Pacific Mobility Center

Stairlifts - Lifts - Mobility Products

mobility

Different Types of stairlifts and Their Benefits

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Chair-lift

For mobility challenged individuals who need a way to go up and down a flight of stairs in their homes, there are several different types of stairlifts available. The most recognizable type is the straight stairlift that attaches to the stair treads by way of a straight rail on which a chair can glide up and down. These lifts are suitable for those users who can walk, but not climb, and don’t need to transport anything up and down but themselves, and maybe items that can be held on their lap.

The standard variation of the straight stairlift is the curved model that has a rail that can fit the shape of a winding or curved staircase. Both the straight and curved stairlift most commonly have a seat that is either fixed, folds up and down, or swivels toward or away from the wall. The kind of seat installed will depend both on the needs of the user and the space available on the stairs and landings of a particular home.

stairlifts can be operated either by battery or by a home’s electrical system. While batteries will have to be replaced every few years, those running on house current will never need that type of maintenance. On the other hand, electrical lifts won’t work if there is a power failure.

The standing stairlift is a variation of the lift device. It can be used by people who can’t sit but are able to stand. In order for a standing stairlift to operate effectively, there must be enough headroom in the staircase for a standing individual to travel safely. The standing lift is also suitable for homes with very narrow staircases or ones that for some reason can’t accommodate a seated lift.

Platform stairlifts are another variation. They are designed to be large and strong enough to hold a wheelchair, or in some cases, a small or mid-sized scooter. They are appropriate for individuals who can’t transfer from a sitting position in a chair or scooter to a chair in a standard stairlift. They are also ideal for older and disabled people who are wheelchair bound and need to stay in their chairs no matter what floor they are on.

Finally, although not considered a stairlift, per se, the vertical “through floor” lift has a track that can attach to a wall as it traverses through a hole in the ceiling/floor. It is an option for a home that cannot accommodate an ordinary lift, for example, one whose staircase is too narrow or has a spiral shape design.

At Pacific Mobility, we will help you choose the best stairlift option for your home by carefully explaining the benefits of all the different types we offer.

Ramping vs. Porchlift

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If you need to facilitate wheelchair or handicap access to a home or structure that has a raised foundation, and stairs are not a viable option, essentially, you have two other choices: you can install either a ramp or a porch lift.                                                                                                  ramp     Porch Lift

In order to figure out if a ramp is a practical alternative, you’re going to have to do a lot of measuring and then perform some simple arithmetic. The first thing you need to determine is the extent of the rise between the ground and the structure’s entry level. In other words, what is the “rise?” Once you know the rise, then you can calculate how much ramping will be required.

According to the federal government’s Americans with Disabilities Act, the legal standard for the ratio of rise to ramping in public buildings is 1:12. In other words, for every inch of rise, the law requires twelve inches, or one foot, of ramping. Now, your home is not a public building and some municipal or county building codes might be more lenient requiring only, perhaps, 8 inches of ramping for every 1 inch of rise, so it’s important to check with your local government, if you need to build a steeper ramp. But the ADA ratio is considered the safest solution.

So, for example, if the rise between the ground and the entry level is 30 inches, you’re generally going to need 30 feet of ramping. Now that you know how many linear feet of ramping is necessary either for code or safety requirements, you’re going to have to measure again, this time to determine if you have 30 feet of room in which to put a ramp. If you don’t have a 30 foot straightaway, you’re going to need to break up the ramp with platforms, landings and/or turnarounds. Don’t try to estimate this essential element. Make sure that you have a solid plan that you can implement before you spend time and money installing a ramp.

If you decide that a ramp is doable, your material choices will likely be either wood or some type of metal – most probably aluminum. Wood may be less expensive, but aluminum generally requires less maintenance and can stand up better to inclement weather. Whatever material you choose, make sure that you apply some sort of non-skid surface to it. Also, make sure that the transition from the ground to the ramp is as smooth as possible. Bumps are difficult to navigate in a wheelchair.

If, for any reason, a ramp is not an acceptable option, your other choice is an exterior porch lift. While a porch lift will likely be more expensive than a ramp, it will always take up less space. In addition, a porch lift will often be the only choice if the rise is considerable. For example, a rise of 5 feet, or 60 inches, would require a 60 foot ramp. That amount of ramping simply might not be possible in any configuration on many pieces of property.

