Stairlift prices – well i am going to have a moan about all these new sites on Google that are offering unrealistic discounts!!  Some apparently can offer up to 75% discount!!!  What a load of rubbish.  After working in the stairlift industry for many years i can tell you now this just does not happen.

Do your self a favour and do business with a reputable site that does not offer these stupid and unbelievable stairlift discounts.  A reputable company come out and tell you a truthful stairlift quotation and offer no nonsense stairlift advise

The other thing is if you don’t know the brands take a look at our stairlift comparison chart as this can help you compare stairlift brands and their features side by side.  And i can feel another rant coming on – this is another thing these sites say they are comparing stairlifts which is a load of rubbish they are just sending you brochures – you get to compare nothing!!  So compare stairlift properly here

The political parties are unveiling plans to revamp the social care system, with even more emphasis on keeping the elderly at home.  This has to be good news as Gordon Brown is proposing a better system for personal care to the elderly, at present anyone with savings over £23,500 receives no state assistance at all.  Stairlifts grants are not given for anyone with £8,000 savings these are means tested.

The system includes everything from the support people receive with washing and dressing to stay in their own homes through to full-time residential care.

The majority is provided to the elderly who can no longer look after themselves, but it also includes the support given to those with disabilities.  This is where stairlifts and bathlifters and many other mobility products are a real blessing.  I am wholeheartedly behind anything or any service that can help the elderly stay in their homes, there is one thing for sure no one wants to go into a nursing home if possible.

The social care system does need a revamp, over the years the system seems to have diminished, take for example Home Helps these used to be a real asset to the elderly and now money is now given to the elderly to pay for cleaners, with less Home Helps around.  I would like to see a one stop shop for the elderly where they know they will be able to get good advice and help if necessary.

As for stairlifts and other mobility equipment the system at present is far too slow, when you need a stairlift you need one NOW, not in months and some councils it can take years.  This is not acceptable!  In fact it is disgusting, we all pay into this system and our needs should be met when needed.

Let hope this change of policy speeds things up but i don’t think i’ll hold my breath.

For more stair lift advice visit our site.

If your buying a stairlift and need funding this article maybe of help!  Now I do realize for the majority you will not be able to claim for funding but take a look here you never know you may be one of the lucky ones.

The wonderful thing about living in the UK is there are so many charities and helpful organisations that want to enhance the lives of those around us, those in need and this is what this article is all about.  There are other organisations a part from government grants that can actually help when you are in need of funding for a stairlift.

As a Stairlift company over the years there have been a variety of charities and benevolent funds that have helped individuals who need stairlift funding.

I thought it might be useful to mention a few in this article and what they do, And yes you do have to fit into their criteria but read on you or your relative may well do.

Blesma

A lovely organisation that help individuals who have been made limbless who needs stairlifts, wheelchairs and car adaptations.  This is a direct quotation from the Blesma Site.

“An Ordinary Membership is open to serving and ex-serving men and women who, whilst serving or as a result of service in any branch of HM Forces or Auxiliary Forces, have:

• lost a limb or an eye
• permanent* loss of speech, hearing or sight of an eye or the use of a limb

Grants are made to help overcome disability or to make the disabled life that bit easier. The Welfare department assess need and grants are made in accordance with policy laid down by Trustees. Grants can cover, for example, help with provision of wheelchairs and Electric Propelled Vehicle, stair lifts, car adaptations and even help with the garden. We aim to ‘meet need with speed”

http://www.blesma.org/services.html

Saffa

SAFFA is all about the armed services and helping its ex armed forces with their needs

“Our services reflect the financial, practical and emotional issues people face today and they are freely available to virtually everybody with a Service connection. Some are more appropriate for those currently serving, some for those who have served and there are those which apply to everybody. But whatever your status, you can be certain that we will treat your enquiry as confidential and ensure that you are always treated with dignity and respect.”

As well as financial assistance, we also provide housing advice and facilities

to the ex-Service community, friendship visits and practical support, such as

providing wheelchairs and stair lifts to those who have difficulty moving

around and are in need.

We provide experienced, non-judgmental and friendly advice, as well as a variety of practical services which cover a range of social, family and financial issues.  All our dealings are confidential and anybody who approaches us for help is treated with dignity and respect. Contact us or download more information

http://www.ssafa.org.uk/exService.html

Mc Millians Cancer Relief

We all know McMillans for the wonderful work they do for cancer victims.  We have dealt with people on many occasions who have given a grant towards the cost of a stairlift, as they can’t manage with one.  There is an online document here which discusses help with the cost of cancer.

http://www.macmillan.org.uk/Documents/HowWeCanHelp/Get_support/financial/CostOfCancer.pdf

Another couple of sites worth looking into are Motor neurons and Railway Benevolent Society as I know we have had customers who have received funds from here.

