Those that are unable to easily stand up often use electric mobility wheelchairs and scooters to get around easier. These mobility vehicles are great for around the home or, depending on the model, driving around the great outdoors. There are several heavy duty models available, both in the scooter and wheelchair category, which can be driven pretty much anywhere, so with the right mobility vehicle, there are few places that are out of reach.

There is one area, however, that has consistently caused problems for those that use mobility vehicles. This area is the stairs and often times, it presents a very large obstacle to people in wheelchairs or scooters. To help bridge this gap, there are a few different mobility devices available, including a wheelchair lift.

The home wheelchair lift is probably the most common device used to allow complete access to a home. These devices are basically a small scale self contained elevator. There is not need for messy home construction, but they do require a strong support base, which is usually made from concrete or wood.

A wheelchair lift is installed next to a staircase and it raises its occupant vertically up to the landing. This makes them an excellent choice for the front steps of a home, but means that they will not work with all internal staircases.

Most feature a very strong lifting system that can usually raise or lower over five-hundred pounds very easily. The amount that a wheelchair lift can support varies by model, but the lifting height can also be a factor that affects the raising of the lift.

Using a lift in the home is quite popular, but these devices are often used in business settings to ensure the business is adhering to ADA standards. For some businesses, a portable wheelchair lift can be a good choice. Portable wheelchair lifts can't support as much weight, but they are able to be quickly and easily moved. These types are perfect for a place that doesn't always need wheelchair access to an area or those who have several areas that they will need to use the device. In addition to having a lower weight capacity, portable lifts are usually not able to lift as high either.

Portable lifts are not the only type of specialty wheelchair lift available. There are also manual wheelchair lifts that can be raised or lowered using a hand crank. Most electric wheelchairs have a manual override that can be used in the event of a power outage, but a strictly manual wheelchair lift will use no electricity at all. These lifts are able to support much less weight, but are popular in schools, where it might be necessary to allow access to an elevated area, such as a stage for graduation, but a sufficient power source might not be available.

There are several different kinds of wheelchair lifts available. Choosing the right features is important, especially for lifts that will be installed in a public area. It is a good idea to make certain a public wheelchair lift has keyed access and locking safety doors.

People who use mobility scooters often find that wheelchair lifts offer the best and easiest way to get around the home.