Before you decide on which alternative is the best one for your situation, you should seek out professional advice. Here at the Pacific Mobility Center, we can assist you in making the right decision for yourself or a loved one. Call us for a no-cost assessment and a member of our staff will work with you toward the most appropriate solution.

Word of Mouth

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group-457336__180No doubt, you’ve heard the term: “Word of Mouth.” It wasn’t very long ago when a consumer would seek out information on a company or product by asking friends and associates their opinions about a particular purveyor of goods or services. Basically, the best, and sometimes the only way one could decide whether or not to do business with someone else, was to rely upon “word of mouth.”

Before going out to eat, Joe would ask Jim, “How’s the food at that place?” Ann would tell Marie, “Don’t shop at that store. They didn’t treat me well, at all.” Thus, the commentary network – word of mouth – was personal and vocal, and one generally relied upon a small coterie of well-known, like-minded individuals for a “thumbs up” or “thumbs down.”

But now, of course, we’re all connected via the internet and the world-wide-web, and there are many more ways to get information about a business or product other than relying upon word of mouth. Today, we can get the scoop from a variety of sources before entering into a business transaction with another party, simply by logging on and tuning in. “Word of Mouth” has become “Word of Byte.”

For example, the Better Business Bureau (BBB) founded in 1912, is a nonprofit organization focused on advancing marketplace trust. The BBB collects and provides free business reviews on more than four million American businesses, responding to over 123 million requests from consumers, every year. Its website ranks among the top 300 most-visited websites in the United States. That means that people all over the country are consistently checking out companies’ reputations, online, before buying a product or service.

Other websites are devoted entirely to consumer reviews. Perhaps the most famous of these is Yelp.com. Founded in 2004, in San Francisco, Yelp’s website is like a large online bulletin board featuring user-generated content, all geared toward personal reviews based on experiences at local businesses. Anyone with an internet connection can browse the Yelp site. And the reality is, more and more businesses, these days, are thriving or dying based on the types of reviews that appear on Yelp and other sites like it. It’s a very potent tool whose model is becoming increasingly ubiquitous in cyberspace.

In fact, most owner-operated business websites now feature a testimonial section – a place where web surfers can find out what customers who have done business with a company in the past, say about it. And businesses that have clean records, good reviews and/or positive testimonials are much more likely to increase their market share by gaining new customers who have done their research.

At Pacific Mobility, we encourage you to “check us out.” While we’re always happy to tell you, ourselves, that we offer our customers great products, great prices, and great service, you don’t simply have to take our word for it. Visit our website, type in the BBB’s URL, or go online to Yelp. We’re sure you’ll find that others will say the same.

Buying Off the Internet vs. Buying From a Local Company

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Some people have a knack for seeing into the future. Years ago, a friend of mine predicted that internet shopping was going to be how people would someday buy all their goods and services. This was before the beginning of the dot.com revolution – only a very small percentage of the office-612532__180 (1)population even had a personal computer and the internet, itself, was just being born.

I thought it was a silly idea. Why would anyone want to buy anything that couldn’t be seen, touched, picked up, rattled or tested right in the mall, market or showroom? I was convinced that cyberspace would never replace the traditional brick and mortar, neighborhood store. Okay, some people don’t see very far ahead.

Because, today, of course, online buying makes up a considerable part of our national commerce. We even have a special date dedicated solely to computer consumerism – Cyber Monday, the Monday after Thanksgiving. This year, Americans will spend approximately $347 billion in online purchases, roughly 10 percent of the country’s total retail sales. And almost 20 percent of that amount will made on a phone or other mobile device.

Why do people buy online in such great numbers? Consumers, themselves, give the following reasons: saving time, more variety, lower prices, no crowds, less spending on gas, fewer taxes added.

But just as the internet giveth, it can also taketh away. The inherent danger of buying online is that the buyer and the seller are at great distances from, and virtually unknown to, one another. And much can happen between the time Ms. Consumer hits the buy button on her laptop and a package arrives at the front door. Scams and frauds abound – credit card numbers are stolen, products are not what they were promised to be, and customer service may be slight or completely non-existent.

