Facing this kind of condition and situation will leave those people to feel and assume that they had already lost their freedom and vigor to live. It could result in becoming frustrated, and eventually they will lose their confidence and trust with his or her capabilities, which can lead to misery and hopelessness. The thought of gaining that independance back by using a wheelchair lift often puts some joy back into their lives.

A wheelchair lift that is for your home has the immense probabilities of coming in a wide array of different styles, features, colors, and of course functions. With that wide selection of choices at hand, it is important for knowing how you can choose the right one for you.There are a few things you will need to consider when you are buying a wheelchair lift.

As much as possible put in your mind the soon-to-be user of the wheelchair lift. If you are buying one for another person, you have to try your best to think about his or her wants and needs. You have to choose the best ideal model that will fit him or her like a glove. After that, try your best to examine the materials that had been used in manufacturing the wheelchair lift. And then, make an effort of remembering if the person whom you are buying the wheelchair lift for has any other restrictions and keep in mind their comfort.

You also have to consider if the model that you are buying can provide the very best convenience, there is, may it be a battery operated model, or an automatic one.

Always check for the fair warranty of the model that you are thinking of.

In need of a wheelchair lift?  Check out Universal-Accessibility and their Expert Advice Corner.

There are many conditions that can prohibit someone from safely using the stairs, but of these conditions arthritis is one of the more common. Arthritis causes joint inflammation and can make it painful to bend the knees. Often, the joints also become much stiffer, so a fall is much more likely. There are many other mobility related conditions that can make using the stairs hard or painful.

The reason that stair lifts are so popular is in part because they can often be installed onto the staircase, without requiring any major modification to the home. This is true of most straight staircases; however a curved staircase will require a special, much more expensive, stair lift. For all other staircases though, a stair lift is an affordable way to allow safe access to the home.

Most people choose to use a sitting stair lift, which is often referred to as a stair chair. The advantage to this type of lift is that the occupant remains seated as the lift carries them up the staircase. This is much safer, because it does not require much balance and many even include seat belts, to help improve safety.

The other type of stair lift is called a perch lift and provides a small area that the occupant can stand on. They will then be carried up the staircase in a standing position, so a much higher degree of balance is required. As a result of the increased risk associated with a perch lift, stair chairs are almost always used, unless a standing lift is required out of medical necessity.

Installation is also rather easy.  Often for a straight staircase, the stair chair can be installed by the homeowner. Most require only standard household tools and take a few hours to be completely installed. Of course, most distributors also offer a professional install service.

So if you’re looking for a way to reduce falls in the home a stair lift, definitely is an option to look into.

On a dark, stormy night where you lose power in your home and may need to leave for safety or security reasons, or just need to go downstairs and check a fuse box, it’s important that you be able to do those things safely if you are mobility-impaired. Now battery-powered stair lifts have a benefit that electric-powered stair lifts don’t: in the event of a power outage, the lift will still function so long as the battery carries a charge. Most battery-powered stair lifts are equipped with rechargeable batteries, and the unit draws power from a charge station on the rail track. Some battery-operated models even constantly draw a charge no matter where they are on the track, so you don’t need to remember to return the lift to the proper rail point every time you use it.

If you have a particularly large staircase in your home, or if you are concerned that a regular stair lift model will not support your weight, you may want to consider buying a heavy duty lift. Most heavy duty lifts will support up to 500 lbs. of weight, but they also require a wide stairway to function – typically above three feet in width.

If you need to install a stair lift but don’t want to pay full price for a factory-new unit, be aware that many companies offer refurbished models for a reduced price. Safety standards on refurbished models are quite strict, and if you buy from a reputable dealer, the unit will serve you just as well as a new one. The downside of buying a used stair lift is that most refurbished models carry a limited warranty, so be ready for this if you purchase one.

As with any large home improvement investment, be smart when purchasing your stair lift. Measure your stairs and check the weight limits on the model you’re considering to make sure it suits your needs. Check to see what your warranty covers, and for how long – particularly the unit’s drive train. And as always, consult your financial advisor before agreeing to any financing arrangement to make sure you’re receiving an equitable interest rate on the loan. Following these precautions will ensure that you will be satisfied with your purchase, and will maximize your safety when you use the device.

For more Stair Lift information, visit AmeriGlide a top stair lift provider in the US at AmeriGlide.com.

The first known image of a wheelchair was carved into a stone in the 6th century and King Philip II, who was the King of Spain during the 16th century, used a very elaborate wheelchair that had both armrests and leg rests. In the 18th century the first wheelchair similar in design to those available today was developed. It had large front wheels and a single wheel in back. By the 19th and 20th century wheelchairs were constructed of wood and wicker design. A US patent was issued for this design in 1894 and they were used by veterans of the Civil War and the First World War.

