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Companion Stairlifts are some of the best around
Jun 8th
Nothing can be a greater torture than having to climb flights of stairs several times a day, especially if you’re mobility impaired. This is where stairlifts come in handy. Simply get in the seat, press a button and you are at the top of the stairs in no time at all. What could be easier?
Choosing a stairlift can be complicated, however, especially when you consider the safety factor. After all, the stairlift has to carry your entire body weight on its way up. Is it sturdy enough to do that properly? If not you might find the stairlift will get you up in ten seconds and down in less than one.
As the team at Mobility Compare are oft heard to say until we’re blue in the face, pay attention to this single factor before you purchase a stairlift. Preferably test it out before you sign on the dotted line (although we’re the first to admit this isn’t always possible).
Another significant concern is how comfortable the seating arrangement is. Make sure the seat supports your lower back, waist and hips properly and prevents slippage during the ride.
This is where the Companion stairlift we tested scored major brownie points. The seat is cushioned for extra comfort, and the non-slip upholstery & strong safety belt ensures a safe ride, every time. As an added bonus, the upholstery comes in various colours, to make sure it matches your décor perfectly.
A sturdy Companion stairlift
Many manufacturers have problems when installing stairlifts on curved stairs. This is another place where Companion proves itself a class apart. The service engineers from Companion can get a specially designed stairlift fitted with your existing spiral staircase in no time at all. And if your staircase is really narrow, even then they can get you a stairlift that can be removed and kept aside, only to be slid in when you need to climb the stairs. The design is pretty innovative, and saves space.
Our tests also revealed that Companion stairlifts are sturdier than many alternatives.
The home trial offer is certainly good for first time customers and the service warranty and access to a helpline throughout the day rounds out the package nicely. We would certainly recommend checking out the stairlifts from Companion, if you are looking to add a stairlift to your home anytime soon.
The value for money and extended list of features are more than enough to justify the recommendation.
Just a little bit More
May 27th
At Mobility Compare we’ve been doing a lot of work on mobility scooters.
Part of this work has involved developing a Buyer’s Guide for potential scooter owners. Our task has been to take the mystique out of buying and owning a scooter and to make purchasing one easier. You can read the Guide we wrote for Daily Mirror Mobility here.
The mobility scooter market is a confusing one. Part of this confusion lies with our very own Government. Did you know, for example, that scooters are classified into Class 2 and Class 3? No? Allow me to enlighten you.
Class 2 mobility scooters are for pavement use only and travel at a less-than-warp speed of 4mph. They also weigh less than 113 kilograms. If the scooter manages to make it to 114 kilograms it transforms into a Class 3 scooter which allows it to pack a punchy extra 4 mph into the bargain.
This extra speed, allowing the scooter to travel at 8mph, sometimes makes enthusiastic owners believe they’re Lewis Hamilton – not the best idea if a Subaru Impreza Turbo has taken the inside lane.
Of course, a Class 3 scooter can also weigh less than 113 kg – the classification is more for the reason they can be used on roads as well as pavements. (But not motorways for obvious reasons.)
Anyway, the faster that the House of Commons Transport Committee reports back to Parliament this year, the sooner confusion can be ironed out. And yes, faster is a pun.
Anyway, as part of our research we came across one major discrepancy.
Some mobility scooter manufacturers offer a cheaper price but batteries, charger & delivery are extra. This can add a substantial sum to the cost of a scooter but these charges are sometimes hidden and only come to light when the dotted line is about to be signed.
For that reason the staff at Mobility Compare are rather partial to the team at More Than Mobility. Why? Their prices for mobility scooters include batteries, charges and delivery. For that reason alone, MTM should be applauded – but when you consider one of their models, the Pride Libre LX, is priced at just £399, then a round of applause is just not enough.
We’d say this is probably the best Class 2 scooter available for the price. It’s that simple.
Entering the Dragons’ Den
Apr 15th
Mobility Compare paid a visit this week to the lair of Dragons’ Den’s Peter Jones.
Nestled in the charming market town of Marlow, Buckinghamshire, PJ Media operates a diverse a number of companies – as you’d expect from a Dragon who spends much of his life investing in ground-level business opportunities.
We’d like to say we were investigating his new venture, Gondola Wine, but no such luck…..instead we were there to learn more about special phones for the senior market. You know, the ones with the big knobs – we’re not being patronising either as these phones have seriously big buttons so that elderly and disabled people can use them easily.
big knobs and buttons
Here’s the thing: even with millions of UK disabled, and even more elderly people, none of the large networks cater for this huge market. It’s therefore been left to Peter Jones’ Matobmobile and companies like Emporia to fill the gap and help the elderly and disabled with phones designed specially for them.
Our favourite phone? The Doro Phone Easy 409 – photo above. Priced at £109, the phone is fitted with large buttons and a big display which in tandem with the huge characters makes text messages far easier to read. The phone’s best feature, however, was the phone’s emergency SMS capabilities and emergency call dialling. Just make sure you don’t send an emergency SMS by accident. The last thing you need is an RAF helicopter winching down a rescue serviceman as you watch Masterchef.
Our favourite accessory? The Amplicom Vibration Pillow which sits under your pillow and vibrates when there is an incoming call. Even Ann Summers has thought about stocking this little gem but that’s for another blog post. Price? £19.99.
Good vibrations – the Amplicon Pillow
All in all the Mobility Compare crew had a splendid day out at the Dragons’ Den lair. Did we meet Peter Jones? No. Did we see his office? You couldn’t miss it – there was enough room for a five-a-side football pitch. It really was that big.
We’re having a short holiday next week – see you end of April!
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