A wheelchair lift can be a big help to those who suffer from disabilities and limited mobility. There are many types of chair lifts and scooter/wheelchairs lifts in the market, ranging from those that raise the chair to another level for stairs or vehicles to lifts that raise a person to a level that will allow them to stand. The most popular chair lifts are those that help people in wheelchairs get up the stairs.

There are two major types of vehicle scooter/wheelchair lifts:

• Those that can be placed inside the automobile or internal.

• Those that must stay outside the automobile or external.

There are literally hundreds of variations of the vehicle lift. Some types are only for vans with side entry. Other types utilize a boom to lift the chair into the rear cargo area of a smaller mini-van or SUV. The type that you require will depend on not only your needs, but on the type of vehicle that you own. These lifts use a boom or swing-arm to lift the device up and over for easy loading.

When buying a wheelchair/scooter lift, some things must be considered for you to get the right lift that will best suit your needs:

• Brand and model of the mobility device that needs to be lifted. Some wheelchair or mobility scooter may need a particular docking device for it to be safely lifted into the vehicle.

• Exact make, year, and model of your vehicle. This is important when buying an internal vehicle lift for your mobility device.

• Class of hitch. For external vehicle lifts, a trailer hitch must be installed on the automobile, depending on the required weight capacity. The total weight of the mobility device and the lift’s weight must be at the very least, 10% less than the recommended weight capacity of the trailer hitch.

You should also consider before purchasing a scooter/wheelchair lift:

• lift weight and size specifications;

• used material on the lift;

• type of operation (automatic or manual);

• warranty from the manufacturer or dealer. Many offer warranties that last up to four years. Be certain to obtain a copy of the warranty, just in case a problem arises.

Another type of mobility lifts is stairs lifts. They are often called stair chairs because they use a chair that is attached to a set of rails in order to transport a seated individual across the distance of the stairs. They do however make some models that utilize a small platform instead of a chair. There are a variety of options available in case of stair lifts, with different shapes sizes and price’s.

The technology and quality has improved a lot as compared to earlier days. Now stair lifts are less noisy and entail no risk of malfunctioning. They now come with remote control that enables us to control them from either of the directions. They have a comfortable seat and footrest. The start and stop movements are very smooth. Stair lifts also come with rechargeable batteries.

It is very helpful if at least one person in your home understands the basic information about electric stair lifts such as lifting capacity, fold up dimension, drive system, operator controls and many more. If you are thinking of purchasing from a non-manufacturer, check that the company is an approved supplier, otherwise they may not be able to obtain spare parts.

Buying a home mobility lift is a major decision, but one that can be made very intelligently if you have the right information, and know beforehand exactly what your needs are.