Amazing Wheelchair Stunt Man

16 Year Old Wheelchair User Shows What’s Possible

It is amazing how this young man is able to do wheelchair stunts with his wheelchair. Aaron is truly an inspiration for all young people who are living their lives in a wheelchair. He shows us all how to push the limits on what is possible and to not be limited by one’s physical challenges. In this crazy video Aaron makes numerous crash landing attempts and finally lands an amazing stunt with a wheelchair.

Ceiling Lifts – 10 Key Tips

Ceiling lifts are a unique type of patient lift that lifts a person up and transfers them usually from a bed or toilet to a wheelchair.  Major advances in product design have resulted in many options which have expanded the solutions for clients in need of transfer devices.  Prior to ceiling lifts, a floor mounted patient lift was the most common lifting device used.  Patient lifts are difficult to move on carpets, somewhat difficult to use for both the end user and caregiver and are a constant visual reminder to the family of the disability.  Ceiling lifts are less visually apparent, easier to use that floor mounted patient lifts and have more flexibility in use and application.

Ten Key Ceiling Lift Tips:

1. A portable ceiling lift permits the caregiver to move the lift device from room to room thereby giving the patient flexibility in use than a permanent mounted ceiling lift that is attached to the track.

2. Curved track allows for a ceiling lift installation to accomodate more complicated needs of the client and room application.  An example would be that a client could be lifted up from the bed and be transferred to the bathroom via a curved or straight track installation.

3. Some ceiling lift tracks can be attached to pressure fitted posts that go from the floor to ceiling.  There are also telescoping type tracks to cover a 12 ft. distance over a bed.

4. Ceiling lifts are electric powered (permanent models) or battery operated (portable models).  Many models have an audio beep when the battery is low and needs charging.  Most battery operated models will allow for the patient to be lowered when the battery is depleted.

5. There are a variety of slings available.  They range from a basic hammock sling to a walking type sling.  Most ceiling lift users prefer two slings.

6. Ceiling lift manufacturers have increased they installer certification mandates in the past few years.  There are two areas of safety concern within the patient lifting industry.  One is the proper training of caregiver staff in the use of slings.  Most of the institutional setting accidents have occured with a patient falling out of a sling due to improper sling application with a specific client’s physical needs.  The other area of safety concern withing the patient lift industry is the proper installation of the ceiling lift track.  Specific installation instructions to the installer needs to be followed such as unistrut placement, track joints, bracket spacing and fastener specifications.

7. Unique options are being offered by most ceiling lift manufacturers.  Such options as;   Automatic return to charger station, turntables to permit multi directional applications, special door header devices, stretcher slings and teloscoping rails.

8. Consolidation of ceiling lift manufacturers is a trend.  The company that owns Argo, (large instituational patient lift supplier) purchased BHM Medical (ceiling lift manufacturer) a few years ago.  Handicare (Europe based company) purchased Romedic (patient transfer supplier) last year.  More consolidation of the ceiling lift industry is anticipated in the coming years. This is a good trend in that the research and development departments of these firms are large enough to develop more advances in product design which can only but help the end user.

9. Government regulation is a possibility.  In North America, the FDA (USA) and Health Canada have insisted that the industry regulate itself at this point in time.  This has resulted in the ceiling lift suppliers insisting on installer certification in the past year or so.

10. Ceiling lift prices have been dropping in the past few years for a number of reasons.  The increase in knowledge about ceiling lifts as being available has increased the size of the market thereby decreasing prices due to economies of scale in manufacturing.  Supplier consolidation with veritical integration has also had a bit of a downward pressure on pricing.  Upward pressure on pricing is coming from installer certification which is eliminating a good percentage of the companies handling the product. Also, the pending government regulation of the product could dramatically increase the pressure to rise prices.

SILVER CROSS opens in Scarborough, Ontario August 9th.

Chris Gaffney is opening SILVER CROSS Scarborough /Marham on August 9th.  Chris comes from the IT industry with an extensive background in business start ups.

SILVER CROSS Scarborough / Marham joins the other GTA SILVER CROSS locations located in Brampton, Whitby and Toronto.

Recycled equipment is shared amongst the other locations in order to satisfy more product user requests.

Products offered include stair lifts, scooters, power wheelchairs, hospital beds, rollators, porch lifts, home elevators and other mobility and accessibility equipment.

SILVER CROSS has been providing service in the Scarborough Markham area since 1993.  Now, with an actual bricks and mortar location coupled with Chris’ personal attention to each and every client inquiry, the service offered will surpass the competitions offerings.

Recycled equipment, buy backs, trade ins and coupling new with recycled equipment will represent the best possible product offering to the market place in the Scarborough and Markham areas.

Contact details are:

SILVER CROSS Scarborough/Marham,

440 Brimley Road, Suite 1,

Scarborough, Ontario

Phone: 416-267-9800

email: cgaffney@silvercross.com

Home Elevator Price: 10 Factors

The home elevator cost is affecting by ten key factors.