The first folding wheelchair was designed in 1932, by two engineers, one of whom was injured in a mining accident. In 1950 the first powered wheelchair was designed. It was designed by an inventor named George Klein and was intended to help veterans of World War II. Unlike the first war, many of the individuals who suffered spinal cord injuries had survived World War II, which created an influx of disabled veterans. During this time there were some advances in manual wheelchair technology, but many quadriplegic individuals were still unable to use manual wheelchairs without assistance. Klein, backed by the Canadian government and many other scientists, spearheaded the development of a motorized wheelchair. Many soldiers and veterans played a part in the devices creation and its design was billed as one of the first times that rehabilitation engineering had occurred.

After the invention of the motorized wheelchair, many more advancements were made. Manual wheelchairs became much lighter and maneuverable. Many athletes who were mobility challenged pushed for more athletic models and there were many advances in the technology that was behind the motorized wheelchair.

Mobility scooters were first introduced in the late 1960′s and by the early 1970′s they had become a very popular alternative to the powered wheelchair. Mobility scooters are more intended for people who are able to walk for short distance, but find it painful to do so over extended periods of time. A mobility scooter can not be pulled up to a table or desk as easily as a wheelchair.

Modern mobility devices are very advanced, are electric powered, and feature rechargeable batteries. The specific range of these devices can vary, but some are able to travel over 40 miles per charge. There have also been many advances in non-motorized devices. The walker is a non-motorized mobility device that has been used in some shape or form as long as the wheelchair. Modern walkers often feature front wheels and are called rolling walkers or rollators. These types of devices are great because you can push the walker instead of having to lift it. They feature hand brakes and also double as a chair.

As is usually the case, people have greatly improved upon the designs of early mobility devices. We not not only have newer mobility scooters and wheelchairs, but we now have power wheelchairs, stair lifts, vertical platform lifts and much more.  The models and types available today are some of the most reliable and dependable available and will provide many years of dependable service.

Drive Type:
There are four different kinds of drives for stair lifts, which are currently available for purchase by consumers. These include:

• Cable: These kinds of drives utilize strong cables made of steel. Such cables are often used in elevators to advance       passengers. Compared to many others, these are stronger, safer and cheaper and hence represent good value for       money.
• Worm drive: This is a new sort of drive, which provides a quieter, smoother and fluid machine. It resembles a massive screw, which rotates over the teeth.
• Chain: Such drives are typically reserved for the heavy weightage capacity, commonly used for industrial purposes.
• Rack Pinion: These kinds of drives operate based on a gear and tooth system. It encompasses a round shaped gear, which rides along the track teeth. These days, a majority of the stair lifts operate based on such rack pinion drives. However, the newer worm drive is very promising and might change the way stair lifts operate.
• Track Or Rail
• In such stair lifts, the track is fixed to the stairs. Most of the manufacturers tend to use metal or aluminum but the preference leans towards aluminum. This is because aluminum is light as well as durable. The rails are made up of a hard grade of plastic of lightweight and high durability. The rails mainly comprise hard lightweight, durable plastic or an aluminum variety, which helps to attach the footplates onto the stairs.

Power:
The choice of power can be either FC, AC or DC. The AC model will be able to operate from the current household current and can easily be plugged into a grounded outlet. The DC model is usually found on stair lifts, which operate on batteries. The advantage about DC stair lifts is that they continue to operate even in power outages but the drawback is that once the batteries are out, they need replacement. Most people tend to prefer the AC versions of the stair lifts because of the functionality.

Swivel Seat:
The swivel seat is used to help the stair lift rotate as well as lock into its place to help users get into and off the seat away from stairs. This is one of the safest options around.

Types Of Swivel Seats:
There are two kinds of swivel seats namely:

• Automatic: These styles perform all the work for the user as the user merely needs to hold the switch up and the seat turns as well as locks into place.
• Manual: Such swivel seats need the user to hold down the lever and rotate the seating themselves.

– Diagnostics –
The more modern stair lifts have diagnostics for system on board. These comprise blinking lights, alphanumeric coding or numbers. It is convenient because the user can contact the company and for any issue resolution, the company provides the next steps.

Need a Stair Lift part? Request one of a thousand parts available at USMedicalSupplies.com at their part store.

To help disabled people maintain as much independence as possible, there are chairs that assist people in standing up, walking aids, and extended graspers that allow access to things that might otherwise be out of reach. Another very valuable aid to independence is a stair lift, which can allow a disabled person to remain in a house with a staircase and make things easier on other members of the household who would otherwise have to engage in serious physical demands to help the person up the stairs.

Generally speaking, stair lifts run on a track that is fitted directly to the stair treads. A motor pulls the stair lift chair along the tracks. Installation of a stair lift requires a couple of hours for a straight stair case, or somewhat longer for curved stair cases. When not in use, the stair-lift remains parked at the top or bottom of the staircase. Many stair lifts come with a foot rest, and some come with safety belts and controls for speed and direction. Most of them fold up flat against the wall, leaving the staircase usable to everyone else. A staircase generally needs to be 24 inches wide or wider to accommodate a stair lift system.

