Stair lifts are a wonderful way for the elderly to keep their independence and stay in their own homes.   When we get older it  is very important for the elderly to feel in control of their own lives and we all know the best way to achieve this staying put.  We all are aware that most of the time we still feel young in our minds and a stairlift can help to get us from A to B.  At Caremore Stair lifts we offer a wide range of stair lifts so if you need a stair lift we will be able to help you chose the best stairlift for you, fpr more information visit our web site and read more on our stairlift product range.

In order to calculate a price for your stairlift a surveyor will have to visit your home and take a variety of measurements,  when these measurements are done a stairlift price can be calculated, your stairlift can then be prepped exactly for your staircase and installed with the minimum fuss.  The aim of this blog is to ensure you know what measurements will be taken and why.

Stairlift Measurement One - There will be a side of the staircase which the stairlift would sit best.  This is decided many times by practicality and the surveyors knowledge and the surveyor will suggest the left side or the right side of the staircase and tell you their reasoning.

Stairlift Measurement Two – There must be at least 750 mm clear at the bottom of the stairs. If there are any obstructions such as radiators or power points, or openings such as doorways, if so a suryeyor using their experience will inform you of what needs to be achieved to get the stairlift to fit.  Stairlifts can sometimes have an adaption added to make the stairlift fit more appropriately

Stairlift Measurement Three -  A measurement for the top of the staircase to the bottom of the stairs is determined to gain the overall length of the staircase, this will determine how long a rail you will need.  In some cases a staircase can be so long a jointed rail can be needed this needs to be determined by the surveyor.

Stairlift Measurement Four – The width of staircase needs to be measured as there is a minimum width needed to fit a stairlift onto.  If the staircase is narrow there are sometimes alternative stairlift products that maybe of help such as a sit stand stairlift or a perched stairlift as these take less width on the stairs.  A stairlift advisor would advise you of alternatives.

Stairlift Measurement Five – count the actual number of steps where the stairlift will be fitted onto.

Stairlift Measurement Six – The measurement is to ensure there is adequate clearance from obstructions at both the top of the stairs such as radiators doors or a powerpoint

Stairlift Measurement Seven – Locate the most convenient power point fpr the stairlift to be plugged into.

A surveyors job is complex as they have to have the skill and knowledge to assertain the best stairlift to suit your needs.  If the job is untaken accurately the stairlift will fit onto the staircase exactly and will be installed within hours with no fuss at all.  So now when a surveyor visits you will know what to expect and i hope will have gained some specialist knowledge into the whole process.  Please don’t try to do this yourself as i can not express enough that measurements have to be exact and done with extreme precision.  The surveyor detailed above is for a straight stairlifts and curved stairlift are measured very differently.

We are all wondering how the election is going to effect us espiecally businesses in the stairlift industry as we watch with baited breath to changes in financial policies. As things stand at the moment the elderly can gain grants for items such as stairlifts, as this helps the elderly stay in their homes which is great for the elderly and cheaper for the government.  But with the election looming and parties all threatening massive cuts in spending it does make you wonder which of our services we will see cut.

The FT.com states, “The policy pledges are designed to shore up the Conservatives’ “grey vote” by nullifying Labour claims that the Tories would cut benefits for the elderly after the election.  The Tory leader told pensioners “you have my word” that his party would protect the fuel payments, bus passes and TV licences, along with the means-tested pension credit which is believable as these items have met the news headlines, but i can see smaller services such as mobility equipment such as stairlifts and mobility aid budgets been cut leaving our most vunerable in a longer queue for equipment.

We will all have to wait and see but worrying times seem to be a head for us all.  Read the article in full

Over the last few years the stairlift industry has changed rapidly as a fight for dominance in the market has occurred.  When i first joined this market Stannah were market leaders by far and you could not imagine anyone trying to compete for market share.  The industry was slow, and i mean slow to get an appointment and even slower to get your stairlift installed – there was a queue and you had to take your turn.  Then Acorn Stairlifts arrived to market.

If ever one company totally changed an outlook of the stairlift industry this was it.  At first Acorn Stairlifts sold reconditioned stairlifts and demand was very high, this was because of their excellent speed of apointment and just as excellent speed of installation of a stairlift.  The company started to take market share from Stannah and other small companies such as Brooks Stairlifts, Bison and Minivator. 

After been constantly short of reconditioned stock due to large demand and the need for a new stairlift that could be installed easily, the Acorn Superglide was born.  This stairlift was something else as the stairlift could be installed in less than an hour compared to three hours for the fitting of other stairlifts and fitting could be done the next day when needed.  Can you imagine the change this had to the industry as industry giants were still thinking about making an appointment for a surveyor to visit and Acorn had made a visit and a stairlift installed and a very happy customer to boot.  The new Acorn Supergilde stairlift had taken the market by storm.

