Alright, let’s talk about these here handicap platform lifts, or whatever them fancy folks call ’em. You know, the things that help folks get up and down when their legs ain’t workin’ so good.
What are these lifts anyway?
Well, they’re kinda like little elevators, but not as big and fancy. They got a platform, you see, where a person can stand or sit in their wheelchair. Then, this platform thingy goes up or down, takin’ the person with it. Simple as that.
- They call ’em platform lifts, or sometimes wheelchair lifts, or even accessibility lifts. Too many names if you ask me.
- They help folks get to different floors in a building, just like them regular elevators.
- They’re good for people who can’t use stairs so well, you know, like folks in wheelchairs or maybe with bad knees or somethin’.
How big should one of these lifts be?
Now, I ain’t no expert, but I heard tell they gotta be big enough for a wheelchair to fit comfortably. Somethin’ like, I dunno, maybe five feet by four feet? And there’s gotta be enough space outside the lift too, so a person can get in and out easy. They say you need at least five feet of space all around, but that seems like a lot to me. Maybe three feet would do just fine in a small house.
What about the doors?
The doors gotta be wide enough, that’s for sure. Wide enough for a wheelchair to go through without bangin’ into stuff. And they gotta stay open long enough too, so folks ain’t rushin’ and gettin’ themselves hurt. Twenty seconds, they say. Seems like a long time to hold a door open, but I guess it’s better to be safe than sorry.
Where can you put one of these lifts?
Well, you can put ’em pretty much anywhere you need ’em, I reckon. Inside a house, outside a house, in a store, wherever. They don’t take up as much space as a regular elevator, that’s for sure. They say they got small footprints, which I guess means they don’t need a whole lot of room. That’s good, ’cause some houses ain’t got much space to spare.
Open or enclosed, what’s the difference?
Some of these lifts are open, like a platform just goin’ up and down. Others are enclosed, like a little box. I guess it depends on what you like and where you’re puttin’ it. An open one might be good for outside, where you don’t need to worry about the weather so much. An enclosed one might be better for inside, to keep things neat and tidy.
Do you need to change your house for a lift?
Sometimes, yeah. Unlike them stair lifts that just go right up the stairs, these platform lifts might need you to do some fixin’ up around the house. You know, maybe make a doorway wider or somethin’. It ain’t as much work as puttin’ in a whole elevator, but it’s somethin’ to think about.
What else should you think about?
Well, there’s lights, for one thing. You don’t want to be ridin’ in the dark, now do ya? And there’s the doors again. They gotta be strong and safe, so they don’t break down or hurt nobody. And you gotta think about how much weight the lift can hold, especially if you got a big heavy wheelchair.
And how do they work?
They work with motors, you know, like little engines. They push the platform up and down. Some use more power than others, I guess. They call it “low-energy” if they don’t use too much power. That’s probably good for savin’ money on the electric bill.
Different types of lifts for different places
Now, not all lifts are the same. Some are big, some are small, some fold up, some don’t. It all depends on where you’re putting it and what you need it for. A big building might need a different kind of lift than a little house. And some folks might need a special kind of lift if their wheelchair is real big or heavy.
So, that’s about all I know about these handicap platform lifts. They ain’t too complicated, really. Just a way to help folks get around easier. And that’s a good thing, I reckon.
Tags: [handicap platform lifts, wheelchair lifts, accessibility lifts, platform size, door width, home modifications, vertical platform lift, VPL]