Some version of stair lifts have a chair mounted onto a belt housed along the rail. It moves a chair up or down the stairs in a “conveyor belt” manner. Still other versions have a rack and pinion system. In this design, the chair is mounted to a pinion that has several teeth. The pinion rolls along the rack, which interconnects with the pinion teeth like a gear, providing secure transport along the rail.

While many stair lift systems are wired directly into the home electrical system, some are battery powered, and some are AC powered with DC back-up capability. DC powered stair lifts will automatically charge when the system isn’t in use, meaning it will work during a power cut.

Weight capacity varies from model to model, but most can carry a maximum of 120 kg, or around 270 lbs., although there are systems designed for people larger than that. While stair lifts are expensive, they are certainly less expensive than assisted living facilities. In the U.S. Medicare does not cover the installation of stair lifts. In some states, Medicaid will pay for part of a stair lift if it is prescribed by a doctor and purchased through an approved dealer. Grants, loans, and dealer financing are some of the ways people pay for the installation of stair lifts.

People who are elderly or disabled can maintain much more independence of daily living if they have basic assistance from devices like stair lifts and lift chairs. While such aids to everyday living can be expensive, for an elderly or disabled person who relishes their independence, they can be a priceless investment.

DRIVE TYPE
There are four different kinds of drives for stair lifts, which are currently available for purchase by consumers. These include:
- Cable: These kinds of drives utilize strong cables made of steel. Such cables are often used in elevators to advance passengers. Compared to many others, these are stronger, safer and cheaper and hence represent good value for money.
- Worm drive: This is a new sort of drive, which provides a quieter, smoother and fluid machine. It resembles a massive screw, which rotates over the teeth.
- Chain: Such drives are typically reserved for the heavy weightage capacity, commonly used for industrial purposes.
- Rack Pinion: These kinds of drives operate based on a gear and tooth system. It encompasses a round shaped gear, which rides along the track teeth. These days, a majority of the stair lifts operate based on such rack pinion drives. However, the newer worm drive is very promising and might change the way stair lifts operate.

TRACK OR RAIL
In such stair lifts, the track is fixed to the stairs. Most of the manufacturers tend to use metal or aluminum but the preference leans towards aluminum. This is because aluminum is light as well as durable. The rails are made up of a hard grade of plastic of lightweight and high durability. The rails mainly comprise hard lightweight, durable plastic or an aluminum variety, which helps to attach the footplates onto the stairs.

POWER
The choice of power can be either FC, AC or DC. The AC model will be able to operate from the current household current and can easily be plugged into a grounded outlet. The DC model is usually found on stair lifts, which operate on batteries. The advantage about DC stair lifts is that they continue to operate even in power outages but the drawback is that once the batteries are out, they need replacement. Most people tend to prefer the AC versions of the stair lifts because of the functionality.

SWIVEL SEAT
The swivel seat is used to help the stair lift rotate as well as lock into its place to help users get into and off the seat away from stairs. This is one of the safest options around.

TYPES OF SWIVEL SEATS
There are two kinds of swivel seats namely:
- Automatic: These styles perform all the work for the user as the user merely needs to hold the switch up and the seat turns as well as locks into place.
- Manual: Such swivel seats need the user to hold down the lever and rotate the seating themselves.

DIAGNOSTICS
The more modern stair lifts have diagnostics for system on board. These comprise blinking lights, alphanumeric coding or numbers. It is convenient because the user can contact the company and for any issue resolution, the company provides the next steps.

For more information on Stair Lifts and the parts that they carry check out AmeriGlide.com’s part’s page.

Properly maintained, a stair lift can last up to 20 years, but like any durable household item, stair lifts require proper maintenance to keep them running in top form. There are some types of maintenance you can do yourself, and some things that only qualified professionals should attempt. Here are some of the main tasks involved in the care and maintenance of a stair lift system.

Make sure you have a copy of the manufacturer’s warranty so that you can quickly see if any needed repairs are covered under it. Most manufacturers of stair lifts recommend a once a year routine annual tune-up service for indoor units. For outdoor units, twice a year check-ups are recommended. Yearly maintenance should include cleaning, lubrication, testing all safety apparatus, checking the state of the batteries and mechanical parts. A thorough maintenance inspection should take about one hour to complete.

If your stair lift is not working properly, when troubleshooting, first check whether you or someone else may have left it unplugged, or if the battery could have run down.

There are several things you can do before calling in a maintenance technician:

• Make sure that the chair is swiveled fully into its “travel” position, which is normally with the back of the chair to the wall.

• Ensure that the battery charger is plugged in. If the batteries are completely discharged, the stair lift could take up to 14 hours to recharge fully.

