When you are thinking of buying a stairlift, or a stair climber, there must be a good reason for it. Either your strength has been reduced or you have been injured so it is not easy for you to walk up and down the stairs. A home stairlift brings you back the ability to travel between floors effortlessly. You will be able to enjoy your home and your living there again fully.

Additionally, the stairlift accessories might be something to look into. They could further assist you in accomplishing the daily tasks in your home and conserve your energy further.

You will find five stairlift accessories reviews here: Newspaper holders, Grocery carriers, Hinged rails, Sit and stand or perch frame, and Weather tight seat and unit cover.

Newspaper holders

You want to keep your hands free while riding the stair lift. It is just safer that way. Many stair lifts offer attachments, or add ons such as a newspaper holder.

Grocery cariers

Some stair lifts offer a large, metal basket as a side attachment to the chair, with several dozens of pounds carrying capacity. Such baskets are perfect for carrying groceries and other heavier items with you. Again, you will be able to keep your hands free while in transport.

Hinged rails

Sometimes it is necessary for the rail to extend into the hallway, or over and across a door. This is not desirable as it hinders the traffic through the hallway or through that door. So a hinged end-rails can be implemented. The hinged end-rails will rotate along the hinge back onto the rest of the rail, removing themselves as an obstacle in the hallway or at the door. The rails can be hinged for as long as the stairlift is not in use.

For added convenience, motorized hinged rails are available. The electric motors will help you with extending and retracting the hinged rail as needed.

Sit and stand, or perch frame

This is another very useful accessory for some people. If you are hard of sitting, or if you are having trouble bending your knees to sit properly, a sit and stand or a perch frame is very helpful. It enables you to stand or perch instead of sitting when necessary. The frame consists of a bar that you can hold on to during the ride, and an additional safety rail that you can also use. Another use for the standing or perching frame is when the stairs prove too narrow to be able to sit in the chair lift comfortably.

Weather tight seat and unit cover

The weather tight seat and unit cover mostly makes sense for outdoor stairlift only. It prevents rain, dirt and sand, and wind to affect your unit and reduce its life span. There is no covers available for the rail so to keep it in good shape, frequent vacuuming or sweeping is recommended.

Source by Jason Stark

If you can’t say anything nice, don’t say anything at all. But if you can say something nice – DO! Lisa Ryan

It was my mom’s 70th birthday and we drove down to Atlanta (twelve hours) to spend it with her. In my “ideal perfect world,” I knew that I wanted to spend the day at the spa with my mom. However, because of my speaking schedule, I did not have the time to actually book an appointment in advance.

If you’ve ever tried to book a spa appointment for a particular day, you know how difficult it can be, so imagine trying to book TWO same day spa appointments. I was on the phone early on Saturday, calling difference spas and telling the receptionist what I wanted. Most of them practically laughed in my face, “Honey, we are booked up through the end of next month,” was the general attitude.

Finally, in desperation, said out loud, “I need a spa and I need one NOW!” The next website that came up was a spa right in my mom’s town. Their website was unimpressive and I would not have chosen it if I was not desperate. I called the number and Silvia answered the phone.

I told her, “Today is my mom’s 70th birthday and I’d like to take her to the spa.” Silvia replied, “We just had a cancellation, we would love to create the perfect day for your mother.” I said, “Well, I’d like to come with her, can you do two appointments?” She said, “Of course we can.” I really wanted two facials, but because of the technicians that they had working that day, we would have to have one facial and one massage – no problem, massage for mom, facial for me (my favorite service anyway.)

Then Silvia said, “We can even provide both services for each of you.” I said, “Really, we can have BOTH a massage AND a facial???” By that time, Silvia had created such a high expectation for the day that I didn’t even ask the price, I just said, “Sign us up.” We got into the car and drove to our appointments.

