How To Adapt Your Property If You Have Limited Mobility 8 Apr 2024, 5:40 am

Living with limited mobility can be very difficult, so it is important to make it as easy as possible to maintain independence and a quality of life. 

Here are some tips on how to continue living at home if you struggle with walking.

Install a stairlift

Climbing the stairs is the hardest part of having mobility issues, so installing a new or reconditioned stairlift can mean the difference between being able to access half the house or not. 

They can fit nearly every house and staircase, allowing homeowners to travel up and down the stairs without assistance. 

Remove rugs

Anything loose on the floor can increase the risk of having a fall, so remove rugs or loose carpets as these can be a trip or slip hazard. 

It is also important to get rid of any clutter from the floor, as these could be tripped over. Bags, cables, pet bowls, shoes, umbrellas, plant pots or statues should have a designated place instead or be put higher up so they do not become an obstacle that causes a fall. 

Keep essentials in one place

Anyone who struggles walking does not want to go into different rooms unnecessarily, which is why it is sensible to make sure all their essentials are in one place on one floor. 

For instance, they should have their medication, smartphone, water, remote control and snacks where they can easily reach for them. It is not sensible to have things spread out across the house, as this makes it harder to access things they need when they need them. 

Grab bars in the bathroom

The bathroom is a place everyone needs to go, so make sure it is safe. Have grab bars near the bathtub, shower and toilet for something to hold on to, as this will make it easier to get in and out of the bath or use the loo.

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Signs That A Stairlift May Help Make Everyday Life Easier 12 Mar 2024, 6:56 am

When people get a stairlift installed in their house, their primary regret is that they did not have it fitted sooner so they could appreciate the benefits before they became an abject necessity.

As with most pieces of adaptive equipment, a stairlift is an effective way for someone to keep their independence in their own home, enjoy everyday life a little more and feel safer getting around.

Sometimes the initial signs that a stairlift will make life easier are easy to ignore, particularly given the breakneck pace of everyday existence and the general resilience of people to keep going even through bouts of pain.

Taking A Deep Breath Before Taking The Stairs

It is surprisingly common for people to reach the staircase and take a deep breath before they start climbing up and down them, and almost every reason why this is the case could be a sign they need a stairlift.

It is often a consequence of a recent fall, stumble or scare, which can affect a person’s confidence, or it can be a sign of chronic pain, where they have to brace themselves before ascending.

You do not always need to use it, but it being an option can immediately help.

Needing To Sit Or Lie Down Immediately

Often mistaken as more general fatigue, if climbing the stairs wears a person out, it is important to understand why, and it can be caused by a condition making the stairs a more arduous task than they used to be.

It could be a respiratory condition, chronic pain, a degenerative disease or a condition that causes dizziness, but a stairlift can in all of these cases help to ease the strain and make life more enjoyable as a consequence.

Minimising Stair Journeys

Some people try to carry everything they are likely to need for the day or the night down with them in one go in order to avoid constant climbs. This can be painful or even dangerous for people who are struggling as it is.

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Parliament Launches A Survey On Accessible Housing 1 Feb 2024, 5:13 am

It might be imagined that in a city the size of Leeds, there are enough homes around that finding accessible ones will not be too hard. However, the reality for many is very different.

Just what the experience is for disabled people in trying to obtain such homes is something the House of Commons Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (LUHC) Committee is trying to find out more about. It has launched its own survey to discover how the government can offer more help.

The survey will not just focus on the experiences people have of finding housing that is custom-built for those with disabilities, but in accessing adaptations too. The latter will apply to things like stairlift installation.

Chair of the committee Clive Betts said the inquiry aims to establish “what the Government can do to ensure disabled residents have access to accessible and adaptable housing in England and how far the planning system is helping to deliver suitable homes”.

The survey will be available for people to fill in online until February 15th and its findings will help inform the committee’s final report on the issue, which will be titled ‘Disabled people in the Housing Sector’.

As well as providing useful information for the government this year, the timing could be very significant as it could provide plenty of data to help those formulating policy proposals for manifestos as the next general election approaches.

Help may also be on the way for older people who need stairlifts if there are better protections in place against ageism.

Addressing MPs on the Women and Equalities Committee at Westminster, Carole Easton, chief executive at the Centre for Ageing Better, said ageism is “hidden in plain sight and embedded” in UK society.

Her comments came as the committee considered the issue of England getting an Older People’s Commissioner, a position that already exists in Wales and Northern Ireland and has been proposed in Scotland.

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Can You Fit A Powered Stairlift Onto A Spiral Staircase? 4 Jan 2024, 5:10 am

A stairlift is one of the most popular forms of home adaptation, and many people looking to help make their homes more comfortable and more accessible in the New Year are looking to invest in their own future.

Since their modern invention in the 1920s, many stairlifts feature a relatively uniform design intended for straight staircases and cut to length, but not every house is designed that way, and some people wonder if they can buy a stairlift that suits their particular home’s needs.

For example, many homes have a right-angled staircase, which means that a straight stairlift would not take them all the way up to the top. However, many models can handle curved staircases, avoiding the need to painfully climb the extra step or the need for an extra stairlift.

