Minivator Stairlifts offer a ground breaking solution to problem of using hinged rails. This solution is available only for use on the Minivator simplicity stairlift and Minivator Simplicity Plus Stairlift.

The unique solution completely removes the need for a hinged track. As the stairlift seat moves up the staircase so the track moves up the staircase at the same time as the seat is moving, thus leaving the doorway at the bottom of the stairs unobstructed. The slide track works automatically once the toggle switch or the remote control is activated.

Key points:

• The slide track is slightly shorter than the staircase
• As the stairlift travels up the staircase, the track moves along with you
• The track reaches the top of the stairs before the stairlift which will continue to the top where the user can safely dismount.
• When travelling down the stairs the track will travel down the with the stairlift until you reach the bottom of the stairs where the user can safely dismount.

Related Links: Minivator/Handcare Stairlifts, Minivator Simplicty Stairlift, Minivator Simplicity Plus Stairlift, Minivator 1000 Stairlift, Minivator 2000 curved Stairlift, Minivator Outdoor Stairlift

The Office of Fair Trading (OFT) has received thousands of complaints about unscrupulous door to door salesman offering adjustable beds, mobility scooters, and stairlifts for the elderly. In many cases the elderly and disabled are subject to high pressure sales tactics which can lead to them paying up to 50% more than the current market price and may lead to them making innapropriate purchases. In some cases the customers have been overcharged by thousands of pounds.

The OFT commented that “Many traders treat their customers fairly but some use high pressure sales tactics that encourage people to make snap decisions without comparing prices or checking to see if the product is the right one for their needs.” This is something that Stairlift Suppliers have mentioned previously (view previous stairlift post) as unfortunately this problem is one that has been embedded in the mobility/stairlift industry for many years.

As we mentioned in our last post there are a number of higher pressure sales tactics employed by the door to door salesman. In some cases these high pressure tactics have been used by some of the larger mobility companies.

Some of these high pressure sales tactics include:

1. 1) Offering big discounts if you sign up there and then
2. 2) A Phone call to the manager to offer you a special deal
3. 3) An order has suddenly cancelled and is available at a reduced rate

Key Considerations When Buying Stairlifts for the Elderly or Disabled

1. 1) Arrange for a friend or family member to be present for a second opinion
2. 2) If you are unsure then take some time to think about it, don’t be rushed into an unnecessary purchase
3. 3) Get more than one quote
4. 4) Find out what extras are included with your purchase: warranty, breakdown cover etc
5. 5) Don’t be pushed into making a decision because of a one off big discount – they rarely are one off discounts as the price they offer you today will still be available next week or the week after.

Find A Stairlift Supplier

Stairlifts can really help the elderly to maintain independence within their own home. Unfortunately many elderly people will put off buying a stairlift until it becomes an absolute necessity. At this point it can be a difficult and time consuming process trying to find a reputable stairlift supplier who can supply you with the right stairlift at the right price.

Considerations when buying stairlifts for the elderly

There are a number of considerations when choosing to buy stair lifts for the elderly:

1) What is their level of mobility (especially with regard to their hips and knees)? This is an important consideration as many elderly people struggle getting from a standing to a seated position and then back up to a standing position. If they do have significantly reduced mobility in their knees and hips they may be better off with a perch stairlift rather than a standard stairlift. The perch style of stairlift enables the user to ‘’perch’’ in a higher seating position than a standard and is ideal for people with reduced mobility, or arthritis in the knees or hips.

2) What is their budget? If they are on a limited budget then there are options available to them including reconditioned stairlifts and stairlift rental. Reconditioned stairlifts are considerably cheaper than new stairlifts and are still covered with a fully inclusive breakdown cover. Rental stairlifts are cheaper in the short run but over a prolonged period the cost can work out to be more expensive.

3) Are they unsteady on their feet? If they are unsteady on their feet then a stairlift swivel seat would be required – a swivel seats gently rotates the user away from the stairs and towards the landing and also act as a barrier that prevents the user from falling backwards down the stairs. All new stairlifts now come with manual swivel seats as standard. Many suppliers will also give you the option of a powered swivel seat.

