Physical disability is something that is very unfortunate. Whether they are caused by accidents, inborn defects or old age, they are often irreversible – their effects cannot be corrected anymore. This is perhaps why a lot of disabled persons find themselves in the middle of depression or a sense of helplessness.
To help them with their current situation, engineering and medical companies continually look for several means to give additional comfort to the disabled and elderly. One of the most popular solutions that they came up with is an access stair lift.
Access stair lifts were conceptualized mainly to do one thing: to help the disabled move around, climb up and down a flight of stairs without causing discomfort, hip, knees or ankle injury. In a home, an access stair lift may take three forms: a short –rise stair lift, a small access elevator or a mobile stair lift.
A short – rise lift is recommended for homes with short, wide and straight staircases. These stair lifts are often installed on the wall beside the stairs. Depending on the make and model, the lift can be a simple platform where wheelchairs or other carts may be attached or it can come with a chair that sits the disabled comfortably. Apart from those, the more sophisticated lifts can have additional features such as remote controls, adjustable reclining angle and foot rest. They can also be powered by an AC or DC current. Battery powered stair lifts are ideal for people with back injuries as these units come with a slow start feature.
Installation of these lifts is simple and it can be done by the home owner itself.
Home elevators on the other hand are ideal for big multi – level houses. This contraption is not only useful for the disabled or elderly but it may also prove to be helpful for the other residents of the home as well.
Depending on their preference, the residents may choose an elevator with a manual or electrical mechanism. And since home elevators are far more complicated compared to the simple stair lifts, professional installation of the unit is required. They also require the most maintenance compared to the other access lifts mentioned.
Last but not the least, mobile stair lifts or climbers are simple contraptions that are often attached to the base of wheelchairs or chair attachments. Unlike the first two lifts mentioned, these mobile climbers do not require any installation. This makes them versatile and ideal to be used indoors and outdoors as well.
However, it would be important to note that safety has been a continuing issue for these units. When incorrectly attached they can jam the wheels of the wheelchair and cause accidents or further injuries. As such, it is recommended to have a caregiver present at all time while the mobile stair lift is in use.
In terms of price, a straight – railed and mobile stair lift can reach anywhere in between $500 to $2500. The price of course depends on the make of unit and the features that come with it. The complication of the elevator’s mechanism and the amount of materials used with it makes it the most expensive among the bunch. Their price starts anywhere from $3000 above. It increases as its capacity and the number of additional features increases.