However, whilst right-angled or even curved staircases can be navigated with the right stairlift, could a spiral staircase, with its central post, narrow design, steep steps and tight curves, be a suitable candidate for a stairlift?

Ultimately, the answer is a resounding yes, although to do so may require a very specific solution and the help of expert installers and track designers to make sure a chair can be safely fitted to the staircase with enough room for people to use it and for the operator to sit comfortably without catching their legs.

The process may require a visit from a surveyor to measure the width of the staircase, the curve and which system would work best, as well as the estimated time it may take to design any bespoke components to a spiral stairlift.

As it is a more complex, bespoke staircase, it is likely to cost more than a standard system, but this will be communicated clearly during the initial consultation, and if a staircase is so narrow that a stairlift would not be useful at all, this will also be explained.

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How To Stay Safe On Icy Days If You Have Limited Mobility 4 Dec 2023, 5:25 am

The snow and ice can cause anyone to slip over, but for those with limited mobility, they present even more of a risk. Now that winter is in full swing and many areas of the country have experienced the first snow of the season, it is important to stay safe outside. 

Check the weather

To avoid injury over winter, it is wise to check the weather before you head outdoors. You can use a weather app on your phone or look at the news for the latest updates, so you know when you can leave the house and when it is wise to be back by.

Wear shoes with good tread

Although those with mobility issues would be safest to stay indoors when it is snowy or icy, if the cold snap lasts a long time, this can be unrealistic. 

So, if you do go outside, make sure you use shoes that have a good tread. Non-slip footwear will reduce your chances of falling, so it is worthwhile investing in these. 

Use assistive devices with ice grips

You should do the same with your assistive devices, such as canes or walkers. Make sure they have ice grips, so they do not slip when placed on the ice. 

If you are leaning on them and they give way, this is likely to lead you to fall as well, which could result in a bad injury. 

Salt driveway

If you are able to, it is worthwhile clearing your driveway and putting salt down. The first thing to do is remove the freshly fallen snow with a shovel, before melting the rest with table salt. 

The Met Office says just a tablespoon is required for one square metre, so you should not require too much to make a path safe enough for you to walk on. 

Use a mobility scooter

As well as having mobility aids in the house like stairlifts, it is sensible to invest in a mobility scooter if you are struggling to walk. 

These would also make it easier for you to head outdoors in winter, helping you to get fresh air whatever the weather.

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Halloween Stunt Should Not Put People Off Stairlifts 1 Nov 2023, 6:11 am

Many people who need stairlifts try very hard to struggle without them and it is not hard to understand why. After what may have been decades of independent, mobile living, it can be hard to admit you need that bit of extra help.

A sense of stigma may attach itself to the notion of needing a stairlift, but it is important to overcome this and make sure you get a device fitted if you need one. Don’t be afraid to call in stairlift installers just because of what some people – or even sections of society – might think.

The sensitivity of the issue was highlighted recently by a video advert released by Safe Hands Support, a daycare centre in Stirling. Released, perhaps not coincidentally, at Halloween, it showed two young models in rubber ‘old woman’ masks ascending stairlifts, with the caption “Betty with her sister Elain”.

It drew a backlash from those outraged by the stereotyping involved, led by the charity Age Scotland. Its chief executive Katherine Crawford said: “The grotesque masks are so unrealistic and resemble a Halloween scene as opposed to an advert encouraging older people to use their services for day care.”

She added that Age Scotland has been trying for years to combat stereotypes about ageing.

In response, Safe Hands Scotland took the ad down and CEO Sylvia Wisna-Collins issued an apology on the firm’s Facebook page, although she insisted there was no intention to offend.

Explaining why the advert had been made in the way it was, she said: “As we respect the dignity of our clients we did not use photographs of those who did not wish to be published, hence the reason for using masks on willing friends.”

It may be the advert was misguided rather than malevolent, but either way, it is important that if you need a stairlift, you are not put off by foolish stereotyping or stigma.

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Greenwich Building Fiasco Shows Importance Of Access 2 Oct 2023, 5:15 am

When new buildings are constructed with multiple floors, the importance of access has to be considered. This is a matter of planning law and failures by developers to meet the needs of those with limited mobility can have significant consequences.

There have been few cases of this as exceptional as that of a three-tower, 204-unit apartment scheme built in the Greenwich docklands, which the council has just ordered to be pulled down. The local authority stated it had never previously imposed a planning enforcement order on anything of this scale.

Developer Comer Homes Group was slated for at least 26 features of the Mast Quay Phase II development for failing to comply with the details agreed upon in the planning application that was agreed in 2012.

These shortcomings were wide-ranging, but several were specific to people with reduced mobility, including a lack of disabled parking spaces and no step-free access either to the communal gym or many of the apartment balconies.

In modern developments like these, such failings are major issues and in this particular case, the developer is set to pay a huge price.

However, while new homes can be built to certain specifications with mobility needs in mind, older properties are not, which is where a stairlift can offer the sort of modification needed to ensure people living in such homes can enjoy easy access between floors.