4) Could they be vulnerable to high pressure sales tactics? Unfortunately there are a number of stairlift companies (some large and some small) that employ high pressure sales tactics on vulnerable people. Some of these tactics include: offering big discounts if you sign up there and then, a phone call to the manager to offer you a special deal if you sign up today, an ex-display model has suddenly become available. If you are concerned about this it is always a good idea to arrange for a relative or friend to also be present at the appointment. It’s worth remembering that the stairlift company wants your custom so if they offer you a special deal on the day of the appointment you can be sure that they will still offer the same price (or better) in a weeks time.

If you have difficulty bending at the knees then you may find a perch stairlift easier to use than a conventional stairlift. A perch stairlift has a slightly smaller seat than a standard stairlift and is situated higher up than a standard stairlift seat. The higher seat position  is useful as it allows the user to remain in a perched position and removes the need to bend the knees to a right angle for seating. Perch stairlifts can be particularly useful for people who find it painful getting in and out of a seated position, making them particularly useful for people with arthritis in the knees or hips. For added safety perch stairlifts have an incorporated safety bar.

Perch Stairlifts for Narrow Stairs
Perch stairlifts are narrower than standard stairlifts making them ideal for use on stairs that are too narrow for a conventional stairlift. Perch stairlifts can be used on both straight and curved stairs.

Perch Stairlifts Summary:

• Allow user to remain in perch position
• Eliminate the need to bend at the knees
• Ideal for those with arthritis in the knees or hips
• Can be used on narrow stairs that are too narrow to fit a standard stairlift
• Incorporated safety bar

Extra Considerations
Perch stairlifts are not suitable if you have or suffer with:

• Extremely poor mobility
• Unsteadiness
• Dizziness
• Fainting
• Seizures

For more information on Perch Stairlifts or to arrange a no-obligation quote please visit the main Stairlift Suppliers Website.

Stairlift swivel seats are an important stairlift safety feature that rotates the user away from the stairs and towards the landing. This makes the back of the seat act as a barrier that prevents the user from falling backwards down the stairs. A swivel seat is designed to make the process of getting off the stairlift easier, safer and more comfortable. All new stairlifts now come with manual swivel seats as standard.
Are Swivel Seats easy to use?
Manual swivel seats are very easy to use:
1) Once the stairlift reaches the top of the stairs the user pushes down on the swivel lever (located at the sides of the stairlift seat) to activate the seat.
2) The user then gently rotates swivel to use of light assisted movement to rotate the swivel seat to face the landing area.
If the user has quite poor mobility then a powered swivel option can be used. Powered swivel seats make it even easier to safely dismount from a stairlift and are of particular benefit to those with additional mobility problems.
Are powered swivel seats easy to operate?
The powered swivel seat activates automatically, once the stairlift reaches the top of the stairs, gently rotating the stairlift seat towards the staircase landing. The powered swivel seat is moved by a motor meaning there is no effort required by the user.
How much do swivel seats cost?
All new stairlifts now come with a swivel seat as standard. However, a powered swivel seat would typically cost you around £100-£150. For more information or to arrange a no-obligation quote please visit the main Stairlift Suppliers Website.

The National Audit Office has said that tens of thousands of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA)  “are not identified or treated quickly enough and this dramatically affects long-term outcomes and people’s ability to remain in work.”

Rheumatoid arthritis is a debilitating and distressing disease that currently affects 580,000 adults in England with a further 26,000 new cases diagnosed each year. It is estimated that rheumatoid arthritis costs the NHS £560 million annually and costs the economy £1.8 billion a year through sick leave and work-related disability - over a third of people with RA stop working within 2 years of symptom onset. In severe cases patients may require mobility products such as mobility scooters, walk in baths and stairlifts.

The Report highlights how early diagnosis (ideally within three months of symptom onset) is the key to the successful treatment of rheumatoid arthritis and to to minimising the damage and disability caused by this progressive and incurable joint disease.  Unfortunately the average length of time from the first symptom onset to treatment is nine months, which has not improved in the past five years. There are two main reasons for the delay in diagnosis and treatment of rheumatoid arthritis: Firstly; public awareness of the disease is low and many people delay seeking medical help for RA often because they rarely associate RA symptoms (swollen, painfull & stiff joints) with a condition that requires prompt diagnosis and treatment. Secondly; RA is difficult to diagnose and requires specialist knowledge and expertise for diagnosis. These two reasons combined can lead to long delays from symptom onset to treament with the average patient visiting their GP four times before they are referred to a specialist for diagnosis and treatment. Currently only a tenth are treated within three months of symptom onset.

