Star lift options - thoughts?

ChilliBob

Hey guys, 

I'm looking into stair lofts as I suspect my father will need one fairly soon - and I'd rather be prepared when that time comes than need to faff for ages. For context..

Staircase with a curve, in a typical 3 bed semi in the outskirts of London

My Dad is 84 and suffers with bad knee problems, foot problems, has a blue badge and is currently just using a stick, but it's not enough so we're progressing to a rollator this week probably (I already have one).

Curious what options are out there really, based on his situation. My Mum, 81, and, mobility wise, is fine will also be using the stairs, in the conventional way.

Appearance is quite important, I think my Dad will already feel deflated and sad at having to have one anyway so, If it could look stylish at least it might help!

Any help much appreciated  

Keep_pedalling

Assume they are on their own in the house, time to consider downsize to a bungalow perhaps? We have done this recently and are only in our early 70s and have no problem climbing stairs. We also have a walk in shower so hopefully we will never have to move again.

ChilliBob

They are, yes, however, I think with everything else they are dealing with there's zero chance they'd want to go for that option - not to mention the memories in their house! But yes, it's clearly a logical option. I must say though, having moved house twice it's certainly a very stressful experience - I don't think they'd be able to deal with it!

chrisw

Don't dismiss second hand or refurbished stair lifts. For curved ones, suppliers will often use a reconditioned lift on a new curved track. Googling local companies should give you some ideas.

ChilliBob

Yeah, I'm open to that if it's in good nick, obviously!

A quick look at a previous post on here makes me think I'm probably in for 3k sort of price perhaps 

NanookOfTheNorth

My parents have a Handicare 1100 stair lift purchase through Age UK  - they go via Age Co which is part of Age UK (but you end up dealing directly with Handicare)

www.ageukmobility.co.uk

They offer price match too on a like for like stair lift.   It comes with a 2 year guarantee which my Dad has used in the first 6 months ownership - they come out usually same day even if later in the evening (just once it was the following day) which is a bonus when having difficulty using the stairs.

The Handicare 1100 is for straight stairs but they also do curved stair options.

It seems a good stairlift and have known somebody else to have one with a few issues (to be expected with the usage), but currently my Dad has had them out 4 times for the same fault, but generally I think the Handicare get decent reviews.

Second hand ones may appear cheaper, but so long as it has the warranty and call outs otherwise you could end up spending a lot of money to fix it, and you want to know somebody is on call to attend and fix.

ChilliBob

Thanks, some interesting points there. Perhaps optimistic of me but I wouldn't have thougu much would go wrong with them? I was under the impression they had been around for years and the mechanics and technology would be solid! 

p00hsticks

ChilliBob said:

Thanks, some interesting points there. Perhaps optimistic of me but I wouldn't have thougu much would go wrong with them? I was under the impression they had been around for years and the mechanics and technology would be solid! 

They need servicing from time to time - dust or dirt on the rail can disrupt the contacts and they have a back up battery in case of power failure which can need replacing. 

My mother has a basic model where she manually swings the seat round to get in and out (in fact, until she had carers come in she apparently didn't even know this was a feature and used to get in and off sideways) but I believe more upmarket models will do it automatically. 

Savvy_Sue

I can only confirm that a service contract is worthwhile! My mother used to resent the cost, until the battery needed replacing, or something would be identified at the annual service to prevent an imminent problem.

There was no problem with walking up the stairs, except that they had had handrails fitted each side, and one had to be removed to avoid it interfering with the stairlift.

Jellynailer

6 years ago, my son called in  a stair lift company (Age UK Handicare) after I returned from hospital.  I ended up with an ugly monstrosity on my dog leg stairs drilled through my carpet.  It was very slow and so noisy it disturbed my neighbours.  Having shelled out £6K, my doctor sent me on a pulminary rehabilitation course.  

One of the guidance leaflets advised against a lift because exercise going up the stairs was better for my lungs.  I used the leaflet to get the lift removed and get a full refund.  I did put a small seat half way up  + had to pay out for a new carpet.  

I also have back problems, use a rollator; have a blue badge etc,  Going up the stairs during Covid isolation iwas  can be the only exercise I got.  It is so important to keep moving - for mental as well as physical health.. 

ChilliBob

p00hsticks said:

ChilliBob said:

Thanks, some interesting points there. Perhaps optimistic of me but I wouldn't have thougu much would go wrong with them? I was under the impression they had been around for years and the mechanics and technology would be solid! 

They need servicing from time to time - dust or dirt on the rail can disrupt the contacts and they have a back up battery in case of power failure which can need replacing. 

My mother has a basic model where she manually swings the seat round to get in and out (in fact, until she had carers come in she apparently didn't even know this was a feature and used to get in and off sideways) but I believe more upmarket models will do it automatically. 

That makes sense when you out it like that tbh. Ha ha that's the sort of thing I would do and my Dad would probably point out that it swivels!