The other day my brother and I were talking and I mentioned the great idea about pool lifts.  He looked at me with raised eyebrows and asked why anyone would want to lift their pool.  Yep, he was serious and it's true, you can't choose your family.  RehabMart.com sells the type of pool lifts that assist people with getting in and out of pools.  Pool lifts are designed for people with disabilities, to assist them from a wheelchair to the pool.  In addition, these pool lifts can help assist anyone who struggles getting in and out of a swimming pool by using the pool steps or ladders, particularly the elderly and people who are recovering from an illness, injury or surgery.  

According to USA Swimming and the National Swimming Pool Foundation there are 10 million swimming pools in the United States, including 360,000 Public Pools that stay open all year.  If you are one of the people  that have a pool large enough where you can use a pool lift then Rehabmart has a number of pool lifts that can meet your needs.  If you go to a public pool or a pool that is within a facility, i.e., YMCA, health clubs, schools, etc., and you either need or know of someone who could benefit from a pool lift,  then it might be a good idea to talk to the facility manager about installing one.  According to the 2000 U.S. Census there are 49.7 million people in the U. S. age 5 and over that have a disability -- nearly 1 in 5 U.S. residents, or 19 percent.  I am sure that a number of these people would love to get into the water and have fun or do some aquatic exercise. Shouldn't facilities with pools be more aware that almost 20% of the United States population combined with the elderly and the injured might need assistance getting in and out of pools?

There are different types and styles of pool lifts to choose from.  There are as many different pool lifts as there are pools.  One type of pool lift is the manually operated hydraulic unit such as the Hoyer Swimming Pool Lift or the Aqua Creek EZ Pool Lift.
 
From library.rehabmart.com     From library.rehabmart.com
         Hoyer Swimming Pool Lift                    Aqua Creek EZ Pool Lift
 
 
There are also a number of choices of pool lifts with Battery operated units.  For example, the Aqua Creek Revolution Pool Lift, or the Aqua Creek Power EZ Pool Lift are some examples.

Some pool lifts are made to be portable which is a perfect solution for handicap accessible swimming pools when lift construction demands have limited space availability.  Two such are the Aqua Creek Patriot Portable Pro Pool Lift™, and the Aqua Creek Pool Lift which has a portable pool lift accessory.

Many of the pool lifts have options such as sling seats, a spine-board attachment, a stretcher/gurney assembly, headrest, pool lift covers and many other accessories that could offer more assistance, if needed.

There is no reason why EVERYONE cannot enjoy the pool this year so make a big splash this summer and go play in the water

"Most of us, swimming against the tides of trouble the world knows nothing about, need only a bit of praise or encouragement - and we will make the goal."
                                              ~Jerome Fleishman


Bill Stock
Associate Library Editor for Rehabmart
and
Hulet Smith, OT
Rehabmart Team Leader & CEO