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Pacific Mobility Center

Stairlifts - Lifts - Mobility Products

Jeff Conner

Introducing the Showerbuddy

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Having to remodel your whole bathroom due to a disability is an expensive, labor-intensive project that might not even be possible, depending on if you own your place or not. Showerbuddy enables your to fully take use of your bathroom, without the need for an expensive remodel or construction. Showerbuddy comes in four different models, each suited for different needs and configurations.


SB1 – ShowerBuddy
The SB1 is the original ShowerBuddy model that was designed and engineered in New Zealand. The ShowerBuddy helps alleviate heavy lifting and unnecessary transfers. It also eliminates slip hazards and costly construction while maintaining the privacy of the patient. This unique system allows for the patient to transfer from the toilet to the shower in one easy trip. This model is suited for a standing shower configuration.


SB2 – TubBuddy
The SB2 is the bathtub alternative to the ShowerBuddy. The TubBuddy SB2 is an ergonomic bathing transfer system designed to allow a patient to safely transfer to a bathtub without having to remodel the entire bathroom. This model is also capable of rolling over standard/elongated toilets to be used as a commode. The TubBuddy eliminates unnecessary transfers between toileting and bathing making it comfortable for both patient and caregiver meanwhile reducing costs and maintaining privacy.


SB2T – Tubbuddy with Tilt
The TubBuddy Tilt is nearly the same as the original Tubbuddy, but with one new feature. The unit allows for safe and easy transfer over and out of the bath tub incorporating a tilt option. The tilt option allows the caregiver to relieve pressure for the patient while simultaneously making it easier to bathe the patient. The tilt option alleviates strain on the caregiver by allowing the patient to slide over the bath tub without having to lift their legs.


SB3T – Roll-InBuddy with Tilt
The revolutionary tilt option of the Roll-inBuddy Tilt allows for pressure release as well as a more thorough bathing experience for the patient and easier reach for the caregiver. The Roll-inBuddy tilt incorporates all the same safety features and corrosion resistant materials standard to all Showerbuddy products.

Showerbuddy has also been recognized as the winner of the 2008 Harding Award for product innovation. The award was presented to Showerbuddy at the Canadian Seating & Mobility Conference in Toronto, Canada on September 15, 2008.

Click here for more information about ShowerBuddy products.

Hotel Pools – Are They Accessible to the Handicapped or Disabled?

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If you’ve ever been out travelling to a nice hotel or resort, it can be very refreshing to take a fresh dip in the pool during the hot days, but can be a challenge if you’re in a wheelchair. These days, only some hotels are equipped with portable pool lifts to help disabled guests into and out of the pools. Even the hotels who are equipped with pool lifts has staff members that are not fully trained to operate the devices, which causes even more problems. The department of justice has simply stated that this is unacceptable.

Come March 15, all hotels with pools and spas will be required by law to install fixed pool lifts that must be in place and operational, as long as the pool facility is open to hotel guests. The hotel industry is up in arms right now, scrambling to extend the deadline due to financial restraint and vague guidelines. Pool lifts can cost into the thousands of dollars, not including installation costs, which would required alterations to the pool structure itself to accommodate a bolted-in pool lift.

The requirement is among a set of new regulations approved in 2010 under the Americans with Disabilities Act that affect most public places, such as banks, stores, movie theaters, state and local government entities, public swimming pools and hotels. Within the hospitality industry, the recent pool lift regulation has attracted the most attention.

How to Choose the Right Stairlift in San Diego

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For people who have difficulty climbing the stairs in their home, stairlifts provide a great alternative to the whole ordeal. Today, many stairlift providers are equipped with products to fit any home and staircase style and configuration. This can be quite confusing, especially if you have no prior knowledge of the ins and outs of stairlifts. It can often be tough defining which product, from the many available, will best meet the needs of your relative now and in the future.

We’d like to provide a brief overview of stairlifts which should provide you with an insight into the areas you need to investigate, questions you need to ask and things you need to think about, to choose the right stairlift.