The report recomends: “The National Health Service (NHS) should take a more co ordinated approach to identifying people with symptoms of early rheumatoid arthritis, so that they get access to specialist care quickly and receive support and advice to help them manage and live with the disease. This would provide better value for money, better outcomes for patients, and lead to productivity gains for the economy. Some of the systemic improvements needed to manage and control this disease also apply to other long-term conditions requiring specialist-led care.”

Some key facts about Rheumatoid Arthritis:

• RA is an autoimmune disease that causes chronic inflammation of the joints but can also cause inflamation of tissues around the joint but may also affect many other tissues and organs including the lungs and the skin
• Approximately 1% of the worlds population is affected by RA
• Women are more than twice as likely as men to get RA
• Onset is most common beyond the ages of 40-50, but any age can be affected
• Severe RA may shorten life expectancy by 6 - 10 years

David Cameron has pledge to end the “world of bureaucratic pain” facing families of disabled children through the introduction of a “one stop shop” assesment process to cut through the current bureaucratic red tape.

The Tory leaders severly disabled son Ivan, who had both cerebral palsy and severe epilepsy, died earlier this year at the age of six.  He has spoken previously how Ivan has made a significant influence on his life and has made him a passionate supporter of the Health Service. Addressing the Research Autism conference, he spoke of how under the current system parents of disabled children are faced with having to answer the same questions about their child repeatedly, as well as writing out huge number of forms and waiting for long periods in phone queues.

Under his plans, families of disabled children will get one-off assessments by a team of professionals consisting  of  a paediatric doctor, physiotherapist, child psychiatrist, nurse and a benefits assistant who will all visit the family at the same time and offer complementary help and give the family as much support as possible. As well as helping families of a disabled child “to clear that first hurdle quickly and efficiently” the new plans would also “give them a key to open one door to everything they need”and should help to reduce costs by cutting through the bureaucratic red tape that is believed to account for a quater of all disability spending.

Mr Cameron has also promised to increase the number of health visitors and to increase resources in order to help voluntary organisations provide respite care.

Bespoke stairlifts are one of the UK’s leading reconditioned curved stairlift manufacturers with over 20 full time experienced staff and access to a UK wide network of qualified stairlift engineers. They manufacture the popular BS101 reconditioned curved stairlift which is designed to go on curved or more complicated stair cases and come with a full 12 months warranty as standard.

The BS101 re-engineered inner or outer curved stairlift

Bespoke Stairlifts BS101 negotiates bends, landings and corridors with ease and can be fitted to either an inner or outer curve. The BS101 is also suitable for use narrow stair cases due to its slim carriage and rail. The BS101 comes complete with easy to use push button controls, optional joystick control, swivel seat, and D.C. powered batteries that charge automatically and provide a smooth gentle ride even during a power cut.

Stairlift Suppliers have been asked to sell a Stannah 300 stairlift that is no longer required in the Great Barr area of Birmingham. The stairlift is right hand fitting, in excellent condition, with track that covers 13 stairs. The stairlift is beige (metal) and salmon (chair padding) coloured. Originally fitted in 2000 but has had very little use and has been maintained by Stannah.

Anyone interested in purchasing the stairlift should contact stairlift suppliers through our contact form: on the stairlift suppliers website.

Acorn Stairlifts have recently redesigned their stairlift remote control. Following customer feedback Acorn Stairlifts decided to overhaul the look and the feel of their remote controls. Acorn decided to make the remote more ergonomically designed. This involved making the remote slimmer, less clumbersome to hold, and easier to operate.

A key feature was to make the up and down switches larger and made specifically for those with poor mobility, or arthritis in their hands. They are now more friendly for the disabled user who can operate the switches simply by sliding their thumb up or down. As well as making the remote control easier to use this also reduces the risk of the remote being dropped on the floor.

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• Acorn Stairlifts Acquire Bison Stairlifts
• Acorn Stairlifts
• Acorn Superglide Stairlift
• Acorn 80 Curved Stairlift