Now this really is off topic...

Has anyone here had any experience of having a stair lift fitted and
if so who does a good job and who's the Everest double glazing of
stair lifts?

It's reached the point where my dad needs a stairlift to get upstairs
(he keeps falling down and leaving blood on the paintwork) but finding
out who to go to is a minefield. Their local council are great at
sorting out most things for him but they're not allowed to make a
recommendation when it comes to this sort of thing.

They live in Chesterfield if that makes a difference and I've
volunteered to be there when the sales droids go to do their bit so
anyone coming out with one of those "this offer only stands for
tonight" type of sales pitch is going to be really sorry they turned
up.

Cost isn't an issue because the important thing is that my dad can get
up and down the stairs without the risk of killing himself and I don't
want to be fielding phone calls because it's jammed up and he's stuck
upstairs and feeling pissed off about the situation.

Yes, I have thought about asking Champ but thought he'd take it the
wrong way....

 

The local Age Concern branch will probably know who can and can't be
trusted.

 

Had you asked this a couple of months back I could have checked the
make of the one my Gran had, but it's been removed as she's recently
had to move to a care home. Don't recall it ever breaking down in the
10 or so years she used it.

Will see if my mum knows when I give her a call later in the week.

 

Jean is an OT. It's here job to sort this stuff out.

I suggest you give me/her a ring in tomorrow evening, or drop her an
email.

Do they not have OTs or a PCT service there ?

 

Does he have any friends or neighbours that have one fitted? Might be
worth talking to.

I'll make a call tomorrow and speak to someone who had one fitted
several years ago and ask them details, assuming they remember anything.

 

Good idea, I'll pass that on.

 

Cheers, that'll be really useful because I'd guess she had it done by
someone local?

 

Cool, I've got your phone number.

<bangs head against wall>

**** off with the bloody acronyms.

 

Burton-On-Trent, so I'd imagine they'd be a company that would cover
Chesterfield too.

 

I can't recommend a particular firm but also consider the rental option.
This should come with a maintenance contract and may work out cheaper if
this is likely to be a short-term measure before you put him in a home.

There is a long waiting list for a free stair lift in this area but our OTs
offer the rental option which can usually be arranged quite quickly. IIRC
there is a grant[1] which will cover the installation cost & bond. Monthly
rental is about £50 after that. The rental firm will remove it when no
longer required.

Contact his Community Care team and ask for an assessment by an OT if you
think a rental might be a goer.

[1] possibly means tested

 

No idea, but a man of your talents should be able to knock-up a
trebuchet in no time.

 

Wotcha.

I've just had one fitted here - my rebuilt pelvis ain't up to stairs yet.
( well, I can manage the stairs but the powers that be said a stair lift
would be safer )
When I say "fitted", technically it is being stored in my house until it's
needed, IYSWIM.
I'm lucky enough to work as a lift engineer, and I have a most kind and
understanding gaffer.

Brand-wise, you can't go far wrong with Stannah. They've been making 'em
long enough so most of the problems have been sorted now. Come to think of
it, I worked for 'em for two years or so and never came across any really
bad stair lifts.

I know we do work all over the place, but it's mainly social service
contracts as opposed to new installation of stairlifts.
I'd be inclined to give Stannah a call - they have quite a few regional
offices.

 

ITYM FOWTBA

HTH

--
Malc

Rusted and ropy.
Dog-eared old copy.
Vintage and classic,
or just plain Jurassic:
all words to describe me.

 

Stannah Stairlifts. My MIL's stannah always did what it said on the
box. Very simple and you can prolly get a good deal - Google is your
friend.

 

Its Jean here - this is something which crops up quite a lot in my line of
work (and yes we're not allowed to recommend specific companies either).
Probably any of the big national companies are good, e.g Stannah, or if
there are any well known disability equipment suppliers in the local
area (a quick net search should highlight if there are any issues with
them). A particular one to avoid is ABM Mobility (Derbyshire based company
who operate nationally- Derbyshire trading standards recently took out a
court injunction against them re unfair sales practices).

point where my dad needs a stairlift to get upstairs

Indeed. And some companies really go for it when flogging mobility
equipment (see 'ABM Mobility' above). If he's got a straight flight of
stairs, its worth asking the company if they have any reconditioned
stairlifts, these can be just as good as new ones but considerably
cheaper. If the stair setup means that the stairlift has a bend or turn in
it, then only a new one will do. Expect to pay anything between £1500,
for a 'straight' setup, and up to £3000 if a 'turn' is involved. Any
more than this is a rip off unless his stairs are unusually twisty

Other things to take into account are the seat height, both at bottom
and top of stairs (needs to be around the same height as the distance
between base of heel on floor and back of knee - I've seen several
stairlifts where the seat at the bottom was too high, causing a lot of
problems.

Other things to take into account are the cost of a yearly
service contract (I highly recommend that your dad takes one out), whether
this is tied into the company who supplied the stairlift, and whether they
provide a speedy emergency call out service. If he's falling a lot it
would also be worth him signing up for an emergency alarm system
(arranged separately to stairlift co.)where he wears a pendant with call
button, linked to his phone. This would also act as a back up if he gets
stuck half way up the stairlift. In St Helens the 'Careline ' system
costs about £4/week,arranged via social services. Chesterfield would have
their own arrangements.

 

And she has just posted an essay

Occupational Therapists.
Primary Care Trust

Its stuff you pay Tax for.

 

Paging Auvache, Auvache to the phone with the big buttons please

 

Recommended :- Stannah.
Avoid :- The rest.

I had a Stannah installed when we lived in Clevedon and they were
excellent, never had a problem and their service contract man arrived
at regular intervals and replaced one iffy battery pack [1], for free.
They will buy back your lift if it is not longer needed within 3 years
and sell it on as a refurbished unit.

Previous installation was a heap of crap called Bison Bede which cost
more and was an absolute bloody disaster.

[1] Stannah lifts are driven by a battery in the chair which is charged
while it is parked at the top or bottom. So nobody gets stranded if
the power fails.

 

How can you tell?

 

The one that my Mum had was made supplied and fitted by Stannah. That was in
'87 and my Dad was still using it when he turned his toes up in 2001. It was
serviced a few times by Stannah themselves but it never failed or missed a
beat.
Fantastic bit of kit.