Stair Lift Information

Aging in Place Technology: Aging in Place Home Modifications to Help You Live at Home Longer

January 1, 2018 By Susan Hackett Leave a Comment

Aging in place technology is designed to help seniors stay in their own home as they get older. This is accomplished with a combination of modern day devices as well as aging in place home modifications.

In this article, I will go over several pieces of technology that are key to independent living, as well as the different modifications that can help seniors move through their home without any obstacles.

Aging in Place Technology & Aging in Place Home Modifications

Seniors have greater access to aging in place technology today than ever before. This includes high-tech monitoring systems and personal gadgets that can help seniors live independently. In addition to providing numerous benefits to the individuals using the technology, it also provides peace of mind to family members. Moreover, it’s much more affordable to invest in aging in place technology compared to moving into an assisted living environment.

Here is an overview of some of the key pieces of aging in place technology that every senior should have in their home.

Sensors
Smart sensors can be placed around the home to alert family members and caregivers of a loved one’s activity. So instead of calling dad to check whether he’s been up, had his breakfast, and taken his pills— motion sensors placed in the living room, kitchen, and medicine cabinet can reassure you that everything is ok.

Emergency Pendants
An emergency pendant is a piece of technology, usually worn as a necklace, that can be pressed in case of an emergency. Emergency pendants can be programmed to call either 911 or a family member. With one press of a button, a call is made and either 911 or a family member is alerted that something is wrong.

Electronic Medication Dispensers
An electronic medication dispenser also acts as a medication reminder system. It sets off an alarm when it’s time to take medication, and dispenses exactly what is needed for that time of day. This will help ensure medication is taken as required throughout the day and a dose is never missed.

Video Calls
Internet-connected videos cameras are now as common as telephones. They’re on smartphones, tablets, laptops, and even built into some computer monitors. A video call can be a much more effective way to keep in touch with family members without having to leave the home. Doctors are even seeing patients via video calls these days, which can eliminate another need to leave the house.

Home Modifications by Williams Lifts

Aging in place home modifications refers to the type of products and services Williams Lifts specializes in. Modifications can be made to a senior’s home to help him or her overcome various obstacles. This can include tools such as stair lifts to get up and down stairs easier, or modular ramps for entering and exiting the home in a wheelchair.

Here is a list of different kinds of aging in place home modifications, along with links where you can get more information about them.

In Summary

A combination of aging in place home modifications, and technological devices, can help seniors live comfortably in their own homes well into their old age. For more information about the home modifications offered by Williams Lifts, please request a free brochure or contact us directly.

Pros and Cons of Second Hand Stair Lifts

October 1, 2017 By Susan Hackett Leave a Comment

When it comes to affordable options for mobility equipment, don’t rule out second hand stair lifts.

Using a stair lift means putting your safety in the equipment’s hands, so to speak. So we understand when customers come to us with hesitations about used stair lifts, and we do our best to quell those concerns.

It helps to get as much information as you can before deciding between new and used stair lifts in order to feel confident about what you’re buying.

In this article, we will go over the pros and cons of second hand stair lifts. With this information, you can then decide which option suits you the best.

What You Need to Know About Second Hand Stair Lifts

Used stair lifts can be as good as new, depending on the dealer you buy from. At Williams Lifts we uphold the standard for what we believe should be met by all used mobility equipment.

When shopping for second hand stair lifts, or other types of used equipment, don’t be afraid to ask questions to learn more about the dealer’s standards.

As an example, do they know where the equipment came from? Be wary if they can’t tell you about the equipment’s history.

We only sell used stair lifts that we buy back from customers who originally purchased it from us in the first place. So we can tell you how old it is, how much maintenance it has received, and other pertinent details.

Depending on the type of model you need you may end up getting a brand new rail, so it may not end up being an entirely used stair lift. A new rail will help when it comes to maintaining the stair lift over time, but used stair lifts typically require more servicing in general. It’s like the difference between a used car and a new car.

It may be challenging to find parts for used stair lifts depending on how old they are. Manufacturers stop making spare parts for older models after 10 years or so. That’s another reason why it’s so important to inquire about the age and history of the machine.