Silvia greeted us at the door and brought us into the “Relaxation Room.” She directed my mother to a chair that already had a birthday balloon tied to it and a card ready for her, signed by the staff. She took off our shoes and put our feet up on the lounge chair. She then asked us what we would like to drink. We both ordered raspberry lemonade which she promptly provided. After handing us our drinks, she left and brought my mom a tray with assorted goodies – grapes, cheese, crackers, cookies and chocolate. As she offered my mother her tray, she said, “It is my pleasure and an honor to serve you.” She then put together my tray and handed it to me in the same fashion. Wow!

We did not carry our purse or take on or off our shoes all day. The services were far beyond expectation and my mom said it was “the BEST birthday ever.” Mission accomplished.

On the way out to the car, my mother asked me, “Did you notice the bathroom?” I exclaimed, “YES!” Every single time my mother or I used the restroom, the wastebasket had been emptied. It was perfectly clean. The attention to detail was amazing and by taking care of everything, Silvia and the rest of the team created a day that was in a word – Perfect.

What does all of this have to do with your business?

1. Think about how your phone is answered. Do you treat “silly questions” as if they truly are ridiculous, or do you look for a “Yes, and” solution to make the situation work for you and your potential client. Smiling while answering the phone works. I could hear Silvia smiling through the phone.

2. When you provide a product or service, do you consider it an “honor” to be of service to your clients? Do you convey that in your tone of voice and come at your business from the place of a servant heart? When Silvia first uttered, “It is my honor and a privilege to serve you,” I had no doubt in my mind that she meant every word.

3. What details are you missing? Is there something you can do that is so simple and yet so unexpected that it leaves an indelible impression? It may have taken Silvia three seconds to remove the paper towels from the waste basket between clients, yet that minor detail stood out above everything else. It showed what an amazing experience they were able to create just by paying attention.

Take inventory of your thoughts, words, feelings and actions as you go through your day. Your clients don’t need to know what kind of day you’re “really” having, all they need to do is experience the heart of a servant and the desire to take care of them in the best possible way – details included.

Have fun,

Lisa

Don’t underestimate the power of your thoughts, feelings and words, EVERYTHING you do makes an impression, whether it’s positive or negative.

Source by Lisa Ryan

Quality sleep is very important and your choice of bed and other accessories such as the mattresses and pillows determine just how well you sleep. Luckily, there are so many options readily available in the market and finding what you love should not be that hard to do. When you make important considerations, you will have an easy time taking home the bed that you love and will enjoy sleeping on every night.

Type

A bed is not just a bed; there are so many types and your personal preferences should guide you to the most suitable one. Some of the options you will find include canopy, platform, sleigh and four poster bed. You also have an option of going for bunk or sofa beds among others. What appeals to one person may not be the perfect choice for another, so weigh all your options, and then select the one that suits your preferences.

Size

Just like any other furniture, beds come sized differently. A single bed may be good for children, but a couple will definitely need a larger one. Some beds can be size customized to meet individual preferences so you can have it as big as you wish. When choosing the perfect size, however, you want to take into consideration the amount of space you have available and the mattress’ size options. You really do not want to end up with a bed that won’t fit into your bedroom space or one that you can’t find right mattress size for.

Materials

Wood seems to be the standard for beds and you have different wood options when looking at wooden ones. There is however also the options of metal and steel beds. Each one of the materials comes with advantages and disadvantages and it is a good idea that you consider each option before choosing the material you find most suitable. Apart from having metallic or wooden frames, they could also come with additional materials to make them comfy and elegant. Consider such additions as well when choosing your bed to get the best in the end.

Price

It is determined by a number of factors including size, materials, finish and any additional touches to improve the aesthetics of the bed. The type of bed that you choose will also play a role in just how much you have to pay for it. When setting out to buy a bed, it is important that you have a budget range falling within what you can afford. Shopping for a specific kind of bed within a given price limit is so much easier than just randomly deciding to start looking for the perfect bed for you. Know what you want and how much you can spare for it before starting with your search and you will save yourself from lots of confusion with so many options available.

