As an experienced overall technical planner, Mr. Michael Kühn has always attached great importance to good relationships. The contact with Sonilift was therefore particularly beneficial for him. He planned and installed every detail in his house himself - right down to the last screw. His decision to buy a stairlift was influenced by his high standards of aesthetics, quality and functionality. In the following interview, Mr. Kühn talks openly about his experiences with Sonilift, the challenges of barrier-free living and how the stairlift has positively changed his everyday life and that of his wife Heidemarie Kühn.
How did you hear about Sonilift?
I was originally looking for an elevator that you could get into with a wheelchair. I had designed our stairwell specifically for this and had already considered a supplier. Unfortunately, I had a less than positive experience there - I was sold a product, although in retrospect it became clear that it did not meet my requirements for aesthetic integration into our staircase and would have caused additional costs that I had not planned for. The installation would have been too costly and the structural conditions did not fit. Although they wanted to offer me a stairlift instead, I wasn't convinced by the service either, which is why I looked around for alternatives. However, another stairlift provider could not guarantee that the stairs would remain intact.
In the course of my further search, Sonilift was recommended to me. So I made an appointment for a consultation. The Sonilift consultant, Mr. Bernhard Runge, was extremely competent and convinced me immediately. He immediately brought illustrative material with him and explained the solution in concrete terms for my home. He was able to respond to my wishes - such as leaving the staircase structure intact - and showed me a solution that other providers were unable to offer.
In the end, I opted for Sonilift, partly because I was able to visit a reference system nearby beforehand. The residents there were also very enthusiastic and even offered me the chance to try out the lift. This gave me the certainty that Sonilift is not only convincing in terms of quality, but also in terms of service.
What made you decide to buy a stairlift?
Due to my wife's illness. She had suffered a stroke and was in hospital. At this point, we needed to act quickly. The hospital had already set conditions for me to fulfill in order to avoid her being transferred to a nursing home. A nursing home would not have been an appropriate solution for her - that was out of the question for us in her condition. So I decided to take the necessary steps and invest in a solution that was both reliable and immediately available.
The Sonilift stairlift ultimately became the best choice. All other solutions did not meet our requirements. The stairlift now gives my wife the mobility she needs in her own home - and gives me the security of knowing that she can manage the stairs safely.
Were there any previous challenges with the stairs that prompted you to install them?
Before my wife fell ill, there were no challenges - our stairs are designed to be safe and easy to use. At the time, I worked intensively with the construction company to ensure that the height and length of the steps were ideal for walking and that it was easy to hold on to both sides. In fact, I even briefly considered whether I could take my wife up without a lift, as the stairs themselves are really easy to walk up.
In the end, however, we opted for the stairlift as it now provides my wife with the support she needs. She uses it while I continue to walk up the stairs. I am reassured by the knowledge that I too could fall back on this safe option if I were to need additional help in the future. The stairlift gives us peace of mind and is an investment in our independence.
What was particularly important to you when choosing a stairlift?
The design was crucial for me. It was about protecting the stairs and integrating the lift as unobtrusively as possible. I would have preferred not to change anything on the stairs, but Sonilift found a compromise that works well.
For my wife, functionality comes first. It's important to me that she can get up and down safely. Daily care is like full care. I look after her on my own and accompany her from the lift to bed or the shower, for example. The stairlift is particularly important for my wife to get upstairs to our bedroom. My wife doesn't want to be cared for by anyone else and relies completely on me - after 61 years of marriage, we are a well-rehearsed team.
The service was just as important to me. The Sonilift team made an excellent impression from the first conversation through to invoicing. Very personable. A big compliment to the whole team. After some less positive experiences with other providers - such as a care bed purchase that was more expensive than the lift and was accompanied by miserable service - Sonilift has shown exactly the customer orientation that I want. As someone who has always worked in a customer-oriented way myself, I can only praise this and recommend it to others.
How did you find the pre-purchase consultation process?
Absolutely super! Three stars! The consultation process at Sonilift was much more confidence-building than with other providers. Right from the start, I was impressed by the consultant - his expertise and the way he responded to my needs immediately built the trust I was looking for. Other providers claimed in retrospect that they could have done something similar, but I never felt the same level of commitment there. Sonilift's overall advertising image also struck me as more reputable and trustworthy than other companies.
Did Mr. Runge respond to your needs? Was there anything that was particularly positive?
Absolutely! Although I didn't have a long list of requirements, it was important to me that the lift looked good and worked reliably. Mr. Runge responded exactly to these wishes. I found it particularly positive that he not only explained, but also brought along visual aids, such as the chair and a rail section. This gave me a much better idea of the whole thing. Everything was shown practically and clearly at this appointment. Other providers just talked about it.
Mr. Runge is a very down-to-earth person who gives an impression of reliability and honesty, without the usual sales talk that I have experienced with others. I immediately realized that he meant business and was responsive to my needs without making superfluous promises.
One example of flexibility: the color of the stairlift. In our stairwell it is RAL 9010, the lift is a shade different - but an uncritical observer would hardly notice. The other provider said that such specific adaptations would not be made at all.
All in all, I am very satisfied and I have the impression that my wishes were really taken seriously.
How satisfied were you with the installation process?
Very satisfied! It went really well. I wasn't necessarily spoiled by other providers before, but I have to say that everything went really well with Sonilift. The installation was completed in just half a day - faster than I had expected. Marcel Themann carried out the installation and everything was spotless and clean when he was finished. All I can say is: flawless, simply excellent! If anyone asks about my experience, I will repeat the same. The whole process and timing was exactly what was promised and what I expected.
How has your everyday life changed since your wife became ill?
Everyday life hasn't fully settled in yet, as we've only been back in the house together for a few days. There are so many little things to think about. For example, a shower wheelchair is not enough - you also need a dry chair because you can't drive around the apartment in a wet shower wheelchair. You have to learn these things first. A fellow sufferer in hospital gave me the tip to buy several chairs at once. We already have three and I'm thinking about whether we need a fourth. But of course it takes up space and you don't want to clutter up the whole house.
I had also considered applying for a subsidy from the health insurance company, but I haven't gotten around to it yet. We were also promised a lift for the bathtub or bed. However, I find it difficult to get involved with all these aids as they often convey a sense of finality. We were obliged to buy a care bed. But we didn't use it. My wife would have been lying alone in this care bed, surrounded by bars. We've lived together all our lives and slept next to each other - if there's no contact, no touching, the person withers away. Then you die like a primrose.
Does the stairlift make you feel safer?
Absolutely safe! If I ever need help, customer service is always on hand immediately. The stairlift definitely gives me a great sense of security.
Do you use the stairlift regularly and how satisfied are you with its functionality?
Yes, we use the stairlift at least once in the morning and once in the evening. However, we haven't had breakfast upstairs yet, although it's particularly nice to sit there. Especially now in winter, the room upstairs is simply fantastic! The functionality of the lift makes everything much more pleasant and enables us to use all the rooms.
Would you recommend Sonilift to friends or family members?
Yes, definitely. For all the reasons I've already mentioned. Everything worked perfectly - from A to Z. And if there is a malfunction, it's just the technology that sometimes goes on strike. But overall I'm very satisfied and would definitely recommend Sonilift.
Do you already have other plans to make your home more accessible?
No, I think we are well provided for with the accessibility that we have achieved with Sonilift. That's perfectly adequate for us.