How To Get a Wheelchair Up and Down Stairs
Learning how to get a wheelchair up stairs is one of the hurdles new wheelchair users will have to face, and something you’ll get used to over time when adapting to life in a wheelchair. Luckily, there are safe ways to do this with the help of others, as well as structural home modifications that can provide a longer-term solution.
The first and most important thing to remember when getting a wheelchair up stairs is the safety of everyone involved. Though there are ways to manually pull a wheelchair up stairs, the best and safest solution for everyone may be to use devices such as ramps or a vertical platform lift.
How to Get a Wheelchair Up Stairs Manually
Pushing a wheelchair up stairs manually is a potentially dangerous process and should be avoided if there are other solutions available. This process can be used for a single step as well as a short or medium-length run of stairs.
If There Is One Caregiver to Help the Wheelchair User Climb Stairs
If there is only one helper, the easiest and safest way to climb stairs is one at a time, following these steps:
Level the back of the wheelchair against the first step, pressing the rear wheels firmly against the step.
Pull the wheelchair up from the wheelchair's handles while you tilt the front wheels upward.
Manual wheelchairs are lightweight and should be fairly easy to push up stairs one step at a time. Never attempt to push a power chair up stairs alone.
Safety Tips When Helping a Wheelchair User Up Stairs Alone
When pushing a wheelchair up stairs alone, the helper must do everything they can to ensure a safe ascent both for the wheelchair user and themselves.
If you are an elderly person or have limited muscle strength, go slowly, or ask for help from a stronger person.
The person sitting in the wheelchair should wear a safety belt to limit their movement and prevent them from falling out of the chair.
If There Are Two Caregivers to Help the Wheelchair User Climb Stairs
If there is more than one person helping, the most common method is to lift the wheelchair with its user and climb several steps at a time.
Safety Tips When Helping a Wheelchair User Up Stairs in a Pair
Remove any hazards or obstructions from the stairs.
Lift the wheelchair by the frame.
Ensure that the helpers have a firm grasp on the handle grips before lifting the wheelchair.
Do not attempt to lift a wheelchair up broken, wet, or slippery steps.
Anti-skid tape should be applied to any stairs that the wheelchair user will be pushed or lifted up or down regularly.
How to Get a Wheelchair Down Stairs Manually
Getting a wheelchair and its user safely down stairs requires at least two people to provide help with going down stairs. One person will hold and tilt the chair from behind, while the other person supports the chair from the front, keeping it balanced.
Place the wheelchair facing forward at the edge of the step, with one person standing behind the wheelchair and the other person standing in front of the wheelchair.
The person standing behind the wheelchair should step onto the tilt bar with one foot and tilt the wheelchair backward until they find the balance point. The other helper should support the front of the wheelchair.
Slowly lower the back wheels off the step and onto the next step or the ground.
At the bottom of the stairs, gently lower the front wheels of the wheelchair to the ground.
Devices That Make It Easier to Get a Wheelchair Up the Stairs
Helping a wheelchair user move up and down stairs manually can be an acceptable solution in a new environment or if they’ll only be using the wheelchair temporarily. However, if there are stairs in the home and the person will be using a wheelchair long-term, installing a wheelchair ramp, vertical platform lift, or stairlift will allow the person to navigate the stairs safely and autonomously.
While there are stair-climber wheelchairs that can climb stairs on their own, these devices come with a high price tag, and their use is often limited to outdoor staircases. Additionally, these kinds of wheelchairs can still cause serious accidents if there are any obstructions or weak spots on the stairs. Our Denver, Colorado experts recommend using safer devices like ramps, stairlifts, and vertical platform lifts rather than stair-climbing chairs.
1. Folding Ramp
There are many types of accessibility ramps for homes that can be used instead of the stairs. The ramp is used to form a slope; the wheelchair user can then be pushed up the slope or can drive up the ramp if they have a self-propelled manual wheelchair or a power wheelchair. Foldable and portable ramps can be used when the wheelchair user is out and about.
Safety Tips When Using a Wheelchair Ramp
It is important to secure the slope of the ramp properly before attempting to use it.
2. Stairlift for Wheelchairs
Stairlifts (also written “stair lifts”) and inclined platform lifts are good solutions for navigating stairs in the home. Fixed to the wall beside the staircase, they allow the user to go up and down on a chair (regular stairlifts) or on a platform while remaining seated in their wheelchair (inclined platform lifts).
If using a regular stairlift, the wheelchair user would typically have an upstairs mobility device and a wheelchair that’s kept exclusively downstairs. They can then transfer from one mobility device to the stairlift chair and from the stairlift chair to the other mobility device.
Because chair-to-chair transfers require good upper body strength, a regular stairlift would be best suited to individuals who have full use of their torso and arms.
3. Vertical Platform Lift, AKA Wheelchair Lift
Vertical lifts for homes (also known as wheelchair lifts) are ideal for changing levels inside the home and can also help with steps leading to the front door or patio. A vertical platform lift is a cost-effective alternative to a home elevator and offers a good solution for wheelchair users who live in multi-story houses.
Is Financial Aid Available for Home Modifications Needed to Climb Stairs?
You may be eligible for government assistance to help with the installation costs of modifications that are necessary to make your home wheelchair accessible—especially if your wheelchair use is due to an injury sustained while serving in the military. Some nonprofit organizations also provide financial assistance for medically required home renovations.
Think Long-Term When Finding a Solution for Getting Up and Down the Stairs
Though some occasional lifting and pushing is a normal part of life as a wheelchair user, it shouldn't be considered a long-term solution, especially if you or the wheelchair user in your life needs to climb the same steps regularly.
For the safety of both the disabled person and their carers, investing in devices that facilitate safe independent movement between levels is the best long-term solution.