Homeward Bound -- A Special Feature on Housing

Now more than ever, people are demanding higher levels of independence. For some, that may mean installing a lift. But the introduction of a mechanical device into an environment -- whether it�s a home, business or place of worship -- always raises some questions.

The challenge is to choose the equipment that will best suit your needs. There are some questions you should ask yourself before making the purchase.

- What type of life will work best for me? It is important to think about your needs and, if necessary speak to your doctor, family or occupational therapist. There are many types of lifts on the market, and it is to your benefit to pick the one that will serve your needs best, both now and in the future.

- Will I need renovations done? In most cases the lifts are designed to be installed with little or no alteration to the existing building. In cases where a larger lift is needed, the sales staff or design team should guide you through the entire process, from concept to creation.

- Is there a difference in the manufacture of lifts? There is a difference, and just like with cars, for example, you get what your pay for. Some companies make equipment to be affordable, some to be stylish, and some to be dependable. The most important thing to take into consideration is safety -- remember, you have to use the lift. All lifts sold in Canada must meet with Canadian safety codes such as Canadian Standards Association (CSA); and, in cases where the lift is going into a building that is considered open to the public, it will need to meet with local codes as well. In Ontario, all elevating devices for a public building must be approved by Technical Standards Safety Authorities (TSSA).

It is also important to look at the warranty. That will tell you a lot about the manufacturer. You should ask about service and installation as well; for instance, is the company you are dealing with the same company that will be installing and servicing the lift?

- Will I be able to get funding to help pay for the lift? In some cases, yes, but for the most part it is very hard to get funding for lifts. On the up side, there are no taxes on lift equipment, and it can be written off in your income taxes.

- What are the different types of lifts, and what are they used for? There are several different types of lifts, serving a wide range of purposes. A stair lift can be either a stair chair lift or platform lift. A stair chair lift is a lift unit that consists of a chair mounted on a drive unit, which rides on a rail. Stair chair lifts are mounted on the stairs, and some are mounted on the stairs and the wall. Stair chair lifts are cost-effective and can easily be installed in an existing building. A stair platform lift is designed to take a person on a wheelchair. As with a stair chair lift, it is easily installed in an existing building.

A wheelchair porch lift is a unit that is designed to take a person on a wheelchair up several feet onto a porch on the outside of a building. It is also used in a garage when the entrance is higher than the floor level.

A ceiling lift is a unit that has a track mounted onto or from the ceiling, with a lifting unit that moves freely along the track. The ceiling lift is used primarily to transfer from a wheelchair to a bed or bath with the help of an attendant. Ceiling lifts are easily installed with little alteration to the building.

A wheelchair elevator, or custom home elevator, is basically a smaller version of a standard elevator. It requires a hostway to run in, so there is some alteration required to make room for this type of equipment.

Whether it is new construction or renovation to an existing building, the equipment is there to remove the barriers so that all people have access to all places.

(Ken Briggs is the President of Independence Lifts in Markham, Ontario. For more information, he can be contacted at (905) 953-8440.)