• Acorn Stairlifts :Lifting People’s Lives To A New Level

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    Since 1922 when it was founded, Acorn Stairlifts have been giving people with mobility difficulties a new push, so to speak, in going about their business in life. Since then, it had been a boon to the elderly, to people with arthritis, and to those with injuries and surgeries to be able move about in their homes like they used to.

    Starting out with buying pre-owned stairlifts from other companies and reconditioning them to near-pristine quality, the company soon discovered it had to design and manufacture their own new stairlifts minus the obsolete features of the old models.

    Today, Acorn Stairlifts is one of the world’s largest makers of stairlifts with offices across the US, Canada, Australia, Germany and the United Kingdom. With a yearly output of over 50,000 units, the company still leads in customer satisfaction, in sales and in technological innovations of their products.

    Acorn Stairlifts standards

    The foremost consideration at Acorn is consumer safety. Next, would be the user’s comfort level in the use of the product.

    With the number of years the company had been in the business, its stairlifts had evolved so many times to what they are today – the most ideal stairlift it can offer to each type of customer.

    Pioneering efforts

    One of the company’s biggest innovations is the pioneering work it did in developing the use of direct current (battery) to power the stairlifts. Where in the past stairlifts cannot be used due to power interruptions, the use of independent battery power is now the standard choice.

    Aside from the smooth, whisper-like motor sound, the device is equipped with wireless remote controls to make things easier and simpler. Also absent now are the unsightly trailer cables that messed up the look of the old models.

    Safety measures

    Acorn stairlifts are all equipped with limit sensors to make sure they stop in the correct position and start and stop smoothly in ascents and descents. The safety belts are to keep the user secure in the seat.

    Moreover, the electronic and mechanical braking systems are for removing the possibility of any uncontrolled movements of the machine, especially in descents.

    Installation

    With the experienced engineers from Acorn Stairlifts, installation of the stairlift is fast and clean. These fully-trained professionals have met all kinds of challenges from all sorts of houses with difficult stairs configurations.

    After installation, Acorn engineers will test the stairlift as thoroughly as possible. This is also to test and demonstrate the features and other capabilities of the Acorn stairlift.

    For one, an Acorn Stairlift is fitted to the stairs and not the wall, minimizing disruption and ensuring durability. The Overspeed Governor (OSG), an Acorn standard vital safety equipment, is tested and retested.

    Seats and safety belts are checked for operational defects, if ever. Inspection is also done on the slim folding of the arms, seat and footrest of the stairlift as well as testing on the soft start and stop of the machine.

    Warranty

    All of Acorn products have a 12-month service warranty. This covers the maintenance, and in case of a fault (a rare case), your unit is given priority consideration.

    As is widely known, Acorn Stairlifts is ahead of its field because of their products – maintenance-free, innovative safety features and trouble-free use.

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  • Stairlifts – Making People with Limited Mobility Productive

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    For the past 80 years or so, stairlifts have been around, helping move people who cannot move on their own from one floor to another. The modern version became fashionable only in the 90s.

    Typically, these are electrically-powered devices attached to the staircase where a mobility-impaired person is transported from one floor to another. Today, stairlifts have been instrumental in making senior citizens, people with limited mobility, and those recovering from injuries or surgeries be mobile and be productive again.

    Types

    Basically, stairlifts are chair-and-platform devices that transport a single user along a staircase, either in descent or ascent. They run the whole staircase and are typically made of lightweight metals (aluminium), with the track attached to the steps of the stairway. (Wall-mounted lifts are those used for limited spaces or if the staircase is curved.)

    In the old days, stairlifts use AC current (those used to power up the house) while new modern models are run mostly on DC current (run on batteries). These are a bit more expensive than that running on household power, but they have the advantage of working even if there are emergency power outages and the like.

    One deciding factor in determining the type of stairlift that can be installed in your home is the actual design of your staircase. The easiest one would be the straight type following the form of your staircase.

    Some companies offer Do-It-Yourself Stairlift kits where the requirement would only be the length of the staircase. However, most experts (and manufacturing companies) would recommend that a licensed professional should do the job, unless you are one yourself.

    This is especially true in cases where the staircase is not straight but is curved, L-shaped, or has a landing. Moreover, companies usually add the installation fee to the final price of the stairlifts and have their own fully-trained professionals do the job.

    Costs

    With the proliferation of so many companies manufacturing stairlifts, prices become competitive and lower than in the old days. Today, many other innovations are tacked on to the device that makes it more valuable in concrete terms.

    For one, stairlifts are less costly than installing an elevator in your house which needs a shaft and a strong holding beam.  Some people also opt for reconditioned machines.

    Reconditioned stairlifts are definitely cheaper than brand-new models for obvious reasons. The cost might prove to be a winner but safety should definitely a topmost concern.

    Even if the dealers have done their standard checks (it is said they need to check on 20 things before selling these reconditioned stairlifts), it is wise to verify things on your own.

    Check on the wear and tear on the parts that are most susceptible.  Do the rollers show abrasions and look worn-out? Are the wires on the cables still intact? Even the seats need to be inspected for telltale signs of being worn out.

    Productivity quotients

    With stairlifts in homes where they are needed, old people and mobility impaired individuals are now given the chance of being productive again.

    With their mobility unimpaired, they can move about in their normal (though slower) ways.  Boosting their confidence and having a good sense of well-being is one excellent start to a productive life.

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