As discussed I know most people do actually have to fund their own stairlifts and you can gain stairlift brochures on our site and we will give you the best advice we can, but its still nice to know there is help out there for the few.

Found this site for stairlift brochures and thought it could be of interest as the first thing you need when you are looking for a stairlift is brochures so you can assess the product range.  This site offers a Free brochure delivery service where you can get stairlift brochures from all the top manufacturers such as Acorn, Bison, Brooks and Minivator.  That should get you going again

Fill out one form and get them all!

Acorn, Bison, Brooks, Minivator & CareMore

Here you are looking for stair lift information and you are just about to fill in many laborious forms on many numerous web sites.

Well stop right there! We can help!

We have researched the market and work with only the top stairlift companies to offer you a Quick, Easy and FREE means to gather stairlift brochures and information.

Infact one form does it all! All you have to do is:

1. Fill in the form opposite and tick the box of companies you would like to receive information from.
2. Your brochures will be posted to you automatically. Its as simple as that!

Please Note: Using this service costs nothing at all and does not commit you to working with any particular supplier. Your details will only be passed on to chosen suppliers.

We do recommend you assess at least three companies to ensure you gather enough information on stairlift products to make the best choice for you.

At Speedy Stairlifts Information Services we are here to help you with free impartial advice. Whether you are buying a stairlift for yourself or someone close to you we are here to assist you through every stage of your buying decision. We know this can be a very difficult time and we are aware that the decision to buy a stairlift is never an easy one.

We believe we can offer free impartial advice taking into consideration all of your needs seriously. With this in mind we offer you a quality service always: just take a look at what our customers say.

Whichever Stairlift company you choose all our stairlifts include:

• Free no obligation quotation service
• Professionally installed stairlift
• Full demonstration of the stairlift upon installation
• Complete peace of mind
• 12 months full warranty including all stairlift call outs, parts and labour
• All Stairlifts are installed with the minimum disruption to you and no mess
• Most stairlifts Installed within 1 to 3 hours

All of the above is backed with our 24/7 callout line open 365 days a year.

 After chatting with Sharon Culter at Minivator over the deal with HandiCare she was kind enough to provide us with the following press release to read, and it makes interesting reading.

Midlands based Stairlift manufacturer Minivator has signed a deal to become the latest member of the family of companies in the Norwegian based Handicare, subject to regulatory approval.

Previously owned by its Directors and Gresham PE, Minivator Group has had an exceptional growth record, indeed it continued to experience double digit growth throughout the testing economic climate of recent years. With a core product range of stairlifts Minivator has expanded its presence establishing operations in North America and Germany and have recently started its own manufacturing base in the Far East. It has seen expansion within the UK having taken on new premises at least four times in the last three years.

As one of the world’s leading manufacturers of stairlifts with a turnover of £48 million, and 420 employees selling to over 35 countries the Minivator Group was a desirable prospect for many companies. The board were in no rush to sell, choosing instead to spend time finding the perfect partner to move forward with. They found such a match with the Handicare Group. Minivator CEO Mike Lord commented “We were looking for a buyer who not only made sound business sense but who was also a great fit with the culture and values that Minivator holds at its core. We are delighted with the deal and are looking forward to seeing what the future holds. We believe exciting times are ahead and being part of a larger and well established group that holds similar ethical beliefs will open up many opportunities that will be mutually beneficial and rewarding.” 1

The healthcare company Handicare AS, owned by Herkules Private Equity Fund¹, was founded in 1986 and has operations in technical aids like wheelchairs and home care products in addition to adaptation of cars for elderly and physically disabled people. Through its subsidiary Puls, the Group also has a leading position in Norway in the sales of capital goods and consumables to hospitals and institutions. Handicare has its headquarters in Moss, Norway, and has subsidiaries in Sweden, Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands, England, Belgium, Poland, USA and Canada, and distribute its own products to an additional 30 markets. Handicare has just shy of 1000 employees and reached sales of over 250 million Euros in 2009.

Well congratulations to Minivator who has just sold out to Handicare who also owns FreeLift for 3.4 times the original price paid in 2004,  subject to approval Minivator will become part of the Handicare group of companies in the same way that Freelift is a group member.