Another drawback of used stair lifts is that they may lack some of the optional features that can be requested with new models. There’s little room for customization — what you see is what you get.

Used Stair Lifts: Pros and Cons

Here are the pros and cons in summary:

Pros

More affordable
As good as new
Leading brands are made to last
Comes with delivery and installation

Cons

May require more frequent servicing
Spare parts are difficult to get on old models
Might not be able to get all the features of a new model

Overall, buying a used stair lift is a great way to save money if you can find a particular model to meet your needs. We invite you to visit our showroom anytime to view our selection of used mobility equipment.

Mobility Aids for Seniors: Everything You Need to Know

July 1, 2017 By Susan Hackett Leave a Comment

Mobility aids for seniors can help restore the freedom and independence of moving about on one’s own. They are typically required on a temporary basis if the individual is recovering from an injury, or on a more long-term basis if the individual has permanent mobility challenges.

There’s a variety of mobility aids for seniors on the market, each of which is designed to serve a unique purpose. Some mobility aids for the elderly are designed to improve balance and stability. Others are designed to help an individual walk straight and maintain an upright posture. There are also mobility aids designed to reduce muscle and joint pain by redistributing weight carried by the legs.

One thing every mobility aid has in common is the positive effect they have on seniors’ self-confidence. Knowing you can move about freely without the assistance of others is like opening up a whole new world of possibilities.

This article will discuss the types of mobility aids for seniors that are available. Some of which are available at Williams Lifts, while others will have to be sought out from another vendor. The main point of this article is to educate you on what you may need for a given situation, whether it’s from us or not.

Types of Mobility Aids for Seniors

Stair Lifts
Stair Lifts assist individuals who cannot get up and down stairs on their own. They are powered chairs which are installed on a track opposite the railing. You simply sit in the chair while it safely and securely moves you from one floor to another.

Ramps
Ramps assist individuals with limited mobility when they need help getting from one level to another. Ramps could be as simple as a threshold ramp for getting over door frames, or large modular ramps that wheelchair users can have installed outside their homes.

Power Recliners
If getting in and out of your favorite chair has become more taxing than relaxing, a power recliner may be able to help you. They are ultra comfortable reclining chairs that do all of the work for you. They can get you from a standing position to a seated position, and vice versa, all while exerting little of your own energy.

Canes
Canes are designed for individuals who have difficulty maintaining their balance while walking. They’re available either as walking sticks (one point at the bottom), tripod canes (three points), or quad canes (four points). Which one is right for you will depend on how much added assistance you need while walking.

Walkers
Walkers are designed for individuals who have exceptional difficulty maintaining their balance when standing upright. They distribute more of a person’s weight throughout the frame than any cane is capable of. Walkers are available in models with 4 wheels, 2 wheels, or no wheels at all.

Crutches
Of all the mobility aids for seniors we’ve gone through so far, crutches are unique in that they require the recommendation of a medical professional in order to use them. Crutches are used in pairs and are typically designed for recovering from short-term injuries. They require good coordination in order to use them properly, so they’re not recommended for people with poor balance.

Conclusion

At Williams Lifts we’re happy to offer a selection of stair Lifts, ramps, and power Recliners. If you’re not sure which one is right for you, you’re welcome to contact us or visit our showroom for an in-person demonstration.

Handicap Chair Lift

August 1, 2016 By Susan Hackett Leave a Comment

A handicap chair lift is designed to help you overcome obstacles in your home when your mobility is limited. That’s the literal definition, but it means so much more thban that to our customers. We can tell by the joy we see in our customer’s eyes once they realize they have regained the mobility they used to enjoy in the comfort of their own home.

A handicap chair lift can have various definitions depending on the individual. We sell several different types of chair lifts which all fall under the same category. These include: indoor straight stair lifts, curved stair lifts, straight stair lifts, and even power recliner lift chairs.

Throughout this article we will get you acquainted with the various types of chair lifts on the market so you can decide which one is right for you.

