The Many Varieties Of An Electric Wheelchair Lift

Not many people take note of the electric wheelchair lift industry, because it simply doesn't concern them, or so it seems. It is of course good to be conscious of wheelchairs, or more specifically the people who use them.

Looking For An Electric Wheelchair Lift

If you have been searching for an electric wheelchair lift, you should know by now that there are many different options that you'll have to choose between. Your options will take you across a wide range of different intended usages, while also taking you across a wide range of brand names, functions, features and even prices.

Things To Consider When Looking At These Lifts

There are quite a few electric wheelchair lift brands and types available out there, catering to different needs and preferences. For me though, it's an industry driven by need; it does seem like an industry that's only as good as the demand - and you'd hope that that demand doesn't increase - though how exactly is that different from any other industry? The thing is, the electric wheelchair lift is not something that all those who need it can afford. Nevertheless, for those who can, there are several types to consider

The Use Of An Electric Wheelchair Lift

First, the most common usage for a wheelchair lift today is probably for a car. It can be hard to get a heavy wheel chair in and out of a vehicle. However, an electric lift can easily pick it up and place it into the trunk of your car.

There are many different designs and specifications that will fit a wide range of vehicles:

  • Smaller vehicles
  • Midsize or commercial van
  • Pickup truck

An Electric Wheelchair Lift In And Around Your Home

  • Home accessibility lifts (for staircases, scooter/wheelchair platform lifts and bathroom lifts - like the Aquajoy from Harmer)

Many people today are also now outfitting their homes with an electric lift. This opens up the entire home to the person in the wheelchair, making it easy for them to get anywhere and really live a fulfilling, complete lifestyle. There are both vertical and incline stair lifts, designed to take a wheelchair from one floor to the next without hassle. You can also place models outdoors to help with exiting and entering the house and other areas of the property.

Used Wheelchair Lift

Today, many people are opting for a used wheelchair lift, because it can save them so much money.

  • A smart consumer should always be wary of a used purchase for the fact that it could be damaged or ineffective. Thus you should always make sure that you check the quality immediately before buying.

  • The vast majority of pre-owned electric lifts on the market today are of a very high quality, and should allow you to be largely worry free. Some of these lifts might even be brand new, but cannot be sold second-hand with a price discount.

  • Another cost consideration is the brand name you end up going with. Most people go for the more popular brands, just to end up paying more than they bargained for.

There are many popular and widely respected brands, and the big brands may cost more, but the quality usually is well worth the cost. Most people make the mistake of just looking at the brand and not at the features that they actually need. Thus, in the end, it results in a very poor review and an unhappy customer.

Lifts For Vehicles

These lifts work for basically any SUV, minivan or full size van. It is the perfect way for easy transport of wheelchairs and is very easy to use. There are two different types of wheelchair lifts that you can add your vehicle.

The Interior Wheelchair Lift

  • The inside vehicle mobility lift - or (IO), inside out lift (mounted to the inside of your vehicle and lifts in very much the same fashion of a crane).

These lift an unoccupied wheelchair from the ground and into the minivan or SUV. Some of these lifts can be attached at the rear end of the vehicle or at the side door of the vehicle.

The Exterior Wheelchair Lift

  • The outside vehicle mobility lift (also crane type, mounted to the outside on the tow-bar/hitch; preferred for vehicles with rear door access)

These lifts can be attached to the rear of the vehicle and is at all times visible. It lifts the wheelchair from the ground onto the back of, for example, a pickup truck.

Electric Wheelchair Lifts For Pools and Spa's

What continues to surprise many people is that there are now many varieties of the electric wheelchair lift designed for the pool or spa!

  • These are made so that people with disabilities or in a wheelchair can get in and out a pool without any added hassles.

  • They can use the lift either just to enjoy the outdoors or to make use of water and spa therapies designed to offer many different benefits.

  • It's just another innovation that provides easier access to more people who need to use a wheelchair either temporarily or permanently.

There is no end to the variety that you can find today with an electric wheelchair lift. You can get one for the inside of your home to help provide access to all areas of your house and property. You can get one for your vehicle to help make transportation that much easier and you can even get one for aquatic uses. Whatever you're going for, consider buying used to help save yourself your hard earned money.

One can already see the variety of applications where electric wheelchair lifts will come in handy. For those wondering, yes the products are largely universal to accommodate both the make of vehicle and the make/type of wheelchair.

The Manufacturers

One thing you can say about this industry is that since money is not the motivation, helping those in need certainly is - it's the single purpose behind there even being an industry in the first place. Still, companies are constantly searching for ways to improve products; one lift maker has even gone so far as to make lifts with flag decals on their product, to go with their patriotic company name - though that's purely aesthetic.

Makers of electric wheelchair lifts are:

  • Harmer
  • Lift 'n go
  • Summit
  • Veteran/Patriotic
  • Prairie View Industries (PVI)
  • Handy Lift
  • Mobile-Lift
  • Pride Mobility
  • Bruno
  • Autochair
  • EZ Access
  • Zippie wheelchairs

Those are just a few of them; there's a veritable A to Z of electric wheelchair lift manufacturers out there. There are also a number of websites you could seek for help in selecting a suitable brand. Sites like homehealthpavillion.com and discountramps.com are not only helpful in presenting a diverse selecting, but in the latter's case they even present product reviews with a basic pro and con list to aid you in making the discerning choice.

So, as you can see, if you've never given it much thought, there's plenty of choice - what used to be a rare thing is fast becoming the norm as the electric wheelchair lift becomes more accessible, and user-friendly.