Get help, advice and information on all your Home and Family issues. http://advice-and.info/Home-and-Family/wheelchair.htm Sun, 03 Aug 2008 21:08:06 GMT en If you or someone you love is in a wheelchair or has trouble walking, than it can be very hard to negotiate staircases of any kind. Often, your whole house is handicapped accessible with the exception of the most important part: the front steps. Wheelchair lifts are responsible for guaranteeing that millions of Americans maintain their freedom and independence and retain the ability to enter and exit their home. Wheelchair lifts are very similar to elevators and are often referred to as vertical platform lifts. The term vertical platform lift is actually a very fitting and descriptive name. Wheelchair lifts are in essence a platform that is raised vertically to allow people who cannot climb stairs, or those in wheelchairs, to easily go up and down the stairs. The lift travels the distance from the ground to the top of the stairs vertically at a slow and steady pace. Wheelchair lifts are capable of lifting over 500 pounds distances of 12 feet or more. 12 feet is actually pretty high for a normal home residence and usually lifts of this distance are found commercially in places such as schools and churches. Many commercial operations will purchase portable units that can be moved without disassembly. http://advice-and.info/Home-and-Family/82406_Wheelchair_Lifts_Opening_New_Doors.html Sat, 22 Mar 2008 15:57:18 GMT How fast can you walk? Run? Or climb the stairs? If without a second thought you can say Faster than you you would probably think that those are trick questions. But for those who find these rather simple tasks very strenuous and challenging to do, such questions can be arresting for them. The physically challenged, as well as the aged individuals, who spend most of their time in their wheelchairs, have limited mobility. Consequently, their independence are also lesser than what they had when they were not yet confined in their wheelchairs. These people can greatly benefit from special transportation equipment, such as elevators, ramps, and vertical wheelchair lifts. http://advice-and.info/Home-and-Family/81168_The_Benefits_Of_Vertical_Wheelchair_Lift.html Sun, 09 Mar 2008 03:44:54 GMT The mobility scooter and the wheelchair are two of the useful medical inventions that are of enormous help to both the handicapped and the elderly. A tandem innovation for these medical equipment is the lift, which can easily bring up electric powered mobility devices (mobility scooter and wheelchairs) on a vehicles floor. A mobility scooter or wheelchair lift can be dismantled and can be easily stored, making it good paraphernalia for enabling a weak or disabled individual a ride into an automobile and at the same time allowing the scooter or wheelchair to be transported inside a vehicle. http://advice-and.info/Home-and-Family/80158_Mobility_Scooter_And_Wheelchair_Lifts_For_Your_Vehicles.html Sun, 02 Mar 2008 09:05:20 GMT It is a sad reality that people do not appreciate what they have, and only realize its worth when they lost it. The same goes with our mobility and independence. We, able bodied individuals, perform our daily activities without having to struggle or exert too much effort. Lucky for us, I guess. But for those with limited mobility and freedom, like the elderly and the physically challenged, each activity, even the simplest one, can mean a very big challenge or struggle for them to face. For those who are confined in the seats of their wheelchairs, climbing the stairs is definitely out of the picture. So, how do they transfer up and down to different floor levels? http://advice-and.info/Home-and-Family/78669_Vertical_Wheelchair_Lifts.html Fri, 07 Mar 2008 07:02:22 GMT There is no exact formula in selecting the best wheelchair lift for your van. It will depend on various factors. Even before going to the dealer or searching the Internet for your list, you can prepare some notes to review to ease up the searching process. Read on the following important things you may want to consider before paying for your brand new wheelchair lift. It does not necessarily guarantee that you will find the best wheelchair lift for your van on the market, though it can help you in finding and selecting the best wheelchair lift according to your needs and specifications. Lift FeaturesWhat to look for a wheelchair lift will mainly depend on who is expected to use it and how often. The features and functionalities vary from one manufacturer to another. Some basic features you may find useful include the dimension of the platform, sensor for preventing the platform from rising if not positioned appropriately, hand-held control devices and buttons for wheelchair users, or warnings and alerts to indicate unsafe conditions. It is not necessary that you should have all these and other features on your lift. Choose only which you think will be very useful and helpful over a long period of time. http://advice-and.info/Home-and-Family/75104_Choosing_A_Wheelchair_Lift_For_Your_Van.html Wed, 23 Jan 2008 05:19:36 GMT For those people who are immobilized for some reason or another getting around is an arduous task. Many of us do not realize how precious it is to freely roam, walk, run, climb stairs and be able to have access to various parts of our home. Things can be a bit more difficult if you are confined in a wheel chair. Sure you can move around even if you are restrained in a wheel chair, but your mobility is limited, most especially if you live in a house with stairs or other high areas that are inaccessible to wheelchairs. And if you have to climb up and down stairs you have to rely on others to lift you. A wheelchair lift is an equipment that makes life for people with disabilities, more comfortable. It is becoming a popular choice for homes where a wheelchair is being used by a family member. A wheelchair lift increases a handicapped individuals mobility, giving him freedom to move freely. Having a chair lift at home would give a person more independence and provide him the chance to go about with personal task freely. The independence of having access to upper floors or any elevated area at home where there are no ramps is now possible with the use of wheelchair lifts. http://advice-and.info/Home-and-Family/74213_Buying_A_Wheelchair_Lift_For_The_Home.html Wed, 23 Jan 2008 05:21:48 GMT Buying a lift for your wheelchair, whether it be for your home or your vehicle, is an important decision. The most important aspect of purchasing a wheelchair lift is safety. While there are many styles and models available, there