by Simon Garner
When we think of lifts, we tend to think of the more grandiose elevators that adorn posh hotels and shopping malls. These are a convenience, because let’s face it, who wants to walk up 10 flights of stairs to your hotel room?
Push come to shove, many of us will not mind walking up a few steps or a single flight of stairs, but what if your situation meant you physically couldn’t climb a few steps?
Many people overlook, or are not even aware that the kinds of lifts you see in shopping centers can be added to their own home to improve mobility. While you probably don’t have the room for a nice glass elevator, there are alternatives available - domestic lifts that are designed specifically for your home.
There are many areas where a small domestic lift will come in handy and would greatly increase the quality of life of an elderly or disabled person.
First off, you can install a lift to your front door - usually known as a step lift as it rises only by a few feet. It’s really useful when you have to walk up 3 or 4 steps to reach your front door. By using a step lift, the steps can be completely removed and replaced by this kind of lift. This kind of wheelchair lift works by raising a platform using hydraulic jacks underneath. All sides are enclosed, so there’s no chance of falling off!
The next type of domestic lift you can employ is a stair lift. Like the name sounds, a stair lift will effortlessly glide you up a flight of stairs - exceptionally useful if an elderly or immobile person lives in a two storey house.
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