• Check that all switches are in the “on” position. These switches include the on/off switch on the armrest, the key lock on the arm of the chair, and the battery isolation switch which is usually located on the back of the carriage (the part below the seat that contains the motor). On a curved stair lift, the battery-isolation switch is in front just below the seat cushion.

• Make sure that no safety sensors around the foot rest or the sides of the carriage are pressed in. Tap them each to check if they are moving freely. If you have tried all these things and the lift is still not working, then it’s time to call in a service technician.

After your stairlift is out of warranty, there are service providers that can write up contracts for maintenance and repair of your stair lift that will vary in price depending on how extensive a repair is. Often these service contracts will cover an annual inspection and routine maintenance and cleaning, with repair services costing extra.

Seniors have difficulty using the stairs for many reasons. Many times it is not just one thing, but instead several factors combined that put this age group at higher risk. Diseases such as arthritis can make bending the knee dangerous, when combined with a cognitive disorder like Alzheimer’s, the risk is greatly increased.

The physical health of the senior is not the only factor that increases accidents on the stairs. Often times the actual condition of the staircase can increase the risk of having an accident. A loose carpet, improperly secured handrail, or uneven steps are all things that can make using the stairs much more dangerous to a senior.

One way to address the risk of the stairs is simply to avoid using them, but for many this isn’t really very practical. While possible, not using the upstairs part of your home is not really realistic. Instead, many choose to install a stair lift onto the staircase. This increases safety by carrying a senior or other person, up the stairs. This way, instead of walking up the stairs, the senior can simply sit safely in a chair as they are moved up or down the stairs.

Stair lifts are controlled by a simple switch or hand control that is attached to the chair. A constant pressure switch ensures that if anything happens and the occupant lets go of the switch, the stair lift will stop moving. Usually most stair lifts also come with at least two wireless remotes, which can be mounted at the top and bottom of the stairs to serve as call buttons for the stair lift. These can also be used by caretakers to move the lift.

The weight that a stair lift supports can vary. Most support over three hundred pounds and some support over six hundred pounds. Often the weight of the occupant can affect how long the stair lift can travel, so knowing the occupant’s weight is important. You should also have an idea of how long the staircase is and how wide it is. Before completing the order, you will need much more exact measurements, but simply having a good estimate of the stairs length and width is usually sufficient for determining if a lift will work in your home.

Preventing falls on the stairs is a very important task for seniors and those caring for them. Accidents can happen anywhere, but in the homes the stairs are the most common place of accidents and the most common place to cause serious injury. By installing a stair lift, you can reduce much of the risk of a fall and allow full usage of the home. This eliminates the need of having to hire someone to help or just not using the stairs.

Part of finding out if a Stair Lift is Safe for your home is measuring your stairs for one.  Take a look at USMedicalSupplies.com stair lift measuring guide for more information.

Straight rail stairlifts – The straight rail stair lifts are the most used and commonly found types. These are used mainly for private purposes where there are straight stairs and have a rail or a track that is usually attached to the step of the staircase. The straight rail stair lifts have an easy process to install. Manufacturing these is easy as it does not require much customization. Depending on the model and configurations the prices vary.

Curved rail stairlifts – Curved rail stairlift chairs are more costly than straight rail stair lifts. The reason is they are required to be customized as per the individual needs and requirements of the user. Hence this includes exact measurement and manufacturing of the design chosen by the user. The installation process of such stairlifts is time consuming than the residential stair lifts.

Wheelchair platform stairlifts – This kind of stairlifts are much heavier in weight than the stairlifts used for domestic purposes. These platform stair lifts are used in public places and exterior usage. The platform is usually very large to accommodate a wheelchair with the occupant. The wheelchair platform stair lift also includes folding edges so as to avoid falling off from the chair when moving in various floor levels. These also avoid the wheelchair to roll on the edges of the platform. These are very heavy as the construction needs to be very safe and secured with no room for mistakes. There are also some stair lifts for usage inside the house.

Outdoor Stairlifts – Outdoor Stairlifts are sold with seats, footplates, perches or platforms. This kind of stair lift is available worldwide. This is a kind of indoor stair lift. However the technology supports great weatherproofing advantages for the user.

Pre-owned stairlifts – For some types of stair lifts available there exist a second user market. They are very common straight rail home use kind of stair lifts. These rails can be shortened as well as extended. These models allow the carriage to be re-attached in both sides of the staircase as per the requirement of the user. Previously second hand market was not so much in demand for stair lifts. This was due to matching problems of the rails in various kinds of houses. Even same kind of staircases made with the same design has little modifications which creates a great difficulty to fit these rails.

Recently, with the advancement of technology the stair lifts are designed with such elements that can be unbolted and again used at a different place with the same amount of safety. Hence manufacturing companies are using pre-owned carriages and creates total new system.