Stairlift Awareness in the US

At the start of the new millennium, the awareness of stair lifts in the US was low. Elevators were perceived as the main method of getting from one floor of your home to another.  But that all changed when Acorn Stairlifts, established in 1992 with their first office in the UK, opened a US office in 2001.

Since then, Acorn Stairlifts have invested in multiple media channels to raise US stair lift awareness and will continue to do so until stairlifts are instantly recognisable around the world. Acorn have heavily invested in TV, web and print advertising and you’ve likely seen one.

Stair lifts are specially designed for people who have mobility issues whilst using their stairs. Often a mobility issue prevents you from using your homes as intended. Stair lifts come in many shapes, sizes, colours and applications and are an affordable option that enables you to stay in the home you love. A stairlift can be fitted to most staircase designs. There are stairlifts for straight stairs, stairs with bends, outdoor staircases and stairs which suddenly change direction.

Acorn’s straight stairlift, the Acorn Superglide 120, is designed for straight staircases of varying length. Their slim design with folding arm rests allows for minimal obstruction on your stairs. This allows people pass by the stairlift with ease, without the stairlift getting in the way. A straight stairlift is generally cheaper than stairlifts for more complex staircases.

Acorn’s curved stairlift, the Acorn 80, is designed for staircases which curve and bend at any stage. Their curved stairlift also have a slim form factor and many safety features. Acorn has developed a modular rail system that allows their stairlift to be quickly manufactured and installed at a lower cost than its competitors.

An increase in stairlift awareness is a positive for those with mobility issues trying to use their home who have not yet heard of a stairlift. So if you know of anyone who can’t use their stairs and could benefit from a stairlift, let them know that a stairlift may help.

Are you finding your stairs difficult?

If you are finding that climbing up and down the stairs is getting more difficult, a stairlift could be the solution to your problem.

Stairlifts are mobility aids which can help disabled people tackle the stairs more easily. However, being disabled is not a requirement when buying a stairlift, so if your stairs are becoming a struggle you should consider getting a stair lift.

Stairlifts are available in a variety of forms and can be custom made to fit the needs of the user exactly. So whether you have a straight, curved, narrow or outdoor staircase that you are finding difficult to walk up and down, there will be a stairlift suitable for you. There are even stairlifts specially designed and manufactured for those of us who have difficulties bending our knees. These stairlifts are called perch stairlifts. These allow people to stand or perch on the stairlift instead of having to sit down, which can reduce any pain that sitting may cause them.

Stairlifts also come with a range of features, both as standard and optional. The features include safety features, for example a seat belt to ensure the user is secure when using the stairlift; electronic and mechanical braking systems to make sure the stairlift cannot perform an uncontrolled descent; and pressure sensitive safety surfaces which ensure the stair lift comes to a stop if there is an obstruction on the stairs. Other features of stair lifts include a swivel seat, a lockable isolation switch, and both paddle and infra-red remote controls. These all help in making the stairlift ride safe and comfortable.

All in all, stairlifts are useful, practical and reliable pieces of equipment which allow people who have difficulties with stairs to go up and down them safely and comfortably.