Now one company who had taken research and development very seriously was a small company called Bison and they invested in new technology in their stairlifts, espiecally in their curved stairlift.  When Bison Stairlifts got into financial difficulty Acorn bought out Bison and now had their own curved stairlift the Acorn 80.  Acorn now have a full range of stairlifts to meet your needs.  Oh and in the middle of all that they also bought out a small company called Brooks.

The latest change to the market is that a company that owned Freelift bought Minivator stairlifts, so it really has been all change for the industry, but one thing is for sure Acorn Stairlifts are always the one to watch as they claim they are the biggest retailers of straight stairlifts in the UK, and i am not surprised after all speedy service is what they have always been about.  Now if you want to compare all the stairlift models mentioned above use our stairlift comparison chart

Mr Cameron said that Gordon Brown had “failed in his duty” to make sure that pensioners were provided for financially, that their healthcare was secure and that they could live with “dignity”.  I do believe this true but hasn’t every government slowly chipped away at the right of our pensioners.  Take for example how the elderly have to pay for care homes and lose all their well earned income and somehow after a lives work are left with nothing.  Does this seem right and fair – definitely NO!

Healthcare is one of most important aspects to the elderly only yesterday was i reading in the paper a lady with chronic back pain was going to have to pay for an operation after she had aid into the health service all her life.  This operation was going to cost up to £10,000 as i can imagine a big lump out of her savings – surely this is morally wrong? 

When we look at keeping the elderly at home longer, of course this seems to me the obvious answer, but they need equipment and services to help them gain a better quality of life.  This is so simple to provide a stairlift being a basic piece of equipment to get them up and down the stairs so they can use full use of their homes.  A stairlift is essential in lots of cases but you try and get a grant for a stairlift when you need one, the queue is long and when someone needs a stairlift they need one now – this is wrong surely?

We need these politians to care for our elderly and make their lives as comfortable as possible as they have worked and put a lot in our country and it’s time to put back as far as i am concerned. 

Well David Cameron states, “Yes, to treat them with respect and kindness. Yes, to give them the dignity and security they deserve. But also to call on their wisdom and values.”  We will wait and see David!!  If we can help you and your relative stay in your home visit our site  To read the full article on David Cameron

When you are reviewing stairlifts you may want to take a look a few good information points in our site starting with a  video of a stairlift. The video will help you to understand how a stairlift works, and how a stairlift is fitted and you can see how the stairlift sits onto the stairs and not onto the wall.  this is one of the first things that people who need a stairlift think that the stair lift will actually disturb decorations, this is not true, only small holes are drilled through the carpet and the stairlift is then fitted to the stairs, and see a stairlift in action and how it is to be fitted

In our Stairlifts Frequently asked questions section here you will find some answers that we are asked most of our home visits.

The video also explains why you need a surveyor to visit your home, so visit our site to help your search in finding the right stairlift for you.  Oh and also one of the most popular features is our stairlift comparison chart that outlines all the best features of  each stairlift on the market.

If your thinking Home Care for the elderly and a stairlift might be an option for you then read the article below.  The answer is often not to move home but to buy a stairlift and other equipment to make your life comfortable and an independent one.  Take a look at this scheme in London

. In London for elderly people can be a viable option which should be taken into consideration if you’re starting to look at residential homes for the elderly in London.

The number of elderly people in the UK is rising and the number of older people living in Greater London also continues to rise.

London has many organisations that offer support and help to elderly people such as Age Concern which has many branches within the area, voluntary, social organisations such as clubs, associations, day centres and luncheon clubs where friends can meet and enjoy activities and to the many Social Services Older Peoples Teams located throughout the area. Yellow Pages under Social and Welfare Associations will provide telephone numbers of these organisations in your area of London.

However, the problem for many elderly people is within their own home, where they may find that the periods of time on their own is long, they are unable to carry out the domestic work in their home that they used to take for granted and the need for assistance with personal care has become important.

When such a time is reached lots of elderly people and their families think that the time has come to consider moving into a residential care home, and many elderly people are reluctant to consider this.

However, there is an alternative. A live-in care scheme from Able Community Care can provide one to one care in your own home with care staff who will carry out domestic activities, assist with personal care and provide companionship and access to an increased social life.

Able Community Care is a nationwide provider of live-in care schemes and we care for many people in the Greater London area. Below are some of the comments we have received about our care services from our clients and their families.

The following are comments from people who are enjoying the benefits of well planned live-in care schemes in London:

• “It’s working very well with the same carers being used who are very good with me. I’m happy with all three.”
• “I’m happy and appreciate my independence and being able to get out regularly, and to choose what I want to eat.”
• “The care package is very good. Carers are honest and pleasant.”

This is an Able Community Care Information Page.
For a brochure about the live-in care in London available from by Able Community Care please either click here and submit your request online, email to Ablemg@aol.com or telephone Judith Tye on 01603 764567.

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

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.