For many people, living life with a wheelchair isn’t
ideal and often makes getting around the house and public areas challenging.
Not all buildings and public spaces are equipped to accommodate wheelchair
users and it can be frustrating and, not to mention more dangerous to get
around without the help of equipment such as stairlifts.
With around 1.2 million wheelchair users in the UK, the demand for wheelchair
lifts is increasing.
Although there is little that an individual can do to
change the number of stairlifts and disabled facilities provided in local
areas, the home is somewhere where you can fully accommodate your needs.
In this blog, we’ll give you reasons why a wheelchair
stairlift is important in the home.
Mobility solution
Wheelchair stairlifts provide people with disabilities
or mobility issues an opportunity to get around without the help of another
person. This means that you can carry yourself and other equipment around your
home independently.
Independence
The inability to move around yourself can be
frustrating and inconvenient, particularly if you have to rely on someone else
to help you.
With a wheelchair lift, you can gain your independence back around your home as
it allows you to safely travel between floors without the help of another
person. This means there is less reliance on another for continual help, which
gives your family or carer peace of mind.
Furthermore, if you are someone that pays for the help
of a caregiver regularly, it reduces the need for this person, meaning you
don’t need to rely on someone to come into the house to help you upstairs.
Safety
Wheelchair lifts and
stairlifts in the home are a safe way to travel between floors without
slipping. They give people who have mobility issues confidence to independently
get around the house without the risk of falling or slipping.
With a wheelchair stair lift, there’s no need to remove yourself from the
wheelchair before you enter the lift, so there’s much less of a chance of
injury. Simply wheel yourself onto the lift and select the floor that you need.
Interior and Exterior usage
The benefit of wheelchair stairlifts is that you
can get them installed into the interior or exterior of your home, depending on
your needs. For example, you might already have a stairlift installed in your
home for when you don’t use your wheelchair, but you may find getting up the
steps to your house more challenging. An outdoor stairlift gives you the
freedom to use assistance as and when you need it, so you can get to and from
the entrance of your property without the help of another person.
Outdoor stairlifts are also made from waterproof or water-resistant materials
so that they can be used outside without getting damaged.
Practicality
Wheelchair
stairlifts are not only useful for those with mobility issues, but they’re also
very practical. You can travel up and down floors of your house that otherwise
might be very challenging to climb with a staircase.
Save money
Some people that have
trouble with their mobility might consider living in assisted accommodation
because they can’t find practical solutions to becoming more independent in the
house without the help of another person.
Wheelchair stairlifts are amongst the number of other disability products that
can aid in helping a person become more independent in a safe way.
When you compare the cost of assisted living, or in fact, moving to a new home
such as a bungalow, to that of investing in products such as a wheelchair
stairlift, you can see the benefits of the later.
If you’re thinking about moving house, purchasing a wheelchair lift can save
you a lot of money when compared to the cost of an estate agent, stamp duty and
solicitor fees that all come with moving home.
Time Saving
Transporting
yourself from floor to floor can be time-consuming if you have a disability
that makes it difficult. You may find that it takes several minutes to climb a
set of stairs or without the help of others, particularly in a wheelchair which
is heavy to transport up and down staircases.
With the help of wheelchair stairlifts, you can transition between floors a lot
quicker. Although wheelchair stairlifts are usually bigger than their stairlift
counterparts, it doesn’t necessarily mean that they are any slower.
Wheelchair stairlifts installed in a home allow you to get around multi-floored
properties, giving you the freedom you deserve in your own property.
Efficient
Wheelchair
stairlifts are designed to be efficient. Wheelchair stairlifts are equipped to
carry large weights, without compromising on safety or speed. This means that
you can carry things on the lift with you.
Add value to a home
In some
cases, the installation of a lift can add value to a person’s home. Wheelchair
users with specific requirements will look for houses that can accommodate
their needs. If you’re looking to sell your home in the future but need to
install a lift to accommodate to your needs, you can see it as a worthwhile
investment because some house-buyers will see it as a compelling selling point.
What kind of wheelchair lifts are on the
market?
Platform lifts
Platform lifts are those which transport a wheelchair vertically
between the floors of a building. These are enclosed lifts which you might
commonly find in public areas such as hospitals or hotels. The way a platform
lift works is that the platform itself transports within its own structure.
There are various types of platform lifts available which can be adapted to
suit your home. For example, inclined wheelchair platform stairlifts which are
those that can be adapted to fit a
curved staircase.
Vertical platform lifts are those which sit beside a staircase and function in
the same way as a commercial lift. The main differences between platform lifts
and conventional lifts are that a platform lift is designed to customise to the
needs of a wheelchair user. They typically travel at a slower rate and shorter
distances compared to traditional commercial lifts.
Through the floor lifts
Through the
floor lifts are those which are commonly installed in domestic homes. Nowadays,
many companies will install through the floor lifts without any significant
changes to your home such as remodelling or structural changes. This means that
you can have a lift installed that suits your needs. For example, get your lift
installed next to your staircase or up from the bottom floor to your bedroom.
Step Lift
Step lifts are the
ideal solution for wheelchair users who have a few steps outside their home.
This type of lift allows a wheelchair user independent access to their
property, without requiring the help of another person to push their chair up a
ramp.
ADL Lift Services: Supplying, installing and
maintaining lifts throughout the UK
At ADL Lift Services, we supply, install and
maintain lifts to our UK customers. As one of the leading lift companies in
Scotland, you can trust us to supply a
quality service. Our solution-focused team are focused on delivering a bespoke
service and offering maintenance and service agreements that you will love.
Do you need a disabled access lift installed in your Scotland based home or
commercial property? We can make sure that you have the right stairlift to suit
your needs. Whether that is installing your inclined platform lift or an
overhead hoist.
Get in touch today
to see how we
can help.