Many new homes are not fully equipped for the needs of the disabled either. Under the planning rules introduced in the 2018 National Policy Planning Framework, local authorities have to plan for a mixture of homes of different accessibility levels based on demographics.

While that may work well at a population level, it will still mean some individual homes are not ideally suited and can need an adaptation.

Thankfully, modern stairlift technology means these can be fitted in places where it was once hard to do, like curved staircases.

So, while Comer Homes has to demolish its Greenwich development and re-think how it serves those with mobility issues, in many homes a stairlift can provide a much simpler solution.

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Why You Should Absolutely Not Install A Stairlift Yourself 6 Sep 2023, 5:57 am

Over the years, people have asked about do-it-yourself stairlifts or a stairlift system that is installed not by a professional but by an individual.

Generally, this is in the pursuit of cost saving and can involve either new stairlifts or second-hand ones taken from another property.

It is almost impossible to count the ways in which this is a very bad idea compared to getting a professional to ensure that it is installed correctly.

Starting with the practical considerations; most stairlifts are designed with a particular staircase in mind, in order to avoid bumping into the stairs, to ensure it can navigate around corners and to make sure the ride is comfortable for the person using it on a regular basis.

A self-installation cannot guarantee this unless the installer is so skilled that they ought to be installing them professionally regardless.

It is a very complex installation that involves installing wiring, tracks and complex components up your staircase. It is effectively impossible if you are not an electrician, and even if you are it is a job best left to specialists.

More important than any of this, however, is the fact that without technical support, quality checks and confirmed safety standards (as a DIY installation would void these), it is impossible to be certain that the stairlift would even be safe to use.

Potential track issues, the stairlift falling off of the wall and even electrical hazards are a possibility with a DIY job of this complexity.

Finally, most stairlift companies offer a long-term commitment to their customers, with warranties, technical support and annual service contracts. DIY installation will cause most technicians to give it a wide berth due to concerns about liability.

It is the definition of “penny wise and pound foolish” thinking, as it may save money immediately but cost significantly more down the road compared with the safety and security of a professional installation and tutorial session.

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How A Favour To A Neighbour Transformed Mobility Forever 3 Aug 2023, 5:47 am

Accessibility is a critical part of ensuring independence, and the modern accessible home has a range of tools, gadgets and assistive machinery that helps people with temporary or long-term mobility issues to remain active, comfortable and independent for longer.

One of the biggest changes in assistive technology is the stairlift installation, which allowed people to continue to use all of their homes through a system that could commonly be retrofitted into any house.

The system was initially invented as a neighbourly favour by an enterprising and inventive car dealer by the name of C.C Crispen.

Mr Crispen was the owner of his own Cadillac car dealership in Pennsylvania, being the first in the state to do so. This has made him comfortably wealthy and able to indulge his passion for invention.

A century ago in 1923, he went to visit his neighbour who, due to an illness, struggled to get up and down the staircase in their home.

Wanting to help them as they slowly recovered and wanted to become more active, he developed the idea of a folding seat that could be pulled up and down a staircase on a set of rollers, yet was also narrow enough to not stop people walking up the stairs.

This invention, initially known as the Inclinator, developed interest very quickly in the local area, and by 1924, the Philadelphia Electric Company invited him to showcase his invention, which led to further enquiries by Westinghouse Electric and many other companies.

In the wake of a polio pandemic in the early 20th century, the Inclinator was heavily marketed as a way for people affected by muscle weakness and paralysis to continue to move around their homes, and the stairlift has become one of the most common adjustments made to homes in the century since.

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How Hard Is It To Install A Stairlift In Your Home? 8 Jun 2023, 5:15 am

If you have been struggling to get up and down the stairs, you might have given some thought to having a stairlift. However, it is also possible you may have thought such a thing is impossible for your home, or could only be carried out over a long time, with great disruption.

Such notions could put you off, but they should not. There are many stairlifts in Leeds that have been fitted to curved staircases, narrow staircases, broad staircases, in old homes and new homes alike.

As the UK Care Guide notes, the problem with many homes is narrow staircases. However, as long as they are at least 73 cm wide, it is possible to fit one, which means all but a few will be suitable. Often these are adjusted stairlifts with more features that can be folded away or compressed to ensure able-bodied people can still walk up and down the stairs.

Checkatrade has produced its own guide to dealing with various potential questions about fitting stairlifts. It does note, for example, that the walls need to be structurally strong enough to deal with the weight, so the tradesperson will need to check this ahead of installation.

All being well, the actual installation can be done in a single day’s job. The Checkatrade guide states that it takes eight hours for curved stairs and 3.5 hours for straight stairs. It also notes that stairlifts can be installed on outside stairs such as on patios and porches, with this again taking an average of 3.5 hours. These will, as you would expect, need to be weather-proofed.

These points show that nobody should ever just assume that they cannot have a stairlift fitted in their home, or that the process will be too hard or protracted. You could be just a few hour’s work away from having a much easier climb up and down your stairs.

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