Straight Handicap Chair Lift

Straight chair lifts are typically what you would think of when you think of a chair lift. Essentially it is a motorized chair on rails that’s designed to comfortably move you up and down a straight set of stairs. The straight stair lifts we carry are from industry leading companies: Bruno and Acorn. Each have their own sets of features and benefits, so we recommend visiting this page if you’d like more information on straight chair lifts.

Curved Handicap Chair Lift

A curved chair lift is similar in function to a straight chair lift, but it is built to maneuver itself around curved railings. In fact, each one of our curved lifts is custom made to fit the exact dimensions of your staircase. Because the lifts are custom made, please expect a 4-8 week turnaround time after the initial measurements are taken. As with the majority of our lifts, we carry the brands Bruno and Acorn, which all come with their own unique set of features and benefits. Please see this page for more information about our curved lifts.

Power Lift Recliner Chairs

Technically falling into the category of handicap chair lifts is the power lift recliner chair. These are designed to help you regain the freedom and independence sitting down and getting up from your favorite chair without it being an obstacle in your life. Power lift recliner chairs ensure you won’t ever again have to worry about mobility when sitting down. Just kick back, relax, and the chair does all the work for you. Please see this page for more information about our power lift chairs.

Conclusion

No matter what chair lift you decide is right for your home, you can expect it to be expertly installed by our factory-trained technicians. For some added peace of mind, our chairs are backed by a manufacturer’s warranty, so you can expect to have a place in your home for a long time to come. If you have any questions about any of our chair lifts, please leave a comment below.

Featured Image Credit: By Xeror (Own work) [CC BY-SA 3.0], via Wikimedia Commons

Top Brands of Outdoor Stair Lifts

May 9, 2016 By Susan Hackett Leave a Comment

When you’re in need of an outdoor stair lift you need one built to withstand all weather conditions, especially living in NJ, you know how sporadic our weather patterns can be at times. With the excellent spring weather coming up, you’re going to find yourself wanting to spend more time outdoors as well. Your outdoor stair lift should have those considerations in mind as well and work for you whenever you need it. That’s why we sell a range of outdoor stair lifts that are built for all conditions. Here is an overview of some of our most popular models.

Top Outdoor Stair Lifts

Acorn Stair Lifts:
Acorn provides a fully weather-proofed stair lift ideal for outdoor use. Acorn outdoor lifts come with all of the same features as the Acorn indoor stair lifts. The Acorn Outdoor stair lift even comes supplied with a durable waterproof cover for extra protection.

You can trust that all of Acorn’s products are safe to use outdoors. That’s because All of Acorn’s current stair lifts been independently tested and certified to comply with the newest European safety standard for stair lifts, BS EN 81-40:2008, as well as the Worldwide standard for stair lifts, ISO 9836-2:2000.

If you’re still not sure whether an Acorn stair lift is right for your home, we encourage you to make an appointment to try out our stair lifts in our showroom. Contact us today to learn more about our mobility equipment and how to receive a free evaluation.

Bruno Stair Lifts:
Specifically designed to withstand harsh environments, Bruno’s outdoor stair lift helps you enjoy the outside of your home with the safety and freedom you’re used to in the inside of your home. Whether you need help getting up porch stairs or down steps to your backyard, Bruno’s outdoor stair lift reliably takes you there with ease and comfort. A weather-resistant cover travels with the chairlift and protects it when not in use. Performance tested in harsh temperatures, you can count on your Bruno Outdoor Elite stair lift year round.

Depend on your local, authorized Bruno dealer for your home accessibility needs now and in the future. If you’re not sure whether a Bruno stair lift is right for your home, we encourage you to make an appointment to try out our Bruno lifts in our showroom.

Harmar Stair Lifts
Harmar also provides weather-proofed stair lifts to withstand the elements. Harmar’s outdoor lift is engineered with a durable extruded aluminum track and marine-grade vinyl seating to handle rain, wind, snow, and temperatures from 0° to 125° degrees. Includes header, internal chassis, and large weatherproof covers for even more protection. Williams Lift specializes in carrying the indoor Harmar stair lift, but we highly recommend the outdoor model as well.