1. Number of stops.  Most home elevators are two stops.  One at the lower level and one at the upper level.  This is the least costly elevator model.  If the home elevator needs to stop at another level then it is called a three stop elevator.  There are home elevator models that can go up to six stops. Each additional stop beyond two is an extra cost and increases the home elevator price.

2.  Cab finish.  Options vary from a basic finish to solid cherry.  This factor can vary the residential elevator price substantially.

3. Shaft construction cost.  This is another major factor in determining the price.  Image that you may need an exterior shaft constructed on the exterior of your house or a load bearing wall on the enterior may need to be built. Then, finishing of the shaft could range from brick on  the outside to stonework on the inside.

4. Elevator speed.  Some residential elevators are faster that others and thereby more expensive.

5. Configuration of the door swings.  If you get on and get off the elevator cab on the same side of the cab on all floors then this is a lower cost model than one where your application requires exit from different sides of the elevator shaft.

6. Handrail options.  There are a variety of types of handrails available from different home elevator manufacturers.

7. Size of the cab.  If the cab size needs to be some size that is not standard then a custom cab can increase the price.

8. Access to the job installation.  Some job sites are more difficult than others.  The distance to the delivery truck, parking availability for workmen and ease to continue to work without interuption all affect the home elevator price.

9. Cab floor finish.  A basic home elevator will come without any cab floor and this must be finished on site.  Cab floor finish can range from plywood to custom marble and thereby affect the final elevator price.

10. Customer’s attitude.  If a customer is difficult with the company installing the home elevator prior to the sale, then usually the home elevator contractor will pad the price to compensate for potential strife during the installation.

The best home elevator is not necessarily the highest price model.  Your needs are best determined by a home elevator professional visiting your home to best determine your specific needs.

Comparing Stair Lift Prices – $1000-$4200

Whenever you feel that it is necessary to look into some sort of stair chair lift for the interior or exterior of your home or office, it is very important that you look into stair lift prices.

Prices for straight stair lifts range from $1000 to $4200 installed.  A $1000 stair lift will be an older lift that is perhaps 4-5 years old.  The $4200 stair lift is usually coming from dealers that have been winning by default in their geographically areas.  The $4200 price can also come from manufacturers that are direct selling stair lifts to end users.  One would think that a manufacturer would offer a lower price.  This is not the case for two major stair lift suppliers.  Simply put, their cost of acquiring a lead is substantial, perhaps $500 per inquiry.  And, they are paying their sales reps on a commission basis which ends up increasing the price to the end user.  If you receive an initial quote for a straight stair lift over $4000 beware of the vendor.  The only exception to this would be in state that has regulated stair lifts.  The government adds fees onto stair lift registration or licensing and may require an installer to have a particular license.

Suffering from limited mobility can take quite a toll on your spirit as an individual. Finding out that stair lift prices may be a bit too high for you to afford the installation of one can be even more devastating. When it comes time for you to compare stair lift prices, download some information from the internet and look hard for a local company that can offer a recycled or used stair lift or low priced new stair lift with a buy back option in the future.

By looking around online, you should be able to find cheap stair lifts. Finding a reputable dealer will allow you to browse around some of the different models as well as give you an idea about the variety of stair lift prices that are out there today.

What you need to know as you start to browse around through all of the various stair lift prices is that there are a few different options that you have available to you. If you find that having a brand new stair lift installed is just a bit too pricey for your budget, you can look into cheap stair lifts or refurbished stair lifts prices that you can afford. Many people who do not have the initial funding to purchase a stair lift and then have it installed will look into beating stair lift prices by looking into financing options.

Depending on the type of stair lift that you are looking to have installed, you might find that your stair lifts price will increase if you need a custom built stair lift for a curved stair lift. Looking into cheap portable air stair lift price options in curved stair lifts will help you to cut out some of the financial burden. Your stair lift representative should be able to work with you in order to find the right stair lift prices to help you get the piece of equipment that you need without completely draining your bank account.

Cheap stair lifts are always available to consumers, however it is extremely important that you know that you are getting a quality piece of equipment. All too often, people are roped into purchasing a discount stair lift only to find that they run into issues down the road whether it comes to installation or the piece running properly. While getting a deal on stair lift prices is always nice, it is imperative that you find a quality piece of equipment that will last you for years and years into the future.

Phyllis Diller Installs Stair LIft

SILVER CROSS installed a stair lift for Phyllis Diller who is an American actress and comedienne.

She created a stage persona of a wild-haired, eccentrically-dressed housewife who makes jokes about a husband named “Fang” while smoking from a long cigarette holder. Diller is credited with opening the doors of stand-up comedy to women.

In the words of the local rep….

“We got a tour of all her artwork, saw her joke catalog (about 25,000 jokes all filed and cross filed on index cards), her wig and performance dress closet, with about 30 wigs and maybe 200 costumes. Some of these were so heavy with sequins and stuff they weighed about 20-25 lb. And she is only about 5′ tall.”

Many famous people have had a stair lifts installed.  Simply put, just because someone is famous does not exclude them from the needs for products like stair lifts.

