Star lift options - thoughts?

Cyclamen

Chillibob.. 

Yes mobility wise it is very much a case of having a 'tool kit'.. i have three wheelchairs, two rollators, two styles of walking stick... i explain it as wellie boots, walking boots, flip flops, sandals, trainers all do different things so do my gadgets.

If mobility is becoming a problem but a double bed is essential the 'linked' beds with controls to angle seat back and foot can be a great choice.. take single fitted sheets so can move separately but still sleep together.

We havent been married as long as your folks but my husband sleeps on the sofa at home when i'm in hospital as he doesnt like the empty space in bed... so i fully understand the refusing to swap to single beds.  It will become an issue if care is needed later on as some carers, OT's etc insist on single beds for safety, back care etc..   

The stair steady may work well as it doesnt remove the two hand rail thing but puts a bar in front for stability.   Through floor lifts are expensive and take out some space but if the home is big enough may be worth a look. 

As for ugly disability equipment.. that's so common and really frustrating as its often the barrier stopping people using it.. no judgement from me as it was and still is a barrier to me...  'disability beige / grey' and/or  ugly... 

ChilliBob

Cyclamen said:

Chillibob.. 

Yes mobility wise it is very much a case of having a 'tool kit'.. i have three wheelchairs, two rollators, two styles of walking stick... i explain it as wellie boots, walking boots, flip flops, sandals, trainers all do different things so do my gadgets.

If mobility is becoming a problem but a double bed is essential the 'linked' beds with controls to angle seat back and foot can be a great choice.. take single fitted sheets so can move separately but still sleep together.

We havent been married as long as your folks but my husband sleeps on the sofa at home when i'm in hospital as he doesnt like the empty space in bed... so i fully understand the refusing to swap to single beds.  It will become an issue if care is needed later on as some carers, OT's etc insist on single beds for safety, back care etc..   

The stair steady may work well as it doesnt remove the two hand rail thing but puts a bar in front for stability.   Through floor lifts are expensive and take out some space but if the home is big enough may be worth a look. 

As for ugly disability equipment.. that's so common and really frustrating as its often the barrier stopping people using it.. no judgement from me as it was and still is a barrier to me...  'disability beige / grey' and/or  ugly... 

Thanks, that's some very interesting points. Yeah I got my Dad a rollator from Acre, well cool, Nordic Pioneer! https://www.byacre.com/uk/nordic-pioneer/

It functions well too, being light means either of my parents can lift it. My sister in laws lift is useful for her, having mnd, but yeah, the disruption something like that causes in a typical house cannot be understated! 

ChilliBob

teddysmum said:

An actual lift is a lovely idea, but most people would find it impossible to site one. I think stair lifts are ugly, as they have a large part built of plastic, with little upholstery and the shape is very 'utility'. Some of the  Stannahs look better, in photos anyway, but they are among the most expensive.

Another problem is the holes in the stair carpet. ( I did once see a Stannah ad saying that carpets are not damaged, but haven't seen that comment since.) We are having new carpet fitted, so the thought of spoiling my new carpet puts me off even more. I'll just have to put up with hands and feet, up and bum bumps, down, as I can only walk a few steps without support.

A bungalow would be lovely, but those in our area are instantly snapped up, although much more expensive than houses and often in need of a complete makeover.

That sounds like our area, any bungalows tend to be vacated when somebody dies or moves to a nursing home by the looks of it. So yes, often lots of modernisation is necessary. 

That sounds like a good way to get up and down, if a bit tricky! Not sure whether my dad could do that. I admire your efforts though, especially to keep a new carpet nice!

I had a thought.. When you see people climb some bridge or the o2 or something then are moving some clip/climbing carabiner so they don't fall off.. I wonder if similar could apply to walking up the stairs - doesn't make it easier, but reduces/eliminates the risk of a fall from top to bottom.

beanielou

ChilliBob said:

Cyclamen said:

Chillibob.. 

Yes mobility wise it is very much a case of having a 'tool kit'.. i have three wheelchairs, two rollators, two styles of walking stick... i explain it as wellie boots, walking boots, flip flops, sandals, trainers all do different things so do my gadgets.

If mobility is becoming a problem but a double bed is essential the 'linked' beds with controls to angle seat back and foot can be a great choice.. take single fitted sheets so can move separately but still sleep together.

