Replying to a forum quote for a customer who was wanting some advice when buying a stairlift.

I  have been working in the stairlift industry for many years and the great thing about the industry is you can barter! Don’t accept your first quotation shop around. First of all get your facts sorted and assess your products start by visiting caremore stairlift information site to get a copy of a free stairlift comparison chart and get familiar with the top models on the market and then assess the stairlifts features and make sure they fit your requirements such as heavy duty models or the slimmest stairlift on the market. Get three quotations and you could be amazed at the savings you can make.

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

When you are buying a stairlift it is a whole new experience for most, people generally have little knowledge on how  a stairlift works so i am going to try and answer the most frequently asked questions that people ask when a surveyor visits.

The most common misconception is that a stairlift is fitted to the wall not the steps, but the stairlift actually fits  onto the stairs so it does not disrupt your decorations.  Nobody wants they decorations disrupted!

For more frequently asked questions just visit our stairlift information site and you will gather more information

The second question we often get asked is can we make stairlifts to fit around a bend.  Yes! These stairlifts are a little more complicated as they have to manufactured to your individual staircase so things can be a little bit more pricey but well worth it.  So if you get a stairlift surveyor to visit you have been warned!

For more detailed technical bits you may want to take a look at our comparison chart that we have put together for you as it has all technical details that you may need to assess the best stairlift for your needs. 

Now i hope this has been helpful for you and good luck with your stairlift shopping.

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.

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

Having being in the stairlift industry for many years, there’s one thing that always upsets me.  The elderly leave it until the last minute to buy a stairlift.  Please start buying them earlier!

I know the main reason people don’t is that they see a stairlift as an admission to being old, but really if we think about this clearly, this is not an admission to failure this is a new lease of life.  Yes we all get old and yes our legs never work as well as they did, but that’s life!  We all have to admit at some point that age is catching up with, and a stairlift adds quality to your life.

Lets just have a look at what a stairlift can do for you:

1. Access to upstairs rooms and being able to sleep in your own bed

2. Access to toileting facilities and bathing in your own bath (and don’t forget a bath lifter if you need one, my Aunty Mary swears by the one i gave her)

3. Use the seatbelt to strap your vaccum cleaner to the stairlift footplate

4. Strap your washing basket to the chair and send the stair lift down stairs so your partner can do your washing

5. Breakfast in bed

And of course the stair lift can always carry you up and down the  stairs.

All i am saying there is no need to let the quality of your life suffer, a stair lift allows us to enjoy life, the life we intended to live,  so if you think you need a stairlift and are struggling with the stairs www.caremorestairlifts.co.uk maybe able to help you.

Stairlifts are often bought out of sheer need, and the users can sometimes feel intimidated at the very thought of buying a stairlift. But i can assure once you have a stairlift in place the user can find great pleasure in the fact that they are safe, have their mobility and a sense of freedom back.

People often struggle to come to terms with the thought of having a stairlift, but once that fear has been overcome the benefits are great.

Lets take a look at the benefits of having a stairlift.

Independence

We all love to be independent and it is very important to us all to be able to achieve the simple things in life, such as moving from room to room. A stair lift offers such freedom, just using both floors of your room can be liberating.

Privacy

A stairlift also offers privacy, as a carer is not needed to help constantly, a carer is a wonderful thing, but sometimes we all need to be on our own.

Whatever the reasons people need a stairlift whether it is through illness or a fall i can assure you they are one of the best purchases you can make if needed.  For further information visit www.caremorstairlifts.co.uk