The stairlift market here in the US is actually pretty crowded crowded. There are over 10 major stairlift manufacturers all producing products aimed at a market that’s growing year by year. As the population of our country ages, the demand for stairlifts and other mobility products has increased significantly.

Our customers often tell us that the best way to purchase a stairlift is talk to your friends and relatives. Do they know anyone who’s had a lift installed? If so, speak to them. Ask them about their experiences, the benefits and the drawbacks, if any. This can often help you decide which direction to go, and where to start investigating further.

Once you get your bearings, you should then begin to get in touch with all the reputable companies that you can and start to compare their products and prices, keeping in mind that reliability and safety are the most vital elements. The internet is a great place to start looking, as it’s probably how you found us! All the major manufacturers will have websites for you to view product lists and specifications.

During the process of choosing a stairlift, don’t be afraid to ask the questions you want or need answered. It can be a hectic and confusing time, so you definitely want to make sure you cover all of your bases. After all, it’s our job to know everything about the products, be they curved, straight or outdoor. Talk about your relative’s staircase, about their particular mobility problems and about the budget you are working around. We are confident we can find a solution that will be satisfied well into the future.

Also, before purchasing any sort of stairlift, you want to make sure it comes with a warantee, and what the terms of the agreement are. Try to get hold of as much information as possible on the manufacturer and its products. How long have they been in business? Do they have full insurance? Try to read testimonials from genuine customers. This will help you come to a much more informed decision.

Ask your sales reps about after-sales. Once the lift is in place, how long is the warranty? Is it extendable and for how long? How much will this cost and what will they include? Ask them about the small print, some manufacturers will put a lifetime guarantee on their products. This sounds great, until you realise it’s just for certain components.

Then there’s service and support. If the lift breaks down, how quickly will the company get to you? Will it be their own stairlift engineers who visit or will the service be contracted out, so that you might have to wait a couple of days for the problem to be solved?

The Internet is a great tool to help you find out all you can about stairlift manufacturers. Look in the regular media for stories about them and check online forums, is anyone making negative comments? Stay clear of cold callers and take each lift for a test ride in the showrooms before you part with any money.

Buying the right stairlift means taking into account the needs of the user and deciding on the features that will be most important for them, not just today, but in a few years down the line.

If their needs are likely to change in the future, take this into account when deciding on the key features you are looking for.

Portable Wheelchair Ramps – How to Use

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Portable ramps are manufactured and designed to be affordable and dependable in a variety of situations. They are strong as well as being easily storable and transportable. Many models of ramps are made to easily fold up and fit in the back of the van or the trunk. Folding ramp models also come with built in handles to make carrying them around easier. Since no installation is required, you can unfold the ramps and set them where they’re needed at a moments notice. Ramps are usually built of lightweight but strong metals such as aluminum. These types of ramps have up to a 600 pound capacity. (Total weight of wheelchair and occupant cannot exceed 600 pounds.)

When carrying or storage space is at a minimum, you may want to check out rolled portable wheelchair ramps. This type of ramp does just what it’s called – it quickly rolls up allowing you to place it in a small space such as in a car trunk or back of a van, and also taken with you on plane trips by being checked as baggage. Though a rollup ramp might seem a little intimidating at first, know that they are strong and safe, with side rails to keep your wheels alligned on the ramp and out of danger. One of the disadvantages to the rollup type of ramps is that the length of the ramp is limited to shorter runs than some of the other, more sturdy or rigid types. The quickness, ease of use and small storage space are what prefer in this type of ramp. To use the folding ramp, you simply unroll it, place the side rails for safety and extra rigidity, and use as needed.

There are a few companies that are now manufacturing portable wheelchair ramps out of glass reinforced plastic, or GRP, that is both extremely strong and lightweight. These new ramps boast a carrying capacity of about 550 lbs, including wheelchair and rider. They come in several different varieties, the most portable of which are the briefcase style ramps and the folding channel ramps. If you’re looking for space saving ramps, these should be small enough to fit in the small spaces of a van or trunk. Both of these types also offer almost instantaneous setup and use. You simply unfold it and you’re ready to go.