We havent been married as long as your folks but my husband sleeps on the sofa at home when i'm in hospital as he doesnt like the empty space in bed... so i fully understand the refusing to swap to single beds.  It will become an issue if care is needed later on as some carers, OT's etc insist on single beds for safety, back care etc..   

The stair steady may work well as it doesnt remove the two hand rail thing but puts a bar in front for stability.   Through floor lifts are expensive and take out some space but if the home is big enough may be worth a look. 

As for ugly disability equipment.. that's so common and really frustrating as its often the barrier stopping people using it.. no judgement from me as it was and still is a barrier to me...  'disability beige / grey' and/or  ugly... 

Thanks, that's some very interesting points. Yeah I got my Dad a rollator from Acre, well cool, Nordic Pioneer! https://www.byacre.com/uk/nordic-pioneer/

It functions well too, being light means either of my parents can lift it. My sister in laws lift is useful for her, having mnd, but yeah, the disruption something like that causes in a typical house cannot be understated! 

I also have an Acre rollator. Best £550 I have spent in years. Being disabled is expensive!  

ChilliBob

I have my wife to thank for finding them, yeah, they look very cool don't they! The Nordic one seems a good balance for indoor, outdoor and gravel etc. If my Dad uses it much in the house I think he'd need a slimmer one, some of their doorways and stuff would be a challenge otherwise 

beanielou

ChilliBob said:

I have my wife to thank for finding them, yeah, they look very cool don't they! The Nordic one seems a good balance for indoor, outdoor and gravel etc. If my Dad uses it much in the house I think he'd need a slimmer one, some of their doorways and stuff would be a challenge otherwise 

The tip was given for short distance only was to fold the seat up slightly. Hope that makes sense. 

ChilliBob

beanielou said:

ChilliBob said:

I have my wife to thank for finding them, yeah, they look very cool don't they! The Nordic one seems a good balance for indoor, outdoor and gravel etc. If my Dad uses it much in the house I think he'd need a slimmer one, some of their doorways and stuff would be a challenge otherwise 

The tip was given for short distance only was to fold the seat up slightly. Hope that makes sense. 

That does actually! I shall tell my Dad. Thanks  

teddysmum

I have a slim and a regular walking frame, but though the slim one easily fits doorways, it is uncomfortable on female hips for more than a couple of minutes use.

Most of the new non-electrical stair aids, such as the half steps and the latest that looks like a cross between a carpet sweeper and coin pushing amusement arcade machine, are just jokes and lead to the usual list of blue links to sellers of normal stair lifts ( mainly Acorn).

There is a US made, yellow, stair lift, which is becoming cheaper. It is a wheelchair which climbs the stairs using caterpillar track, but it needs a person to keep it in line as it moves and must soon ruin carpet, because of the pressing and dragging motion. Also very ugly.

Electric Climbing Stair Wheelchair Trolley, Folding Portable Chair Stair Lift Climber Stair Mobility Assist Medical Equipment， Load Capacity 380Lb : Amazon.co.uk: Health & Personal Care

JKS$(

A relative had a Platinum Ultimate stair lift fitted around her multi level, multi curved stairs & uses it every time. Apart from the Covid years, it was serviced annually & the only issues have been a battery change & rebalancing, all expected. It has broken down twice. Once was user error & easily sorted, the other was battery failure.

It was fitted by the council, who covered the first 5 years of annual servicing.

A problem she didn't expect was the difficulty in getting an engineer who was qualified to service/fix it. It took several phone calls, & she was left downstairs, trying to sleep in a chair with only one blanket for 2 nights in winter, while the company tried to find an engineer. Not great. (Now she keeps spare blankets & pillows downstairs, just in case)

She lives a few miles outside Cardiff, so hardly in the rural sticks, but I'm struggling to find a company to come out & service it. 

I'm trying to rearrange breakdown cover for it - last year's premium was £348, this year it's £423, quite a hike. She is now going to pay for the annual service, around £125. 

ETA - we had a cheaper quote for breakdown/warranty cover from a different insurer, £284. So £139 cheaper. The downside? The new company won't cover the first 90 days to stop people claiming for an existing problem, which I understand. But we can't risk her being stuck without it if it breaks down within the first 90 days, so she'll have to pay for the higher premium with the existing company so there's no break in cover.

Which she'll have to do every year (if she wants insurance). 

Seems like a closed market to me...