Home lifts - not stair lifts

[Pentreath]

It is becoming more and more of a struggle for me to get upstairs. Using pursed lip breathing and rising a step at a time still leaves me rather breathless when I get to the top. So, it seems I need to start thinking about installing a lift or adapt to live downstairs. A chair lift is not an option as the stairs are against a granite and cob external wall and have two sets of stairs with a 90 degree turn on the way to the top. Has anyone installed a home lift and have any advice to offer please.

[MELNEL]

Hiya ☺️ sorry to hear that getting upstairs it's difficult for you. A friend of mine had installed a lift last year to get upstairs. The best is that you call a business that offers installations, I remember that he got his quote for free and the chap has explained everything what would be installed and how. He was very happy with it and still is happy that he got this lift.

I am sorry I can't remember what company he chose, but he got it from here;

rapidquotes4u.co.uk/stairlift?

There are various providers you can choose from. Well depending where you live.

Best of luck and hope you getting better again 💖

[Pentreath Volunteer in reply to MELNEL]

Thank you MELNEL, I have checked online and there are so many companies to choose from so I was hoping that someone on the forum could share their experience of installing a home lift.

[MELNEL in reply to Pentreath]

I ask him, he got it from disabledliving.co.uk/

Equipz helpline 0161 607 8200 for stairlifts

[Pentreath Volunteer in reply to MELNEL]

Thanks for the link!

[MELNEL in reply to Pentreath]

You welcome 😉

[Patk1 in reply to Pentreath]

I imagine u wont have to pay vat - look into it

[Pentreath Volunteer in reply to Patk1]

Yes, thank you, I will check that.

[Bevvy]

I would have thought first port of call would be to contact social services and ask for assessment from OT. They would be able to advise what is possible and what not. They may pay towards or even all costs depending on your financial situation. At the very least they can give ideas re companies to use.

[Pentreath Volunteer in reply to Bevvy]

Thank you Bevvy - that would be a good move if our council had OTs available.

[Bevvy in reply to Pentreath]

All councils (definitely in England) have community OT’s. Is where most are employed. You may be assessed initially by non OT but then case passed to OT’s this is common practice and certainly was what happened where I used to work. Had to have initial assessment by non OT in case situation can be dealt with on a basic level. Complex cases would then be referred to OT who is more specialised.On the whole waiting lists are long so would recommend contacting social services as soon as possible to get on the assessment list.

[Pentreath Volunteer in reply to Bevvy]

Thanks - I guess I have got so depressed about council cutbacks that OTs would not be a priority. I’ll give it a go.

[Bevvy in reply to Pentreath]

Council cut backs ARE horrendous. Know from when I worked there. The simple fact is that they don’t have enough money coming in. Plus there are not enough staff to fill empty vacancies. But still well worth an assessment request. I think you would find it very beneficial.

PM me if you want any added information/advice about it.

[skischool]

Hi Pentreath,You might consider someone like this for advice

arrow-lifts.co.uk/lifts-thr...

I am also sure that there may be a building solution re fixing internally to a granite and cob wall and negotiaitng the angles concerned should you wish to reconsider the stairlift option being based in Cornwall i imagine the company i found have experience in installations in similar properties?

Best wishes Ski's and Scruff's

🙃😺

[Pentreath Volunteer in reply to skischool]

Thank you ski’s and Scruffs - always prefer to use local companies! My husband was ill for more than two years with stomach cancer. When he became more ill we had three different stair lift companies come to assess the staircase and none of them would quote. The house is nearly 200 years old so that might have been a factor.

[skischool in reply to Pentreath]

If you where to get advice from a local company with regard to either a through floor lift or stair lift my brother is a qualified architect/building surveyor so i would always be happy to ask if he thought their solutions and costs where reasonable.We spent a considerable amount of time devising solutions for my wheelchair bound and non communicative wife to access the upper floor of the house but sadly she passed away before we could put our plans into production.

Best wishes and good luck Ski's and Sruff's.

[Pentreath Volunteer in reply to skischool]

That is very kind of you skis. So sorry to hear that your wife died before you were able to have the lift installed.

[peege]

OTs used to be provided by GP practice, perhaps that's changed then? I'm so out of touch. Perhaps contact the practice manager for advice?On watching various DIY SOS programmes I've always been surprised by how simple the lifts look to fit.

I'm also wondering if AgeUK would offer advice.

I do wish you all the best with the endeavours to improve your quality of life, it'd be a shame to be relegated to the ground floor. Peege x

[Bevvy in reply to peege]

These days OTs are either hospital based or community based. The ones in the community tend to be either charity, social services or privacy companies who often work for social services.Physio support is still via GPs.

