems. This eliminates big maintenance bills for the user.
In short, the wheelchair stair lift is the best way for people with special needs for traversing stairs to do so on their own. The most appealing feature of a wheelchair stair lift is that it does not require any sort of building work. They are absolutely safe and reliable. The wheelchair stair lift is without doubt a godsend for anyone who cannot use the stairs on his own.
About the Author:
There are a lot of additional ways to increase the mobility of those confined to a wheel chair. Go to www.WheelchairLiftsOnline.com to read information on wheel chair ramps, and also discover what features you should consider when searching for the best lift chair for your situation.
No comments:
Post a Comment