With the ability to take you from your front door to the sidewalk, or your cabin door to the boathouse; outdoor stair lifts offer unique mobility far more than a wheelchair. Only a home stair lift designed for the elements can extend your independence safely and securely outside your home. View our selection today.

Why a Home Stair Lift?

April 11, 2016 By Susan Hackett Leave a Comment

Why a home stair lift? Stair lifts are the easiest and least expensive way to go up and down stairs when they have become an obstacle in your home. Having been in the accessibility industry for generations, the staff at Willams Lifts have heard hundreds of stories from people with temporary health conditions restricting their movement.

We’ve heard from people struggling to reach the second level of their home with crutches or canes, as well as aging parents literally crawling up the stairs to reach the bathroom. Conversely, we’ve also heard the stories from hundreds of happy customers who have used stair lifts to move around their homes with more freedom.

People literally weep with joy after taking the first ride on their new stair lift, realizing what an improvement it’s going to make to their lifestyle. We’ve helped people access levels of their home that they haven’t reached in years.

What is a Home Stair Lift?

To make sure we’re on the same page, let’s define what a stair lift is. Put simply, it is a chair that goes up and down a stairwell with the help of a motorized rail. We prefer to use the term stair lift, but you may also hear of them being referred to “stair chairs, stair glides, chair for stairs” and other variations. All refer to the same piece of equipment.

A stair lift is needed whenever an individual needs assistance moving up and down stairs — whether it’s due to a temporary injury, or to assist an aging family member. We find the greatest hesitation that comes with buying a stair lift is admitting that one is needed. It’s only natural to deny you need assistance to do something you’ve been able to freely accomplish throughout most of your life.

Here are some other questions to ask yourself if you’re asking why you should get a stair lift:

Are you filled with anxiety at the thought of walking up and down your stairs?
Have you been advised by your doctor to avoid stairs due to medical conditions, such as a stroke, heart condition, severe arthritis, or prescribed medications?
Do you have mobility issues that may make it unsafe to climb stairs? Such as issues with balance, joint pain, weakness of leg muscles, etc.
Have you avoided and/or stopped using parts of your home because you want to reduce the need for stairs?

If you can answer “Yes” to the above questions, then it may be time to get a home stair lift before risking any serious falls or accidents.

Are you still asking yourself “why a home stair lift?” We believe the more appropriate question would be “why not?” It is, without question, the most economical way to stay in your home and retain independence when certain levels of your home have become challenging to access.

Don’t let your quality of life be determined by stairs. Look into the various types of stair lifts we offer, and come by our showroom any time to see one of the models for yourself.

How Much Does A Stair Lift Cost?

April 28, 2015 By Susan Hackett Leave a Comment

calculator-385506_640 Often the first question on people’s minds when dealing with stair lifts is “how much does a stair lift cost?” To be fair, first you have to know which stair lift is right for you based on your individual needs, and then we can get into answering how much does a stair lift cost.

In order to narrow down costs you almost always have to speak with a customer service representative. Costs are so dependent on how the individual model will be customized to your needs that it’s impossible to list prices online like you’d see if you were shopping online for clothes or electronics.

Your best option is to give us a call today to speak with one of our friendly customer service representatives about an estimate. Your next best option in answering how much does a stair lift cost is to fill out the form on the side and then we’ll call you.

Once we’re in touch, one of our installation technicians will visit your home to measure and evaluate your stairway. This process takes around 15 to 30 minutes, after which time we will provide you with a quote. When you are ready for us to install the lift, contact us and we will be at your home within 24-48 hours.

How Much Does A Stair Lift Cost: Price Factors

There are a number of factors that go into determining how much a stair lift costs. Your height and weight is a factor, as is your home. For example, if there is a door at the top of your stairway then you’re limited to only a few models, which affects cost.

Other price factors include the additional features you want to add to the stair lift. There are options available, such as a power footrest, power swivel, and a folding rail which cost extra.

Whether it’s going to be installed indoors or outdoors also factors into stair lift costs, as does the material that the stairs are made of.