[Pentreath Volunteer in reply to peege]

Hi peege - Age Concern is a good idea, thank you.

[Hidden]

My stair lift doesn’t use any wall fixes it uses brackets on the stairs themselves. Been giving good service for 12 years now. Acorn.

[Pentreath Volunteer in reply to Hidden]

Thanks Don, that is an interesting thought.

[Copey399 in reply to Pentreath]

I was going to say that. The stairlift track does just screw into the stairs, not the wall. We desperately need one for my o/h but the installation companies refuse to quote because we have a door at the bottom of the stairs which separates our flat from the other flat in this converted house. Consequently the stairlift would not be able to come to rest flat in the communal hall, it would have to stop on our side of the door. Their Health and Safety regs won't allow it because if he did have a fall they would be liable. The thing is my o/h is more likely to fall downstairs without a stairlift than the risk of him taking a tumble getting off it between stairs where he wouldn't have far to fall even if he did.

We've been looking to get one 2nd hand and my son is willing to install it but we can't find one locally. We're on the south coast and they all seem to be up north or they're right side and we need a left side. We can't have an actual lift because it would have to be installed in the downstairs flat to give access to ours. Problems!

Good luck with whatever you decide x

[teenieleek]

This is grim that you’re not getting any help with this. I would be phoning social services and demanding (awfully politely) that someone come and do a care needs assessment. Once you get an assessor through your door they are surprisingly efficient. They can see needs and possibilities you hadn’t thought of. The hard bit is getting them to come. All councils are trying to avoid spending money. Keep at it, you are entitled to this.

[Pentreath Volunteer in reply to teenieleek]

Thanks for your concern teenieleek but I have not asked for any help yet but will after I have had a chance to discuss options with my family.

[Jaybird19]

Can you talk to age UK? . I know they have lists of work people but will not recommend on principle.

[Pentreath Volunteer in reply to Jaybird19]

Another vote for Age Concern - thank you.

[Alice70]

Hi pentreath ,I have had a quote for stair lift only this week ,my stairs is like yours on a angle, I got intouch with social services ,they advised the company to use ,the company that works for them. I didnt qualify for any help ,it is means tested ,the quote I've had for stair lift is £3800 or £2950 reconditioned ,new one has two year guarantee, reconditioned one year guarantee, so opted for new one ,although the chap has been out and measured up I havent ordered jet ,I am sure there are ways and mean of fixing a stair lift to your stairs ,age concern have been good with me in the past they got me the benefits even filled the forms in for me ,these benefits are not counted when means tested ,you have got me thinking about the other type of lift ,think I will all look into it ,good luck Alice

[Pentreath Volunteer in reply to Alice70]

Thank you Alice for sharing your experience. It was about fifteen years since I enquired about this so things may have moved on. It certainly sounds like a cheaper option than a lift.

[Biker88]

I rent a stair lift from a local company, it is fixed to the stair treads not the wall. For a 90 degree bend they can install two stair lifts one for each section of treads. Renting is an advantage as annual servicing is included and if you move they come and take it away

[Pentreath Volunteer in reply to Biker88]

It gets more interesting with every response - it is good to know that stair bends can be accommodated, thank you!

[tillie]

I had a through lift installed 4 yrs ago. Agree with Bevvy 💯 in all that she be says. I already had OT involvement so it was eventually agreed. Payment comes from my estate end of day. Having one yourself would be great but be prepared to lose a good bit of space downstairs and possibly a room upstairs.

Wish I could be of more help.

[Pentreath Volunteer]

Thank you tillie - so pleased it has worked out well for you.

[Alberta56]

It's heartening to see how many helpful people there are on this forum. Good luck.

[Pentreath Volunteer]

Indeed - could not agree with you more!

[pasquino]

try this stiltz.co.uk/home-lifts/

[Pentreath Volunteer in reply to pasquino]

Thank you pasquino!

[Snackjack]

Whilst I cannot advise on Home Lift's I can understand with you on the breathing when climbing stairs as I have the same problem with stairs so in 2012 I moved from a house to a bungalow. I know that is not the answer or option for everyone. I do hope you can get something sorted soon. Best wishes xx

[Pentreath Volunteer]

So glad that you were able to solve your problem by moving. Unfortunately I cannot sell my home because of an issue with a mine shaft that has been remediated but would only sell to a cash buyer. I would not get enough to be able to buy anywhere else.