Stairlifts - suggestions for best value please

Nurselayer

Hi all,

Not sure that this is the right board but if not then I'm sure a mod will kindly move it for me

I need to have a stairlift installed for a family member with a terminal illness. Our staircase is straight and I think we'd rather rent (unless it's cheaper to buy??). As with all such illnesses there is no way of knowing how long we might need the stairlift for.

I am after advice as to which companies are the best value to use. (ie cheapest) and whether there is anywhere that we might be able to get financial help towards the cost of the stairlift.

We are based in London (if that makes any difference?)

I really appreciate your help in advance.

Thank you

Indie_Kid

Have you spoke to social services or an occupational therapist (OT) ?

sunnyone

Nurselayer wrote: »

Hi all,

Not sure that this is the right board but if not then I'm sure a mod will kindly move it for me

I need to have a stairlift installed for a family member with a terminal illness. Our staircase is straight and I think we'd rather rent (unless it's cheaper to buy??). As with all such illnesses there is no way of knowing how long we might need the stairlift for.

I am after advice as to which companies are the best value to use. (ie cheapest) and whether there is anywhere that we might be able to get financial help towards the cost of the stairlift.

We are based in London (if that makes any difference?)

I really appreciate your help in advance.

Thank you

My husbands mate rang me last week asking about stair lifts and hes got one for £380 hired for a year (his MIL is 91 and a years a long time when your that old), he rang people he found in the yellow paper/local paper and what people offered was vastly diffrent, some people wanted £200 to fit a rented lift and another £200 to remove it when the time comes.

If you have someone handy in the family there are always some stair lifts on ebay pretty cheap but its finding one in your area.

You can but reconditioned stairlifts for starting at @£750 and these are advertised in the yellow paper/local papers.

If you live in the NE I can help with contacts, otherwise but all the local rags and ring the people in the disability section and see what they offer stairlifts at.

sunnyone

sh1305 wrote: »

Have you spoke to social services or an occupational therapist (OT) ?

They are far to slow for urgent need, my husbands mate rang them last week and it would be about 2 months before his MIL would even been assessed then it would be down to funding to as when a stairlift was fitted IF the OT agreed it was best for her.

I said IF because they assessed my gran as needing a through the floor lift in a house that was totally unsuited for that, we had to buy her a stairlift and despite SS saying it was unsuitable she managed with it until her death.

Nurselayer

Thanks Sunnyone.

Any idea which company your friend used? £380 for a year seems like a good deal.

The best offer I've had so far is about £400 installation and removal, £135 to put in a powerpoint that is needed and then £40 per week.

Occupational Therapy at the hospital said that they didn't do stairlifts. Haven't tried Social services yet - although I may look into it.

Errata

I'm guessing here, but does your relative have a MacMillan nurse ? They have loads of info on all kinds of things, or they know a man that does, and can often get aids sorted out PDQ.

sunnyone

Nurselayer wrote: »

Thanks Sunnyone.

Any idea which company your friend used? £380 for a year seems like a good deal.

The best offer I've had so far is about £400 installation and removal, £135 to put in a powerpoint that is needed and then £40 per week.

Occupational Therapy at the hospital said that they didn't do stairlifts. Haven't tried Social services yet - although I may look into it.

Its a local one man band, Im surprised that he got such a good deal.

The £200 for each instalation then removal seems to be standard, a cable can be clipped to the skirting board and cable grips used to secure it if theres a powerpoint in the same room/next room.

There are a lot of options with stairlifts that people dont know about but for emergency supply you dont really care so long as ones in place ASAP.

Nurselayer

I've a little time (perhaps a couple of weeks) to get it sorted. I'll try the local papers and yellow pages.

Thanks Errata, Macmillan gave me a list of numbers - out of the 5 that were on the sheet only 1 worked. I will also try the local Help the Aged centre.

Errata

Really sorry to hear that - also try Age Concern.

Savvy_Sue

I thought Help the Aged and Age Concern had merged now? And would shortly be called Age UK? See here.

However, leaving that aside, I was looking at my mother's stair lift the other day. It is very firmly attached to several stairs, with solid plates and large bolts, so be aware that when it is taken out you may want / need to replace the stair carpet.

That followed a comment of mine about a trip hazard where her landing carpet is badly joined, she was saying that they had been talking about replacing it, but now the stair lift was in she wasn't sure what to do.

Also Mum had a hand-rail which had to be removed before the stair lift was fitted, and they left quite a mess of the wall when they took that down. Only a problem if you have a stair rail to remove, of course, but do ask about 'making good' if anything like that has to be done.

Errata

You're correct Sue, but many of them are still operating in their own offices in the same town under their original names.