SILVER CROSS Calgary Opening June 1st, 2010

Mark Andrews is opening SILVER CROSS Calgary on June 1st, 2010.   Mark will offer recycled and new home health care equipment including such products as stair lifts, wheelchair lifts, porch lifts, home elevators, electric scooters, power wheelchairs, ceiling and patient lifts, hospital beds, walk in bath tubs, rollators and dumbwaiters.

SILVER CROSS Calgary, 12180  44st. SE, Calgary, Alberta, T2Z 4A2 Canada Phone: 403-236-1338

Mark joins the opening of new SILVER CROSS locations in Edmonton and Victoria in Western Canada.

Stair Lift Design – 10 New Stair Lift Advances

Stair Lift Advances:

1. Most curved stair lift manufacturers are making their models tighter the wall thereby saving space on the staircase.

2. Flip up rails at the bottom of the stairway are becoming more popular.  This option allows for the stair lift rail to not be an obstruction at the bottom of the stairs for people flow in the home.

3. At the top of the stairs, many curved stair lift models are offering an extension beyond the top of the stairs to permit safer dismount by the stair lift user.

4. Continuous charge along any part of the stairlift rail.  This feature does not require the chair of the stair lift to have to return to either the top or bottom of the stair lift rail.

5. Weight capacities are increasing on some stair lift models.

6. Seat height variance is being offered by many stair lift models to accommodate different heights of the lift user.

7. More and more stair lift manufacturers are offering a softer stop and start stair lift.  This feature assists clients with lower back problems.

8. Stair lift aesthetics – more choices in color of upholstery and rails.  Some stair lift manufacturers are offering custom rail colors to match specific customer needs.

9. Camera systems to measure curved staircases to assure a custom fit.  Sterling, Bruno and Stannah stair lift have led the way to offer their dealers a camera system to measure each staircase.  This trend to use a computer and camera system has virtually eliminated the concern for a custom curved stair lift fit.

10. Standardization of the stair lift rail profile design has generally speaking allowed for more recycling of straight stair lifts.  This fact is due to the ease of matching rail profiles from different stair lift rail sources.   Source recycled stair lifts

Top 7 Most Unique Stairway Designs in the World

Searching the world for unique stairways produced the list below. So many truly amazing staircases were found with the top 7 stairway applications selected due to their uniqueness. Some were selected because of their massive scope. Others were chosen due to a totally unique design. Some are old, some are new.

Here is a list of 7 innovative stairway designs that could all be part of changing the lifestyles of the wheelchair user. Some of these are designed by architects, some homemade, but these are all remarkable stairway designs.

An interesting point in all these staircase designs is that none of them can accommodate a physically challenged person. In fact, most of these designs will not accommodate a curved stair lift or other type of access lift to assist those in need of assistance in climbing the stairs.

1. An alternating tread stair climbing the steep slope of a pinnacle in National Monument, California

2.. The longest stairway is listed by Guinness Book of Records as the service stairway for the Niesenbahn funicular railway near Spiez, Switzerland, with 11,674 steps and a height of 1669 m (5476 ft).

4. Angkor Wat in Cambodia.

5. The Potemkin Stairs (1834–41) in Odessa, Ukraine.

6. Outdoor stairway on the Alameda Ridge in Portland, Oregon, United States.

7. Endless stairway at KPMG, Munich, Germany. Some stair lift manufacturers are trying to accommodate complicated spiral staircase design applications. However, there are significant limitations in the length of a stair lift.  The longest possible stair lift model will extend to a bit more than 100 feet in length which will not meet the needs of the stairway designs listed above.

The 6 Best Used Stair Lift Sources

There are a number of used stair lift sources for you to consider in searching for a lower cost stairlift.
Here is a list of 6 sources for used stair lifts.

1. Your local classified ads in your local newspapers.
2. Local agencies such as the ALS, MS and MD societies.
3. On line classified ads.
4. Local stair lift dealers.
5. Durable medical equipment dealers.
6. SILVER CROSS – Our nation wide service to find a local used stair lift.

Factors you need to consider in selection of a used stair lift are:

1. Length of track. Measure from the nose of the top step to the floor then add the overhang track required for the particular stair lift model you are considering purchasing.
2. Is the used stair lift match the side of the stairs on your stairs?
3. Can the angle of your stairway be accommodated with the stair lift you are considering?
4. Does the seat height of the stair lift chair meet the lift user’s requirements to safely transfer to the seat of the chair lift?
5. Is the width of the stair chair rail too wide for your stairway?
6. Is a soft stop and start stair lift required for the lift user?
7. Is the footplate sufficient in size for the user to be able to place their feet safely on the platform?
8. What power requirements are needed for the model being considered?
9. Does the seat width and depth fit the prospective stair lift user?
10. Does the lift user require a contour seat for trunk control?
11. Does the pattern of people flow in the home necessitate that the stair lift is installed on a particular side of the stairs?
12. Are the stair treads sufficient in strength, width and angle consistency to fit the stair lift you are considering?

Simply put, there are many factors to consider in selecting a used stair lift to meet your specific needs. I truly feel that a local stair lift dealer is the best source for used stair lifts.

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