How To Choose Between An Incline Platform Wheelchair Lift And Other Options

Today, as technology has continued to increase and more companies have sought out ways to make life better for the handicapped and elderly, the incline platform wheelchair lift has become extremely popular. This is one style of a wheelchair lift and there are many others, so it's important to understand how they differ, when they would be most appropriate and ultimately how to make a good decision. Choosing between an incline platform wheelchair lift and other options can seem difficult, however armed with the right knowledge it shouldn’t be difficult.

An Incline Platform Wheelchair Lift

First it's important to understand exactly what an incline platform wheelchair lift is. This is a specific model of lift that is attached to a stairway, as traditional power chair lifts are. However, instead of having a chair on a track, they have a large flat platform. This enables you to easily roll your wheelchair onto the platform without any additional help or assistance from anybody. Now you can easily move between floors in your home, or get in and out of your home as well. It's a fantastic way to improve the accessibility of your home, ensuring you can maneuver around easily and safely.

Vertical Platforms

More people tend to think of wheelchair lifts as vertical devices. Indeed, the straight up and down units are very popular, however they can be used in different ways and in different home setups and arrangements. A vertical platform model will lift you on a platform straight up and down, perhaps adjacent to an existing staircase or in place of one altogether. This is of course different from the incline models mentioned above, where they are placed on the staircase and bring you up and down the length of the staircase itself.

What About Space?

An incline option is going to be a better fit for most people when space is more of a concern. Not everybody has the room in their home to install a large vertical unit on the floor. This can end up being a large obstruction and can be very difficult to maneuver around.

Installation Problems

Many other people simply will find that it's impossible to use a vertical lift. This is because the staircase isn't open, which means you can't seamlessly install a unit at the end of one. Proper installation would require tearing down walls and all kinds of hassles and expensive construction.

The Incline Option

In these situations, the incline option is clearly the better route. You'll be able to make use of an existing staircase instead of worrying about installing something separately. You also won't be taking up any more space, and therefore will maintain both the look and feel of your home as you knew it.

Butler Mobility Inclined Platform Wheelchair Lift

This is perfect for any home where other means of transfer is not possible.

The Controls

The lift has three switches:

  • One on the bottom landing

  • One on the upper landing

  • One on the platform

At a small additional cost, you can have wall mounted controls installed. Each wheelchair lift also has an emergency stop button standard.

Installation and service

  • Butler wheelchair lifts are designed to make installation of the product a lot easier.

  • The rails are to be attached at the top and bottom of the stair with needing to make any modifications to the walls whatsoever.

  • This lift uses standard residential or commercial 110 volt power and the power unit can be located anywhere at the bottom of the stairs.

Battery Operated

In a situation where there might be a power failure, the Butler Mobility Inclined Platfor Wheelchair Lift will not let you down. The battery backup of this lift will enable the lift to be operable for at least twelve to fifteen times. This, of course, all depends on the height, the battery age and the load the lift must carry. So, even when the power is out, it will still be able to aid you all the way.

Safety Features

  • This lifts comes with an automatic folding ramp at the end that lock in place for extra security while being operated.

  • Each wheel chair lift has an emergency stop button standard.

  • Optional key-operated controls provide additional safety and allow for parental control.

  • Slack/broken chain safety

  • Redundant platform safeties

  • Platform safety apron

  • Overspeed governer

  • Upper and lower limit switches

  • Overtravel safety switch

  • Safety clutch

  • There is no need to modify anything for this lift to be installed.

As you can see, the incline platform wheelchair lift is very different from the straight up and down models, even though they all get the same job done. Most people find an incline unit to be easier to work with, because it's less obtrusive in the home and can be installed in more situations. Really though it's all about matching your needs with an available unit that will satisfy what you're looking for.