A growing market
Giffin, Caden and Waters all agree that demand for accessibility equipment, specifically pool and spa lifts, has grown significantly over the past several years, with no end in sight. The most basic explanation for this increase comes down to simple demographics.
“The number of individuals requiring this type of equipment has increased substantially over the last few years and is expected to continue growing,” Giffin says. “This growth can be attributed, in part, to the large number of baby boomers now reaching their 60s and advances in medicine that increase life expectancy.”
Caden adds that the characteristics of this aging population also play a role in market growth.
“Baby boomers are not only becoming senior citizens, but are the first generation of active senior citizens. Today’s seniors demand access to any type of recreational facility, regardless of their physical capability.”
On the flipside, Giffin and Waters both say the population in general is encountering more health problems than ever before. Those providing access to aquatic facilities and residential pools can benefit from this unfortunate state of affairs.
“Lifestyles are becoming more and more sedentary, creating an older, heavier, less healthy population,” Giffin says.
Waters agrees, adding, “It is no surprise obesity is a major health problem in both Canada and the U.S. For this reason we have added heavy-duty units to our product line. For extremely overweight and obese individuals, aquatic exercise is the best beginning for a weight-loss exercise program. However, these same individuals have difficulty with pool ladders and stairs. Our line of heavy-duty lift products make it possible for these people to get into and out of the pool safely in order to begin an exercise program.”
Letter of the law
The accessibility aid boom has also been helped in part by U.S. legislative initiatives undertaken in recent years.
“The U.S. Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) has required this type of equipment to be installed on all commercial pools,” Giffin explains. “Many states have now adopted some or all of the federal ADA guidelines and are inspecting for ADA-compliant access to commercial pools and spas.”
While the Canadian government has yet to officially follow suit, Caden says U.S. guidelines often have an impact on international standards, and the country’s northern neighbours.
“This event was the first governmental recognition of the need for guaranteeing civil rights for people with disabilities,” Caden says of the ADA. “Since the signing of the ADA in the U.S., many countries around the world are following this example and mandating equal access for people with disabilities. Speaking strictly for pool lifts, in the U.S., the Access Board has defined guidelines for the design and use of these products. Many of the points presented in these ADA Accessibility Guidelines are derived from ISO 10535, an international standard for designing and manufacturing patient lifts.”
Waters agrees that the signing of the ADA has had a huge impact on the lift business, one that many companies have capitalized on.
“Our lifts are often specified for new projects that need to adhere to the ADA guidelines for inclusive design,” Waters says. “They are widely used to bring older pools up to ADA standards.”
Giffin adds that Aqua Creek has its lifts tested at a nationally recognized independent test laboratory, to ensure they are safe for commercial use and ADA-compliant.
“We have done extensive research and modified designs of our lifts to not only make them more aesthetically pleasing but also safer to use. With the ADA requiring the use of an aquatic lift on commercial pools and spas, designers and contractors are specifying this type of equipment on commercial projects more and more.
“Because of this exposure on many large commercial projects, awareness of this type of equipment is also becoming greater,” Giffin continues. “People are starting to realize this type of equipment can be purchased and installed on their residential pools and spas, as well.”
Caden agrees, noting there are sales opportunities for both new and existing aquatic facilities and residential pools.
“Many pool and spa designers are incorporating accessibility needs into their designs for new construction,” he says. “The development of accessibility products that are both portable and user friendly has made the designer’s job easier in that respect. Having said that, there are hundreds of thousands of existing pool operators working to make their facilities accessible. These existing pools provide the greatest sales opportunity for such devices.”