Source by Shalini Madhav

Although, some parents of infants, later diagnosed with autism or other pervasive developmental disorders indicate that their child was progressing normally, then suddenly stopped and began to regress. Many other parents state, that in retrospect, they saw indicators from birth.

What are these early indicators that might be overlooked? Parents should let intuition be their guide and intervene early if they suspect something is not quite right. If an infant lacks eye contact, avoids cuddling, fixates on lights or spinning objects, acts as if deaf, is excessively passive, these could be possible “red flags”.

These signs may not be easily recognized by first time parents. In the past, pediatricians have often advocated a wait and see approach. All babies develop at their own rate. This is true. On the other hand; however, the plasticity of the infant’s brain lends itself to corrections that may be come more difficult if disengaging behaviors become more ingrained.

Suggestions for modulating and correcting possible problems:

Cut down on environmental stimuli. (E.g. Turn of the TV. Shut off ceiling fans. Turn off spinning mobiles. Avoid excessive use of flash cameras.)

Promote eye contact. Gaze into his eyes as he is being nursed. Animate expressions to see if that increases engagement. Become more subdued if the infant appears overwhelmed by facial interactions. Play peek a boo games. Sing to the child. If the infant is being bottle fed, position him as if he were nursing and look in his eyes. During feeding, do not engage in other activities such as watching TV or checking email. This is a time to bond.

Eye contact is necessary precursors to joint attention, a process where the child begins to point and then looks into the eyes of the caregiver to see if he/she is seeing what he is.

A disengaged infant should face the caregiver as much as possible. Invest in a stroller where the child faces the parent. Forward facing strollers increase stress and anxiety and it limits possibilities for interaction. The same is true of tummy backs that have the child facing outward, rather than toward the parent. When the child is facing toward you he can the soothing rhythm of your heartbeat.

If the infant resists cuddling and touch, lean over him as he lies on his back and look into his eyes. Massage him to increase tolerance. Lay next to the infant engaging him in eye contact, gently massage arms, legs, hands and feet. Different textures can be used in addition to hands. Use these techniques to slowly desensitize the child.

Rocking, spinning, and head banging can be signs of agitation. If a baby looks like he is having difficulty establishing an internal rhythm, parents should keep him very close so he can feel their heartbeat/rhythm. Rock him in a traditional rocking chair. Provide a manual rocking horse, or swing. Mechanical swings and devices often provide a faster rhythm than normal, possibly making the problem worse.

If the child does not respond to his name by age one, continues to resist eye contact or cuddling, does not demonstrate at least the beginnings of joint attention- pointing and sharing, does not babble and/or continues to act is if deaf, parents need to ask his pediatrician for a referral for an evaluation by a developmental disorder specialist.

Whether your child has a problem or not, these common sense interventions can’t hurt. Parents may be surprised how their once aloof infant looks into their eyes and gives them a big hug.

Source by Mary Ann Harrington M.S

I’m a worrier — have been all my life. I remember as a child, my father always telling me, “Reg, you’re going to worry yourself to death!” I will worry about anything — you name it, and I have some deep concern about it. Once, during a therapy session, my psychiatrist asked, “Reg, is there anything you don’t worry about?” I responded, “well, I don’t worry that tomorrow I’m going to wake up and discover I’m a female, but everything else is fair game.”

One bit of good news for me — I don’t believe I’ve passed my worry genes to my children. (I’ve of course worried about this, too.) On my oldest daughter’s Facebook page, she notes — “Don’t worry about anything. Phil 4: 6-7.” Maybe my daughters will grow up to be well-adjusted people in spite of dear old dad.

