Stair Lift 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 stair lift can be fitted to most staircase designs. There are stair lifts for straight stairs, stairs with bends, outdoor staircases and stairs which suddenly change direction.

Acorn’s straight stair lift, 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 stair lift with ease, without the stair lift getting in the way. A straight stair lift is generally cheaper than stair lifts for more complex staircases.

Acorn’s curved stair lift, 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 stair lift 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 stair lift. So if you know of anyone who can’t use their stairs and could benefit from a stair lift, let them know that a stair lift may help.

Rules When Buying a Stairlift

Buying a stairlift is not like buying your average, every day item; you are unlikely to need to buy more than one, as they remain reliable and safe for a long duration. When buying a stairlift, you need to follow a few simple rules in order to ensure you choose the best stairlift possible. These rules are as follows:

1. Make sure it has at least a 1 year warranty

When buying a stairlift, or any other piece of equipment, you want the peace of mind that comes along with having a warranty. That is why many stairlift companies ensure that they include a one year warranty with all of the stairlifts they provide.

2. Make sure it is custom made

If it is custom made, it is sure to fit your needs exactly, and if it does that, you can relax that you have a stairlift that meets all of your needs and the requirements of your stairs perfectly.

3. Make sure it is good value for money

There can be huge price differences between supplies of stairlift. However, sometimes it is worth paying an average price rather than getting a stairlift cheaply due to the fact that the stairlift may come with other features included. These extra features included as standard could make it worth your while to spend a little bit more on the stairlift when you first purchase it, rather than having to spend more money at a later date.

4. Make sure it is the most suitable stairlift for your needs

A variety of stairlifts are available including ones for people who have trouble bending their knees; perch stairlifts. Perch stairlifts allow the user to go up and down the stairs whilst being securely fastened in, without them having to bend their knees at all. Using the perch stairlift will therefore significantly reduce the pain people feel when bending their knees.

5. Make sure support is available for the duration of the life of the stairlift

You will need support from the company that supplies the stairlift. This includes having a team of people that you can call if you have a problem, as well as people that will come out and fix your stairlift in case it breaks down. This is an important factor that many consumers forget to consider when buying a stairlift.

Choosing a Stairlift Provider

When choosing which stairlift to purchase, a major factor you have to take into consideration is the person or company that is going to provide you with a reliable, safe and easy to use stairlift. To be sure you have the right supplier there are a few steps to take.

1. You must make sure the representative of the company that is going to supply your stairlift assesses your specific needs, as well as those of the staircase itself.
2. When they have fully assessed your needs, you must make sure you get a written quotation which includes the cost of the installation, rather than just an estimate. Whilst getting a quote, you should ask the representative whether you are exempt from paying VAT because it is a possibility that you will not need to pay it.
3. Ensure you have a written guarantee of when the stairlift is going to be installed by.
4. Ask what services are available with the stairlift and what guarantees come with the stairlift. This includes issues like a manned helpline which offers advice in case the stairlift breaks in any way.
5. Make sure you obtain a card including the personal details of the representative in case you think of anything else to ask at a later date.