Since the title of this week’s blog is a question, we’d like to begin it by asking you a few more important questions. Do you live with a loved one who has a mobility issue? Does he/she require a mobility solution such as a wheelchair, rollator or scooter to get around? Do you have stairs that lead to the front door of your home? Does your loved one have trouble getting up and down those stairs?
If you’ve answered “yes” to the questions above, you should also answer “yes” to the question posed by this week’s blog title. Also known as vertical platform lifts or wheelchair lifts, porch lifts ascend a few feet off the ground to provide people with safe passages past tricky flights of steps. Naturally, those with mobility issues are more susceptible, than the rest of us, to falling and injuring themselves while climbing stairs. A porch lift eliminates that risk.
Porch lifts make ideal solutions for wheelchair users.
It’s important to note that, just because an individual uses a wheelchair, he/she should not be cut off from access to buildings. This is why so many facilities are equipped with ramps. Obviously, these ramps enable wheelchair users to bypass the stairs and easily ascend up to the building entrances. However, wheelchair ramps aren’t practical for the average home.
Not only do they take up too much space, but they’re much more difficult to maintain. Porch lifts are known for their ability to withstand the harshest of weather conditions. They are engineered to weather the storm – literally. Able to contend with both extreme heat and extreme cold, a porch lift can be depended upon all year round to provide those with mobility issues the freedom to be inside or outside with their families.
No major renovations are required.
One of the greatest aspects of porch lift installation is that it won’t change the interior or exterior of your home. No major renovations are required as no structural alterations are necessary. Whether you require a porch lift for indoor or outdoor use, the difference made to your home will be minimal.
A basic porch lift consists of a single, open platform and a drive mechanism that controls the up-and-down movement of the lift. A more complex platform lift can lift up to 144″. It can be installed in a garage, near a front door or a side door. It’s best suited for getting in or out of the house.
Vertical wheelchair lifts aren’t just for the home.
If you’re a business owner or work in a school or community centre, your place of work can also benefit from installing a porch lift.
As Deborah McLean of Maine Senior Guide notes, “some public buildings already have elevators installed, but they still opt to install vertical wheelchair lifts for this special need. Also, many older buildings have cramped areas that do not have spaces to accommodate ramps. That is why they prefer to have vertical platform lifts installed rather than the space consuming ramps.”
For more information about then porch lifts offered by Advantage Home Health Solutions, please don’t hesitate to give us a call at 403-460-5438. You may also email us by filling out the form on our Contact page!