Here are some price ranges you can expect for stair lift costs:

Indoor (Used): $1500 to $2400, depending on age and condition of unit
Indoor (New): $2700 to $4500
Outdoor (Used): $2400 to $2900
Outdoor (New): $3800 to $5800

Why Choose Williams for Wheelchair Ramps and Stairlifts?

We service every lift that we install.
We have 24 hour service.
We are a family owned business since 1947!
Our service technicians are factory-trained and have been with the company for many years.
Our business is located in Fanwood, NJ, so people can feel free to talk to us in person by stopping in, by phone, or by filling out the contact form on the right side of the page! Our customer service representatives will answer any question or concern and will be able to assist you with your purchase!

Please fill out the form below to find out how much does a stair lift cost.

Used Wheelchair Ramps

March 27, 2015 By Susan Hackett

Used wheelchair ramps are an ideal solution for acquiring a mobility device at the most affordable price. Williams Lifts is happy to offer a full selection of used wheelchair ramps.

We offer high quality, gently used wheelchair ramps because customer satisfaction is our highest priority. Our used wheelchair ramps are acquired through a buy back program where we buy back the wheelchair ramps from customers who no longer need them. When a customer finds themselves no longer in need of their wheelchair ramp, we’ll buy it from them and offer it at a reduced price to another customer who can truly use one.

Since we mostly buy back equipment that was originally purchased from us, we are confident in the quality of our used wheelchair ramps. We know exactly where these ramps have been, the extent to which they’ve been used, how well they have been maintained, and so on.

After conducting a thorough inspection, if a wheelchair ramp does not meet our specifications we will not buy it back for resale to our customers. We can offer used wheelchair ramps for sale at very affordable prices thanks to this buy-back program.

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Stair Glide Rental

March 13, 2015 By Susan Hackett

straight stair lifts Stair glide rental is an appealing option over purchasing a stair glide depending on your situation, such as how long you will need it for.

We are happy to offer stair glide rental as an alternative temporary service for those in need of a short-term accessibility solution, ranging from a few weeks or a few months. If that sounds like something you need, you’re in the right place because we are among the only companies in the New Jersey area offering stair glide rental!

When would stair glide rental be a better option than buying? Usually it’s when you only need it for a short period of time and it doesn’t make financial sense to invest in a permanent stair glide. For example, maybe you’re injured and only need something while you’re recovering.

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Williams Lift Company Offers Stair Chair Lift Rental, A Perfect Solution For Accommodating Family and Friends

January 21, 2015 By Susan Hackett

Williams Lift Company, based out of Union County, New Jersey, is happy to offer stair chair lift rentals as a temporary option for those in need of an accessibility solution. Williams Lift Company is among the only companies in the New Jersey area offering a full stair chair lift rental selection as an alternative to purchasing a stair lift.

“If you have friends or family members with limited mobility staying at your home, it doesn’t make financial sense to invest in a permanent stair lift when you’ll only need it for a short period of time,” says Susan Williams, Sales Manager of Williams Lift Company. “We’re happy to be one of the only dealers in New Jersey offering stair chair lift rental while the majority of our competitors only sell them.”

In addition to being a great solution for accommodating friends and family, a stair chair lift rental is ideal in a number of other situations as well. For those recovering at home from an injury or surgery and need a lift chair to get up and down stairs, renting one from us is an affordable alternative to purchasing one.

“The worst part about experiencing an injury or surgery is being left in your home without having the ability to move around,” Susan continues. “Experiencing an injury or recovering after surgery can be hard, but Williams Lift is here to offer products that help people stay mobile during their recovery process.”

Stair Chair Lift Rental Installed In 24-48 Hours

Getting started with a stair chair lift rental is as simple as making a call, getting your stairway measured and then a technician will be sent to your home within 24-48 hours to perform the installation. From there you can make low monthly payments for as long as you require the lift chair.

If you’re interested in a stair chair lift rental, please get in touch with Williams Lift by filling out this contact form.

About Williams Lift Company

Williams Lift Company is a division of Williams Surgical which was opened in 1947 by Thomas E. Williams. It continues to be owned and operated by the Williams Family to this day. Williams Lift Company is among the most trusted companies in New Jersey, servicing the 07023 and 07083 zip codes.