The sad truth is that 1 in 4 Americans suffers from an anxiety disorder sometime in his or her life. As the old Chinese saying goes, “the mind is man’s best friend or his worst enemy.” And to add insult to injury, worrying is completely useless. We all know this. I’m reminded of a quote — “Worry is a futile thing. It’s somewhat like a rocking chair, although it keeps you occupied, it doesn’t get you anywhere.”

The effects of worry can be debilitating. Excessive worry can cause a whole host of health problems, including fatigue, nausea, head and muscle aches, and insomnia. At it worst, it can lead to coronary artery disease and heart attacks. The Indian philosopher Krishnamurti put it beautifully, “if your eyes are blinded with your worries, you cannot see the beauty of the sunset.”

So, if we all agree that worry is useless and debilitating, how can we stop it? Recent studies agree that there has been much progress of late in treating anxiety and worry — even the most severe of cases. And some of the most effective treatments are simple things anyone can do.

Regular exercise is a great stress reducer. Any exercise will help. I heartily recommend yoga and walking/running. Meditation can also help train the mind and provide one with the tools to keep unchecked worry at bay. Prayer helps, too. If you are so inclined, offer up your worries in a prayer to God. (One of my favorite prayers is Matthew 11:28 — “Come to me all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Sometimes it helps to remind me to let go and let God take control.)

Another way to combat worry is to connect. Try to stay connected with family, friends, classmates, and colleagues. Being alone is a real danger for the worrier. With no one around to help keep the mind occupied, it is free to roam into dangerous, negative territory.

If these steps do not help, you may need professional help. Excessive worry (the kind that can interfere regularly with your ability to live your life) maya be a symptom of a serious disorder, like OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder), GAD (Generalized Anxiety Disorder), PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder), and could also lead to panic attacks. If this might be your case, please consider consulting your physician. All these ailments are treatable and there are many types of therapies available, including simple talk therapy up to a wide variety of medicine and other treatment. You and your physician/therapist could decide and work through the best course of treatment for you.

My friends, worry is useless and unnecessary. But it seems to be becoming a greater problem now more than ever. If you think you need help, you probably do. And you are never going to be able to focus on finding peace and happiness until you can get your mind under control. You simply won’t have the stamina to stay focused on the positive if you are trapped in the negative. Don’t stay beholden to worry. Please take care of yourself and get the help you need.

(For further reading, please see “Fighting Life’s ‘What Ifs'” by Edward H. Hallowell published November 1, 1997 in Psychology Today, and “How Worry Affects Your Body” published in WebMD.)

Copyright 2011. True Self Enterprises, Inc.

Source by Reg L Carver

One of the most overlooked factors or features of leather chairs and recliners is what I have coined “the slick factor”. The slick factor is a measurement of how slippery a piece of leather furniture is. I used to be a valet attendant and I parked luxury automobiles by the hundreds every day. There were certain vehicles that when you hopped into the driver seat you literally slid right to the back of the leather seat. It felt like your rear end just fell into the chair. This is a feature not common to many leather automobile seats. It is also a feature that is difficult to find in the current leather chairs and sofas.

My only theory as to why it is not present in many leather chairs and recliners is because it is something that is not actively manufactured. I do not believe that the designers consider this factor when upholstering furniture. As a consumer and customer however it is a very important factor. If you are like me and you love this feature it can be frustrating trying to find a sofa or recliner that achieves this and also boasts the other features you want in your chair or sofa.

Next time you are in your favorite leather furniture store, pay attention to the slickness factor of the pieces you are trying out. Also, in order to accurately test this feature of the chair, you must be wearing clothing that promotes the slick factor the best. If you are wearing any kind of corduroy clothing, or any other kind of clothing that is thick or bunchy, you will not slide as much. Try to wear tight fitting clothing like cotton shirts. Even regular denim jeans tend to promote sliding quite well. Another great test is to wear shorts because you can test the slickness factor on human skin. Assuming you are not sweaty at the time, your dry skin should also slide across the leather surface very nicely. If you’re the kind of person who enjoys sinking into a puffy leather chair, you may also appreciate the feeling of sliding into the comfort zone of a leather chair or recliner.

