Getting up and down the stairs in your home is never much fun when you're fit and able to do it without any assistance. But those stairs take on a whole new meaning when you are a person with disabilities and if you are a wheelchair user, then they might as well be as vertical cliff for all the use they are to you.

Stair lifts are wonderful for people with limited mobility and disabilities that may prevent them from climbing stairs unaided. But what about if you really need a wheelchair all of the time to get around?

A modification of the standard home stair lifts has produced the wheelchair stair lift, which enables wheelchair users to stay in their wheelchair and ride up and down teh stairs in safety and comfort with the minimum of fuss and effort.

What is a Wheelchair Stair Lift?

A wheelchair stair lift is a device that allows a wheelchair user to ride up or down a flight of stairs unaided. It incorporates a platform that enables a wheelchair to be wheeled straight on, then locked in place to prevent it moving. The user then rides up or down the stairs, then wheels smoothly off the platform to go about their business.

The user remains seated in the wheelchair during the ride up or down and the unit is driven by an electric motor. It runs along a track or ramp fitted to the stair risers themselves. The most useful feature of a wheelchair stair lift is that the installation in now way interferes with the stairs and their normal use by other people and there is no need for any major reconstruction, with the installation being pretty affordable by most folks.

The wheelchair stair lift is a safe and reliable mechanism when obtained from a reputable manufacturer and fitted by trained personnel. For people who suffer from dizziness or vertigo problem the majority of stair lift systems are built with a mechanism that turns the chair platform sideways or even right around. These systems are generally fitted with electronic monitoring devices that can warn the user if any potential problems arise. This is handy for providing a timely warning when preventive maintenance is required.

Types of Wheelchair Stair Lift

There are several different types of wheelchair stair lifts which are differentiated between according to mechanisms that drive them. Thus we can divide the types of wheelchair stair lift as follows:

Rack-Pinion: These are currently the most popular kind of wheelchair stair lift. They are meant for light duty lifting and are very quiet during operation, which is perfect for quiet areas such as hospitals and libraries

Cable Hauled: These stair lifts employ a cable to haul the wheelchair and its occupant up and down the stairs. These system are probably the quietest, although they are known to jerk on takeoff and landing which can make them a little uncomfortable

Screw-Driven: These stair lifts are literally driven by a set of screws, although they're not very popular for use by individuals

Running Chains: These stair lifts are driven by running chains. To activate them, pressure with the thumb on the chair starts the lift which hauls the wheelchair either up or down the stairs. These are the least quiet of all the wheelchair stair lifts

Mains Powered: These electric stair lifts are less popular as their reliability and safety is questionable

A wheelchair stair lift is a great option for elderly people and those with limited mobility or physical disabilities. It makes the task of commuting within multi-story buildings much easier and more dignified. They are also able to be installed in buildings where the law prevents any invasive construction or remodeling work, such as historic or heritage buildings.