are also many pricing ranges. Among the least expensive of all wheelchair lifts are used lifts that are being sold, either because the current owner has upgraded to another model, or simply because they do not need the lift any longer. Used items are very popular, but when choosing a wheelchair lift, a used model may not always be the safest and best.Consider first that with a used wheelchair lift you are not getting a warranty. Most manufacturers offer warranties of up to five years on new models, and with a used model, you will not have the assurance of a warranty to help you in case the lift stops working properly. Replacing parts on a wheelchair lift can be very expensive. In fact, if you are forced to replace an electronic motor, you will probably find that a new lift is even less expensive than the motor replacement itself. Purchasing parts are not the only expense that you may face if you opt to buy a used wheelchair lift. Considering that most people do not know how to repair wheelchair lifts, then you will probably need a repair person to install the new part. These fees alone can be outrageous. With the purchase price of the new part, and the fees to have someone install it for you, you will likely be better off, and save http://advice-and.info/Home-and-Family/74210_Buying_A_Used_Wheelchair_Lift_Is_It_Safe.html Wed, 23 Jan 2008 08:03:06 GMT A wheelchair lift can be a tremendous help to those who suffer from disabilities and limited mobility. For those who are confined to a wheelchair, whether it be full-time or part-time, having a home wheelchair lift can allow them to move from one level of a home to another more easily than using ramps, or give them an easier way to reach the ground level of a home from the yard in homes such as split-levels. A wheelchair lift can make it much easier on those with disabilities, as well as those who care for them, to regain their independence, and carry out their daily activities. Choosing the right home wheelchair lift involves making a major decision, but is one that can be determined very easily if you know exactly what you need. Knowing the specific features and requirements that will benefit you most will help in the decision making process. You should determine the size and weight specifications of the lift that you need. Something else to keep in mind is the material that the lift will be made of. Home wheelchair lifts come in a wide variety of styles, including manufacturing materials. If the person using the wheelchair lift has allergies or sensitive skin, then be sure to choose a wheelchair lift that is made from a material that will not aggravate their condition. Also be sure to plan for the convenience of the lift. Home wheelchair lifts also come in a variety of operations, meaning that they can be automatic or manually operated. Be sure to consider the pros and cons of both types, and determine what your individual needs are, regarding the power of your lift. If you ch http://advice-and.info/Home-and-Family/70731_Buying_A_Home_Wheelchair_Lift.html Fri, 07 Dec 2007 13:47:40 GMT A wheelchair lift is a mechanical devise that is used to lift wheelchairs. There are so many different types of wheelchair lifts in the market today. These allow easy mobility at home and outside of the home. Wheelchair lifts are mainly of two types, for use at home and for use when traveling, to be used for cars and vans. http://advice-and.info/Home-and-Family/67725_Wheelchair_Lifts_For_The_Home.html Sat, 10 Nov 2007 18:48:51 GMT Wheelchair lifts are devices designed to provide those in wheelchairs, or people with problems with mobility, with a way of moving from one level in their homes to another. They are not traditional enclosed elevators. They are open and also lift wheelchairs into vans or cars for easy transport. Wheelchair lifts may be used for various reasons. One reason could be that you may have just begun using a wheelchair and your home has a flight of stairs. Investing in a chair lift makes it easier for you to be independent. The fear of losing their independence is what bothers most people. http://advice-and.info/Home-and-Family/67669_Wheelchair_Lifts_And_Their_Uses.html Sun, 11 Nov 2007 10:15:41 GMT If you are someone that uses a wheelchair or someone that knows another who uses one, you will have often realized that the difficulties of climbing stairs or other such rises become extremely difficult. This is no longer the case though; as scientists and mechanists have worked together to eventually create the wheelchair lift. The wheelchair lift is an ingenious idea which makes it easier not just for those for wheelchairs, but also for those helping to transport them. In the past, things were difficult and wheelchair users may have found it near impossible due to their disability; now they can enjoy things just as much as a fully fit person. Wheelchair lifts make it easier for a lot of reasons; in the past, a disabled person would have to get up and be helped up the stairs; now he or she can sit comfortably in his wheelchair while the lift does the job. There are two types of lifts, and both of them solve different needs. Hydraulic lifts are generally meant to be smooth, with less problems in power outages however this comes at a cost; they are more expensive than the usual electric wheelchair lifts. As for electric wheelchair lifts they are often a lot cheaper than ones that run on hydraulics, however they can face problems if electricity is removed for any reason unless a spare battery is enabled. http://advice-and.info/Home-and-Family/67485_About_Wheelchair_Lifts.html Fri, 09 Nov 2007 22:57:36 GMT If you have limited mobility, or if you are caring for someone with limited mobility, then perhaps a wheelchair lift would be a benefit. Wheelchair lifts are ideal for people who need to reach higher areas, for instance in a two-story home. Wheelchair lifts come in different types for different uses. The two most commonly used types are the stair wheelchair lift and the van or automobile wheelchair lift. The stair wheelchair lift is used in the home to transport the user to a higher floor. They aid in the climbing of stairs by transporting the user and the wheelchair up and down the stairs. Stair lifts are also used in this aspect, however, stair lifts do not allow for the wheelchair to be moved. Wheelchair lifts are more suited for people constrained to a wheelchair because they allow the user to move up and down the stairs without help, and do not require that the user be removed from the wheelchair. http://advice-and.info/Home-and-Family/65191_Wheelchair_Lifts.html Wed, 24 Oct 2007 09:24:21 GMT