The only advice I can offer you in your hunt for slippery leather chairs and sofas is that that harder upholstery tends to have a higher percentage of slippery surfaces. The sofas with puffy cushions tend to not slide as much as the padding engulfs your body parts. The tighter and harder style chair is your best chance of slippery greatness.

Finally it should be pointed out that not all slippery chairs get the click factor right. In some instances the slipperiness will be so severe that upon reclining, instead of your rear end sliding into the comfort pocket, you will continue to slide all the way off the chair until your head is where your bottom should be. Make sure to test your sofa or chair before purchasing. These factors can only known if you personally sit in them. It is very subjective. So be weary before you purchase furniture online before trying it out in person, even if it is a trusted brand you have had good results with in the past.

Source by Robbie Bishop

The rescue services operate in many different scenarios and provide a wide variety of cover, therefore, they need access to alternative stretchers depending on the emergency. Whether it is the air and sea rescue flying out over the ocean, RNLI picking up stranded sailors or mountain rescuers scaling the peaks in search of lost souls, they all carry essential stretchers with them.

The air and sea rescue units tend to carry basket stretchers on board their helicopters as these are ideal for keeping a patient immobilised and minimising further complications during transfer to hospital. They also require sturdy stretchers, which can stand up to the riggers of being hoisted into the air and swinging around precariously beneath the aircraft.

Hoisting an injured person onto a helicopter can also incur a number of rescue problems of its own as this can often be a scary procedure for someone already suffering from stress. The basket stretcher provides a safe and protective cradle in which the patient will feel slightly more confident as they are winched into the sky.

The basket stretcher is also the one favoured by the RNLI during their water born rescues. Again the injured person needs to be kept tightly strapped in and immobilised, especially as most incidents at sea occur during stormy weather. The basket stretcher ensures the casualty is secured whilst the lifeboat pitches and tosses about in the rough sea.

These stretchers can also be fitted with heated blankets that prevent hypothermia from setting in, while floatation units can be used to aid buoyancy if water recovery is necessary. There are also spinal stretchers and inflatable stretchers available that can be used for assisting people who have suffered spinal injuries whilst in water.

Mountain Rescue deal in some of the most inhospitable and inaccessible areas, high up on perilous ranges or crawling deep underground to assist stricken persons. These teams will quite often reach their patients on foot and need stretchers that are lightweight and easily portable. The Neil Robertson stretcher and the Stokes basket stretcher are two popular litters used by mountain rescue teams. Light and easily transportable they are ideal for carrying to remote rescue locations.

The Stokes litter can be reassembled to form its classic basket shape, which is strong, durable and an essential element in rough terrains. The Neil Robertson stretcher comprising a rigid canvas support with hard inserts for strengthening is equally light and portable. Another popular tool with mountain rescue crews are skid stretchers, especially where the patient has to be dragged and carried across rocky surfaces. Their moulded plastic base acts like a sledge and slides across the ground more efficiently, while the injured person is safely strapped inside.

Source by Alex Hunt

The contemporary look is highlighted by rustic furniture. Individuals who treasure the rough, unfinished country look are always on the look out for rustic furniture. The pine log cabins are a perfect example of this. It is a very popular form of living room furniture as it is not very expensive and available aplenty. Many homes have living room furniture pieces that are hand carved from wooden logs.

Furniture such as chairs, bureau, center tables and sofas are expertly crafted with detailed exquisiteness that in spite of the simple materials used it becomes a masterpiece. Rustic furniture is cherished for its combination of form and function.