The industry seems to be shrinking all the time, with Acorn Stairlifts being the proud owners of Brooks and Bison (maybe not the blue though).  These two stairlifts are safe reliable stairlifts that i actually don’t mind the look of, and if you wish to compare stairlifts this comparison chart is a good way to start.

Anyway back to the subject

For more information on the buy out read this article.http://www.growthbusiness.co.uk/news/mergers-and-acquisitions/1146038/gresham-sells-minivator-for-34-times-money.thtml

As we become older one of the most frequent problems that arises is lack of mobility, which prevents you getting around like you used to. Or perhaps you are recovering from a hip operation, a stroke or maybe suffering from breathing problems. More often than not though it’s simply that you don’t have the energy or the strength.

The stairs in the home which once seemed so easy to negotiate can suddenly seem, well very daunting. Moving house or living downstairs is no way to live your life, but there is an answer – a stairlift. Today’s stairlifts are very easy to use, attractively designed, safe and most importantly surprisingly affordable.

But as in all things quality is the key. So here are 7 essential features that we think you should look out for when choosing the right stairlift for you.

Safety Sensor – It’s vital that your stairlift has safety sensors which automatically cut of the power to the lift when the sensors are activated. This makes sure that potentially serious accident can be prevented

A Swivel Seat – Many stair lifts have a fixed seat which can make access awkward, a fixed seat makes you do all the work when twisting and rising from a sitting position. Instead, make life easy for your self by choosing a model with a swivel seat, it’s a real boom, especially when getting of at the top of the stairs.

Soft Start/Soft Stop – The last thing you want when you begin or end your journey is an abrupt jolt, not only is this uncomfortable but it can prove potentially dangerous, especially if you experience balance problems as many people of course do. So always opt for a stairlift that begins to travel with such smoothness that you hardly even notice that your moving.

Glide – As well as a smooth start to your journey you obviously want a comfortable ride. Some stairlifts offer smoother rides than others. Make sure yours gives a gentle glide ride every inch of the way.

DC Motor – Stairlifts which run on mains electricity will come to a sudden stop if there is a power cut, worse still a direct connection to the mains supply can be hazardous and even result in electrocution should your lift become damaged. So always make sure that your lift runs on safe DC power. DC power makes use of special power packs which automatically recharge themselves at the end of each trip.

Remote Control – Now this isn’t a fancy gimmick, the remote control allows you to simply call and send for the stairlift, so if a partner or friend should wish to use the lift you can simply send it back to them once you’re finished. And thanks to the remote control there are no messy wires or boxes that need to be fixed to the wall. And finally you know how fiddly button controls can be, if you suffer from arthritis for example they can be impossible to use, so select a stairlift which has a joy stick control as well.

If you wish for a stairlift surveyor to visit and give you soound practical advice fill out the form and we will call you to arrange a visit

Joy Stick Control – A joy stick makes operating your stairlift simplicity it’s self, with no fuss and no fiddling about

If you are considering buying a stair lift an Acorn Stairlift has to be a real contender.  Why because it does what it says on the tine so to speak. You can compare stairlifts here at Caremore Stairlift web site and see what you think when compared to other stairlift models and then you will probably agree with me that they are worthy contender.

Let’s look at this in a little more detail.

1. For one thing Acorn Stairlifts have developed into one of the biggest suppliers of straight stairlifts in the country and in my experience they are one of the most reliable stairlifts on the market.
2. They are UK manufacturer which I love as we don’t have many left these days
3. Acorn Stairlifts offer installation in some cases as soon as the next day and will always help to get your stairlift installed as soon as possible.  The straight stairlift has been developed so it can be fit in less than an hour it fits onto the stairs so it does not disrupt your decorations.  For a brochure from Acorn click here.
4. Acorn Stairlifts are innovators in the industry and have modified their stairlifts so they have a diagnostic display which helps diagnose a fault with the stairlift and can prevent an engineer’s visit which helps you get going again as soon as possible.
5. The stairlift is battery operated so if the mains power fails your stairlift won’t.  The stairlift is the quietest and smoothest ride on the market
6. Acorn Stairlifts after sales service is excellent and they know that you need your stairlifts mending as soon as possible.  They offer extended warranties so you know you’ll never be left in the lurch.
7. Acorn Stairlifts are competitively priced and offer stairlifts both new and reconditioned models to suit your pocket

If you want an Acorn Stairlifts Brochure  visit the Caremore Site and one will be posted out to you today.