A Ramp or Platform Lift is the Way to Independence

For many elderly people, the loss of independence is more painful than any physical ailment caused by the aging process. Most able bodied individuals take their ability to move about freely and self-sufficiently for granted. When this is lost, it can cause a great deal of stress and depression. Luckily, there are many affordable options in scooters and power chairs, which can help restore autonomy to our elderly population. With a scooter, a simple task like getting the mail, or going shopping can remain a simple task as opposed to becoming an impossible one.

This brings us to another issue. Once an elderly person comes to rely on a wheelchair or scooter, they will most likely discover that their home is not accessible to the device. Rare is the home that does not have at least one step up to its front door. This causes a whole new kind of stress. Restored freedom is worth very little if it means having to leave one’s home. In order to keep an elderly person in their own home, it is often necessary to make improvements in access. Inside the house, this could mean adding safety railings and possibly a stair lift. Outside the home, this will mostly likely mean the addition of a wheelchair ramp or a platform lift.

Each option has its pros and cons. Ramps are less expensive to purchase and install, but they require a great deal of space to be at an effective incline. They also require more autonomy from their users, and this makes them less practical for certain individuals.

A platform lift is more expensive, but can be more effective in a smaller space. A platform lift is basically a self contained elevator that can installed adjacent to stairs or even a vehicle. They come in different sizes and with different features such as locking gates and varying weight load capacities. Most can handle up to 500 pounds. This means more than one person can ride on it at a time, provided all contained fall below the weight limit. To use it, a person rides into the device on one side, is raised through the use of interior controls that they can handle themselves, and then rides off once they’ve reached the desired level.

When making the decision about what access improvements to make, you will have to consider the specifics of your space as well as the abilities of the person who will be using the device. If you do not feel comfortable making the decision yourself, you can call companies that do home health aid and see if they’ll send someone over to assess your situation and figure out if a ramp or a platform lift would make more sense for you. The most important thing is finding a way for the elderly person to maintain the best possible standard of living and peace of mind. When independence is maintained, morale and frame of mind are improved, and this is good for overall health.