In contrast, buying from a local company still has several advantages over buying online: you can test equipment before you buy; get immediate attention and expert advice from a knowledgeable salesperson; and have local support in the event you need it after a purchase is made. Plus, your time on hold, waiting to get assistance from a call center half a world away, is eliminated.

At Pacific Mobility, you get the best of both worlds: best pricing, best products, best service, and best support. For all your mobility needs, we invite you to visit us on the web at https://pacificmobility.com/. And then drop in to see us at our San Marcos, CA, brick and mortar location. We believe in the computer revolution – but we still like to do business with you face-to-face.

Pros and Cons of stairlift Installations

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Chair lift

There’s no doubt that the technology of the modern stairlift has provided seniors, as well as other individuals with mobility challenges, more choices than were available to previous generations. And for the most part, the benefits of having a stairlift in one’s home outnumber their potential shortcomings. But the prudent consumer should always contemplate both the pros and cons of any purchase in order to make the wisest decision possible. So here are a few things to ponder:

The Pros

If you are a senior who can no longer navigate the stairs, the main reason to have a stairlift installed in your home is because it allows you to stay in your home long after your ability to go up and down the stairs has ended. Most seniors will tell you that staying at home, as opposed to transitioning to senior housing or assisted living, is extremely important to them, as it allows them to remain independent in the most emotionally supportive environment possible.

A stairlift is an accident preventer. The statistics are unambiguous – accidental falls, especially on stairs, are the number one cause of harm to seniors. stairlifts remove the potential for serious and even fatal blunders that can put an elderly person in the hospital, or worse.

stairlifts can carry both people and things. Generations ago, multistory houses had dumbwaiters which allowed for the transport of food, laundry, etc. from floor to floor. The stairlift can easily perform a similar role, as long as the intended object can fit on one’s lap.

For the relatives of seniors or any other individual with mobility challenges, a stairlift can provide piece of mind. Just knowing, for example, that an elderly parent no longer has to try and navigate stairs, can help relieve children of excess worry and concern.

The Cons

Probably the biggest concern that a consumer will have when contemplating the installation of a stairlift, is the cost. A quality lift, plus the installation itself, will run several thousand dollars. For some, that is a potential deal breaker. On the plus side, you might qualify for a medical expense tax deduction and/or the possibility of zero percent financing for up to 18 months.

Another concern: While most homes today have stairways that are wide enough to accommodate a stairlift without any issues, some older homes may have a very narrow stairway, and this is why having a professional assess the home is so important. Also, sometimes a person may have physical limitations in how he or she can sit in a stairlift chair. For example wearing a full leg cast that would cause one to to have to extend a leg may make it impossible to fit in the stairway, while sitting.

Finally, some believe that the installation of a stairlift too soon may create a dependency upon it by an otherwise healthy individual who would still benefit from the exercise of going up and down stairs. This seems a minor concern, as there are many ways in which a mobile senior can still find outlets for physical activity.

At Pacific Mobility, we will never sell or install a stairlift unless it is the right choice for you, your family, your home and your budget. Knowing the pros and cons will help you determine if a stairlift is the best option for you.

https://youtu.be/8s4EkLnQu8Q

The Importance of stairlifts for Seniors

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finazzo1According to a survey taken by the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP), nearly 90 percent of people over age 65, when asked, said that they would prefer to live in their homes as long as possible, and 80 percent of them believe that their current home is where they will, in fact, always live until they pass away.

The desire that most seniors have for remaining in their homes and not moving to a senior care community, or an assisted living environment, speaks volumes about their need for independence even as their bodies continue to age and, in some cases, become increasingly frail. For it is quite well known that for all of us – seniors included – our homes provide us with deep and abiding emotional and psychological connections to our past, our families and our sense of security.

But for some seniors, that security can easily be jeopardized if they live in homes that have steep stairs or other structural features that are difficult for their aging bodies to safely navigate. The grim truth is that, each year, millions of elderly adults in America sustain moderate to severe injuries, such as broken bones, hip fractures, and head traumas, due to falls. In fact, according to the federal government’s Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), one out of three adults, age 65 or older, falls each year. And falling down stairs is the leading cause of serious injury among the elderly.