Present day rustic furniture may keep to the themes of building techniques of the past or could combine them with contemporary styling. The buyer can opt for very simple, hand made rustic furniture pieces or could use rustic designs on modern furniture. Another great alternative is that, when choosing rustic furniture for living room themes, the entire room need not be committed to a rustic look. By adding a few pieces here and there, the entire living room can attain a rustic look. Since the rustic look uses the beauty of wood, mirrors, bookcases, and tables can be highlighted with this rustic charm. This can be achieved quite simply by incorporating various inexpensive accessories, such as flowers and twigs.

The rustic look is a perfect choice when opting to decorate a living room that opens out into a patio or lanai. Irrespective of the rustic furniture piece chosen, the look and grace of the newly decorated living room will definitely be the talk of the town. Rustic log furniture is a treasure for the future generations. The magic of wood will definitely bring a sense of warmth, coziness and comfort to the home.

Source by Eddie Tobey

Here is an email I’ve received from one of my customers who is confused about all the different salon shampoo washing systems and shampoo bowl designs available on the market.

“I’m opening a new beauty salon and I really love all the new style beauty salon shampoo stations, but I can’t find the design style information anywhere. I have many questions. What salon shampoo washing system style is the best to buy? Should I stick with the traditional salon shampoo bowl design or the new stylish Euro style shampoo bowls? I’m used to the old fashion beauty salon all-purpose styling chair with a sink. What are the pros and cons of buying each different style? Are some more comfortable than others? Do certain models provide for better water management? Is there anyone who can steer me in the right direction?”

First of all I’d like to say that I love these new Euro-style freestanding shampoo backwash units. The quality and styling of the fiberglass base units combined with the tilting porcelain bowls have created fantastic designs. That said, lets talk about the age-old question that I get asked all the time: What shampoo bowl should I buy?

What I tell people is buy the one that will make your salon stand out from all the rest if that’s the fashion statement that you want to make! But be aware of the design pros and cons. Lets talk about the basics of shampoo equipment like water management (water/gravity) and customer comfort. I like to break it down into three styles of shampoo sink design each with their distinct advantages and disadvantages.

1) An Asian style horizontal laying shampoo unit puts 100% of the head and 100% of the water in the bowl with gravity working for you 100%. But speaking from experience, they always seem to be difficult to lay down on (kind of like a big table) and uncomfortable for clients. This shampoo unit probably has the best water management system but not a very big seller, because of the huge lack of customer comfort.

2) So let’s talk about the old fashion American beauty salon with their wall mount shampoo sink. Well think about it, the client is on 45 degrees with the gravity of their head hanging into the sink and the stylist washing from the side. This means lets say 45% of the water with the help of gravity is working with you for water management. But it’s unfortunate that the client’s head is hanging in the bowl or you are holding it. Plus you are forced to stand toward the front side of the shampoo bowl typically wedged against the wall. This causes back strain for the stylist and head strain for the client, but your water management isn’t too bad because the sink is rather large and gravity is somewhat working for you.

3) Now that takes us to the newer Euro style tilting shampoo bowl with more of a sit-up style all in one shampoo unit. These Euro designs are quite comfortable! Basically it’s like, sitting in a chair and this makes your client more at ease plus easier to manage when shampooing. The typical freestanding backwash shampoo unit has quite a few ergonomic advantages for the stylists. First, you can wash hair standing in the rear of the bowl or from either side. This allows the back to remain straight and utilization of both hands can be equal. The bowl will tilt (most units) into the head and shoulders compensating for different heights. Some of these bowls have a tendency of being smaller in diameter so you are closer to your client, which is important for some of the smaller stylist. Most of the bowls have typically a deep neck recess with longer side neck extensions to collect water. This will help your water management with the longer neck extensions since gravity is not working in your favor with this style unit. You will need adequate water pressure but not excessive in combination with good working habits to manage your water around the client. Although, gravity is slightly more of a concern with this style, the advantages of the Euro-style shampoo bowls far outweigh the slight differences from the traditional shampoo units.

