Vertical Platform Lifts Provide a Safer Option for Aging in Place
Vertical platform lifts that raise a wheelchair from the ground up to a porch, deck, or doorway are often the perfect mobility solution for those unable to climb stairs. Even if you have equipped your home to age in place, you may be challenged when entering and leaving the home. The Slippery Slope of Ramp Safety For many homes, adding a ramp is a perfect solution to increasing access, but ramps have two main shortcomings: First, they must be the proper slope to be useful. Unless covered, they can easily become slippery and dangerous. According to standards set down by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), a wheelchair ramp must have a slope with a ratio of no more than 1 to 12, which means that the ramp must be one inch long for every inch of rise. This means a 20 foot ramp for a 20 inch rise. For home use, the standards are a bit less stringent but still require a 2 to 12 ratio for the ramp, which means a 10 foot ramp for a 20 inch rise. Ramps need plenty of space. To make the