Ageing in Place – Vision 20 Years Ago Being Realized.

“I formed SILVER CROSS to give families the opportunity to find lower cost solutions to their home health care equipment needs.  What I saw in 1993 was that vendors simply offering new equipment with very few options. In other words, they were getting business by default.  It just made sense to try and recycle home health care  equipment. For the first few years, it was difficult in determining what was economically viable from a business perspective to offer to clients with recycled equipment. Demand always seemed to out  way supply. But over the years, SILVER CROSS has evolved to the most consistent source of recycled equipment in North America. We do not satisfy all requests..  but simply more than anyone else.  More locations are necessary to cover most of both USA and Canada. It my goal to continue to expand our bricks and mortar locations through franchising so that most people in North America have options to solve their desire to maintain their independent life style as they enter their senior years.” Bob Harvey, Founder – SILVER CROSS

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

20 Bizarre Custom Wheelchair Modifications

A range of impressive wheel chair modifications which are bound to turn heads!

So we’re getting well into the 21st century now and I don’t know what resolutions everyone’s been making over the last decade, but it’s obvious to say that technology has certainly made some fresh starts. Our laptops and PCs are getting slimmer, our iPhones are allowing users to multitask and even the cars are beginning to ditch the ‘bad’ fuel, and switching to electric diets. And for wheelchairs, it’s no different.

Here is a list of 20 innovative designs that could all be part of changing the lifestyles of the wheelchair user. Some of these are designed by the science giants, and some are just homemade, but these are all remarkable modifications on the old 20th century image of a standard wheelchair.

1. Tankchair – More than just a wheelchair

Don’t be intimidated, this photo was taken from a low angle and those wheels are there for purely practical reasons. Yes, this might look like it’s designed for the army, but it was actually built for love. A gift, from a husband to his wife, Liz Zoden broke her back in a road accident, she was told she would never walk again, and although this restricted her at first, her husband Brad soon sorted that out. This tank allows Liz to drive on all terrains she’s always loved, including snow, sand and even through streams. Her husband Brad can modify the chair to fit just about anybody. What a hero!

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2. RODEM – Half Scooter, half electric wheelchair.

This is just the prototype version displayed in the Veda Centre, but in the not too distant future i’m pretty sure these things will be just as popular as any other techno-gadgetry and will surely be available in a more full and funky spectrum of colours. With an open back it is easy to climb straight into, with a protective cushion for the chest to lean against. Although this is primarily designed for people with disabilities, it could easily become popular with just about anyone who wants a fast way of getting around the city.

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3. A time before RODEM.

This mod is half bicycle and half wheelchair. It’s not quite as hip as RODEM. It’s the bog standard chair, with the main frame of a bicycle attaches to the front. This isn’t a futuristic design as such, nor is it a cruel joke, but a very good way of maintaining or building strength in those who are bound to a wheelchair, and may hope to walk again in their future. Personally, I think this bike is pretty cool. It’s got a front frame similar to a chopper, with the added comfort of a chair appose to a saddle. But if you think this is cool, then check this next modification out.

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4. Born to be wild.

This mod is half wheelchair and half electric motorcycle. So when you hear the motor roar into town at 20mph, move aside. Lock-up your sons and daughters, and anything else you care about. For if a wheelchair can become this wild, then it might just influence everything else to follow in its tracks.

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What is the Core of the Silver Cross Service?

The core of the SILVER CROSS service is to offer a lower-cost alternative to home accessibility and mobility equipment.  How this is done is through a number of ways.

First, we needed wide coverage across North America.  So, a number of years ago, a network of dealers was created by screening existing companies within the industry, and determining their receptiveness to offering recycled equipment.  Customer feedback was used to screen out those companies with lax customer service standards.  Now, 80% of North America is covered by the SILVER CROSS customer-first service.

Second, we felt the need to objectively inform each and every person inquiring by presenting to them the key factors in determining which model best suits their specific needs.  To that end, detailed comparison charts were offered on our site, so as to show the full range of products available for each type of equipment.  In addition to comparing the common models and manufacturers, we also felt compelled to follow up with more detailed information to each inquiry in the form of emails that presented even more detailed information to assist with further product selection.  Our goal has always been to continuously inform the market place with the most current, detailed consumer information possible.

To that end, this blog will cover topics like the following:

Is a used stair lift really the best solution or when is a new stair lift a better choice?
Can I get funding in my area for a scooter or do I need to pay for it?
Are my stairs too steep to consider a wheelchair incline lift?
What are my options if there is a door at the top of the stairs?
I got two bids, which is the better one for my situation?
What is more reliable, a electric run stair lift or a battery operated one?
Where is the best place to install an exterior porch lift?
Can I put a stair lift outside? And, if I do, what complications may I run into?
What new stair lift models are available?

The intent of this blog is to interact with you, the end-users of accessibility equipment.  We want to receive your input during the information-gathering phase of any product search as well as record your opinions and observations after the product installation or delivery itself.  We hope that our new blog here at SilverCross.com will be the first and last avenue you choose when researching healthcare assistance equipment for you or your loved ones in the future.

Welcome to the new SILVER CROSS Blog!

Welcome to the new SILVER CROSS blog!  Thanks for stopping by.  This blog is a DO FOLLOW blog so YOU COMMENT – WE FOLLOW and we are really looking forward to reading what you have to say.  The goal of this blog is to cover topics that focus on maintaining your independence ranging from stair lift and other home lift choices, funding sources for home accessibility equipment and discussions on strategies to make your home more accessible.  We want to help and this blog is dedicated to providing you with a place to discuss your challenges, asking questions and to receive information on some of your more important stair lift questions.

We here at SILVER CROSS will also strive to provide you some great resources to review during each post and keep you up-to-date when possible on stair lift manufacturer changes and/or news impacting various stair lift topics including curved stair lifts versus straight stair lifts, electric versus battery operated stair lifts and related stair lift topics that we may believe would be of interest to you the viewers.  Further, we want to hear from you, if you know of a stair lift topic that you want us to write about, make sure to send us an email (rharvey@silvercross.com).

Thanks for checking out the new SILVER CROSS blog and make sure you bookmark us and check back with us often.