Portable wheelchair ramps have made it much easier for those people with disabilities to gain access to places and structures that have not yet been equipped with permanent building wheelchair ramps. Simply pull your own ramp out of your trunk, unfold, or unroll, and join the party.

BHM Medical Ceiling Lifts in San Diego!

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If you’re looking to outfit your home with a new mobility lift, check out the model from BHM. BHM Medical Ceiling lifts are the ideal solution to assist in lifting and transferring a patient with mobility challenges and where space is limited. By utilizing your ceiling space, the lift can be easily installed, and be out of the way. Some of the benefits of a new BHM ceiling lift are that it’s very safe and easy to use and requires less space than traditional floor lifts. These factors make the BHM lift much less obtrusive for patients. In addition, the BHM lift is always ready to use! You’ll never need to mess with setting the unit up or pulling it out of storage to get it ready for use.

BHM Medical fixed ceiling lifts are actually permanently installed on the rail or system of rails. They also have an optional return to charge, lateral adjustable speed and height of carry bar features.

BHM Medical portable lifts can be transferred when needed from one rail or system of rails to another. They are perfect for a temporary and portable installation.

If you’re interested in receiving more information on the BHM ceiling lifts we carry, please visit Pacific Mobility’s local showroom in San Marcos, or give us a call at (760) 471-8884

San Diego Bath Tub Lifts – Bellavita Lift

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Bathtub lifts are a very convenient way to get in and out of the tub with ease and comfort. One of the top bath tub lifters on the market is the Bellavita Auto Bath Tub Lifter. This unit is surprisingly powerful, and yet remains the lightest bathlift on the market at just over 20lbs. The Bellavita lift will even go as low as 2.3″, lift as high as 18.8″ and have a 50 degree reclining backrest, making it perfect for those deeper bathtubs.

The Bellavita Bathtub lift is also very easy to set up, and requires no tools! With it’s easy two-piece construction, you can get it up and running right out of the box. When not in use, the unit folds up nicely and can be stored where convenient until next use.

At Pacific Mobility, our staff has the knowledge and training to help you pick the best bath tub lift in San Diego for your home. Call us today at or visit our showroom in San Marcos for the LARGEST selection of mobility products and living aids in San Diego!

History of Stairlifts

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Stairlifts, believe it or not, have a long history. The modern stairlift, which we are most used to seeing today, was developed by a Pennsylvanian engineer named C.C. Crispen. The idea was first formed when Crispen’s good friend was immobilized, and could no longer use stairs under his own power. This promted Crispen to build the first prototype of a Stairlift which he names, the Inclin-ator. It wasn’t long after that the stairlift started showing up in homes across to the country, making peoples lives that much easier.

stairlifts san diego
stairlift san diego

However, we can’t necessarily give Crispen all of the credit, as the idea of stairlifts actually date back the middle ages! In 2009, evidence was found that suggested that King Henry VIII had a rudimentary stairlift system installed on his palace which was operated by servants using a block and tackle or pulley system. This new evidence would make the idea of a stairlift hundreds of years old!

Nowadays the stairlift is installed in homes across the globe, and manufactured by several different companies. Pacific Mobility specializes in Stairlifts in San Diego, as well as a multitude of additional moblity products such as wheelchairs, walking canes, ceiling lifts, porch lifts, and power scooters.

Charging Your Mobility Equipment’s Batteries

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Many folks ask how much and when should I charge my equipment’s batteries. Read on and learn the proper way to keep your equipment in tip top running condition:

How often should I charge?

Daily Users:
Charge daily. This applies to anyone who actually uses his or her equipment outside of the home.

Occasional Users:
Always be sure to charge before an outing and always after active use. The ideal recharge point is about 50% on a scooter or wheelchair gauge.

How do I charge my Batteries correctly?

To properly charge your mobility battery, follow these simple procedures:
– Use the manufacturer’s automatic charger for all routine charging.
– Never use an automotive or wet-type charger on gel/sealed batteries. (They’ll quickly ruin your battery).
– Never run your battery completely flat.
– Don’t “top off” the battery with frequent charging.