There are many sensible ways for seniors to help prevent accidental falls in the home, such as adding grab bars in showers and bathrooms, and removing tripping hazards such as loose rugs. But for seniors who live in two-story homes, installing a stairlift may be the most practical and affordable way to stay safe while postponing the need to make a premature transition to a senior care facility.

stairlifts allow seniors with mobility challenges to go up and down their stairs safely. They also help combat the fear of falling that not only often gets worse with age, but, paradoxically, actually increases the risk of falling in the first place.

The desire for independence and self-sufficiency doesn’t decrease with age – it is an essential aspect of a quality life whether one is at the beginning, or nearing the end, of one’s days. Happily, we live in a time when our technology affords our senior population the ability to remain both independent and self-sufficient, while still living at home. And the modern stairlift has become an important part of that equation.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c8D0VRsnlBM

High Pressure Sales Tactics – Got to Get the Sale!

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selling

There is an old adage in the world of sales: “People like to buy, but they don’t like to be sold.” The high pressure salesman does not believe strongly enough in this fact of human psychology. On the contrary, he is inclined to assume that people must be prodded and pushed and tricked into buying. So instead of unleashing the primary desire that most people have in the simple power of acquiring things based on their own needs, the high pressure salesman relies on various ways to manipulate his prospect into a sale that may not even be in the buyer’s best interests (and usually does not contribute to a long term relationship with the seller).

There are many techniques that can make saying “yes” to a sale, the easiest way to end the kind of stress-inducing interaction that is the hallmark of a high pressure sales routine. For example, a high pressure salesman might push a customer into a sale by stressing the fact that there is a looming deadline approaching and the price of his product or service is going to shoot up unless the sale is consummated immediately. Whether or not a deadline actually exists happens to be beside the point. The high pressure salesman is actually selling fear of losing something rather than suiting the sale to the buyer’s needs. He is forcing an emotional commitment before his prospect has time to think whether or not he or she can actually afford, or even needs to buy, what the salesman is selling.

In contrast, low pressure selling does not drive a prospect into a buying decision, but rather lets him reach the decision on his own terms. The low pressure salesman tries to ascertain the prospect’s wants and needs, and then tries to explain how his product or service can fit that want or need by demonstrating the relationship between the two.

At Pacific Mobility, we eschew the hard sell. We want to know how we can solve your problem, so we will spend our time with you asking you about your needs and absolutely no time at all in manipulating you into buying what we think we can make the most money on. Buying any one of our fine products needs to be the result of a calm and rational decision that you make on your own about how a purchase from us may benefit you – and not the other way around.

Struggles – Part One

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Broken Ankle
Broken Ankle

We often think that the only people with mobility challenges in their homes are either elderly or chronically infirm. But after an accident, even the young and otherwise healthy can have problems getting around the house. That’s what happened to me recently after I broke my ankle. Even though the doctors re-set my bones with screws and a plate, they couldn’t help me magically regain my ability to bound up and down the stairs in my two story home.

And that’s my problem: my leg is in a cast, and I can’t really put any weight on it, but my bedroom, kitchen and living room are all upstairs. All I have to help me navigate is a pair of crutches I got from the hospital – but with no real knowledge about how to use them. Lucky for me, my wife and son helped me out when I first got home, otherwise I would have really injured myself the first time I tried going upstairs to my bedroom.

The next day was even scarier. I just couldn’t get over the fear of falling down the steps. Once again my wife came to my rescue – but even then I was scared that not was I only going to fall, but I would probably take her down with me if I did. All of a sudden, I realized that something that I did ten times a day without thinking was now going to be a challenge each time I needed to change floors. And the problem with my stairs was just the beginning. What about getting in and out of the shower, or getting on and off the toilet? And how long is this all going to go on?

So, here I am, someone whose job for the last 29 years has been helping people solve their mobility problems, and now I’m facing them all myself. Imagine the irony. But it certainly has also given me a deeper understanding of the struggles that many of my clients have to deal with day in and day out.

Anyway, over the next few weeks, I’ll tell you how I handled some of my own trials and tribulations and report to you the things that I had to learn to help myself get around – from managing my crutches better, to finding alternative means of locomotion. My story may be useful to you, should you ever find yourself in a similar situation (which I hope won’t happen!)