To sum it all up, the American market typically trends toward the standard wall mount shampoo bowl (ex. 2) if you don’t have a lot of space and are on a limited budget. But the newer Euro-style shampoo bowls offer huge variety, ergonomic comfort, and provide very economical choices. Plus the fashion statements you can design into your salon are absolutely endless. To be able to offer these Euro-style shampoo systems with porcelain bowls, complete with all the plumbing fixtures installed and a stylish fiberglass non-rusting base at these economics prices is very exciting for us here at Keller International.

Source by Paul Keller

Ameriglide stair lifts – also known as Summit stair lifts (they are the same company) – are cheaper than Acorn stair lifts. Ameriglide claim that, although it offers a cheap machine its product is as good as that of the Acorn. But does a comparison between the Ameriglide and Acorn stair lift prove this claim?

First off, the Ameriglide is cheaper than that of the Acorn Superglide machine. If the customer’s sole consideration is a low cost stair lift then the Ameriglide is the first choice. But the price of a chair lift is determined by the quality and features that come with it.

What follows is a review and comparison of the Ameriglide and the Acorn on a component by component basis.

DC Battery or AC Power?

When chair lifts were first manufactured they were mains powered but today Acorn, and most other leading brands, are powered by a 24 volt battery pack. However, Ameriglide/Summit chair lifts are still mains powered. So, what’s the issue with using mains power? Well, batteries present no risk of electric shock. Also, many stair lift can be self-installed but many states will only allow a qualified electrician to install a main powered appliance.

A mains powered unit like Ameriglide has a trailing cable. The cable is constantly reeled in and out as the chair travels up and down the stairs. This will produce wear and tear – over a relatively short period – and will require maintenance and/or replacement of the cable. In some situations the cable can fail when the lift is in use leaving the user stranded mid way up or down the stairs.

DC batteries have proved so popular because of the smoother ride, especially when starting or stopping. The Acorn machine gives a very smooth ride. DC battery operated units like the Acorn are also quieter than those that are mains powered.

Power outages also make batteries a clear winner. You can continue to use the Acorn stair lift during these outages. Ameriglide, do suggest a solution to this problem – go out and buy a universal power supply – which contains a stair lift battery.

A final note about batteries; all batteries used in new stair lifts like the Acorn can be easily purchased from a local hardware store. The cost of replacing them is very cheap too – the company charge around only $15.00 for each battery.

The drive systems.

Ameriglide use a cable system. This is considered old technology by just about every other manufacturer. Acorn, like nearly all modern designs, use a rack and pinion system. The problem with cable systems is that the track is very wide and trough shaped – which creates a problematic dirt-trap. It’s claimed that rack and pinion tracks need regular cleaning and lubrication to prevent damage. However, with Acorn machines this is not so; the system is maintenance free.

Safety controls and devices.

The easiest type of control for anybody to use is the joystick, which is why the Acorn chair is fitted with one on the arm rest. The control used on the Ameriglide is a rocker switch, which is not as easy to use, especially by those with severe arthritis. The remote controls supplied with the Acorn are modern, wireless infra-red devices, rather than old-fashioned, hard-wired controls that must be fixed to the wall as is the case with Ameriglide.

The Acorn has an electro-magnetic braking system with a self-locking gearbox. The self-locking gearbox alone, as installed in Ameriglide is not really a braking system.

The Acorn has sensors mounted on each side of the footrest and on the carriage itself to stop it immediately if any obstacle gets in the way. The Ameriglide is fitted with a sensor only on the footrest, so an obstacle found on the track will not stop the stair lift.

There are other items found on the Acorn machine that are superior or not even present on the Ameriglide version.

In conclusion, there’s nothing wrong with the Ameriglide. It’s cheap and does its job and there are many satisfied customers who use it everyday. In fact, many consumer reviews like its no-frills functionality and cheap price. But there’s no doubt that the Acorn stair lift is a superior product. The price of the Acorn machine may be higher than the Ameriglide, but you get what you pay for.

Source by Robin Cassidy