Hello Do any of you have experience of using a stair climbing wheelchair. I have an aggressive form of MSA and although I can manage a flight of 4 steps with the support of a carer it has been recommended that I get a stair lift ( installed by council at no expense to me). However I see that tha MSA trust advises against the use of seated stairlifts because the risk of fainting and poor balance can cause a fall. I was already worried about transferring from a wheelchair or rollater at the top of the stairs.
I am now investigating the use of a stair climber wheelchair but can find little to no independent advice about such aids.
Thanks
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Orla789
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HiI remember researching stair climbing wheelchairs for my husband but came to the conclusion that they needed plenty of room for turning at the top and bottom of the stairs and also a confident carer!! We had the same problem being refused a stairlift but the council were going to fitting a through floor lift for my husband along with adaptations to doorways and the bathroom. The great thing about the stair climbing wheelchair was they could be used outside of the home but we found that in most public buildings lifts are provided.
Good MorningIf you are on your own ! Going up & down stairs could be a little Scary , Why not try to convert one of your down stairs rooms Council may help also ask MSA. I know it's not ideal
but it will take a lot of stress from you, Or ask for a Carer (NHS) to pop in while your doing these manoeuvres!
PS I am lucky to have my partner as a full time carer
Hello yes we were leant one from our local authority. Our OT had also spoken against stairlifts because of the potential for leaning and falling out of them. Because the stair machine is tilted quite far back when it's in use, I think this may be less of a risk, but I would double check that with your social work occupational therapist. It clips on to a normal wheelchair so you still need to be able to function in a normal wheelchair as far as I can remember. For some people this becomes more difficult as MSA progresses (again with the lean etc) and I suspect larger specialist postural tilt-in-space wheelchairs do not work with a stair machine. So it could be an option for this current phase you are in but I would talk carefully to the specialist nurses and/ or OT about how your needs might progress.If your authority provides one they should also provide a short training course for all designated carers that will use it, they will each need to be signed off on it as competent.
You may need the wheels replaced on your wheelchair to ones that fit specifically with the machine.
It requires the carer to tilt the stair machine to a particular point of balance during the use on the stairs. It should be usable for somebody with average muscle strength, as if you feel it starting to get heavy, that means you have tipped away from the point of balance. I did get trained on Dad's one but without using it regularly I lost my nerve, and in the end used to have to get someone else to do it.
Some people have had some success with indoor lifts but it's a question of whether the local authority would fund them.I hope this helps!
Thank you so much for your very helpful reply. My partner/ carer is quite nervous about dropping me or the device failing. I am not sure that the council will fund it either but I am still waiting to speak to my OT. A stair lift with my carer’s assistance every time is a possible answer.
My Sues mobility has changed over the years from using a walker to needing full assistance with equipment. This journey has taught me a couple of things.
1. Plan for the future and the worst-case scenario
2. Think of the risks
So, we thought of a stairlift but as you state it can become dangerous. So we were advised eventually on a through the floor lift, which we got 5 years use out of.
But now Sue is unable to help in any way we now live in a bungalow, as equipment and beds are not recommended for the 1st floor.
Thank for your reply. I am indeed planning for the future as I can manage the stairs with help at present. If it comes to it my carer/partner could wheel me in a wheelchair outside round the garden to get from the living area to the bedroom/bathroom thoughthis wouldn’t be fun in the rain!! It’s only 4 stairs causing such an issue! I desperately don’t want to move as we built this house and I love it.
it would be extremely stressfull to move, what with my illness and the mad state of the property market in Cornwall at present . I have an aggressive form of msa and don’t want to waste what time I have left moving house.
Is there room for one of the wheelchair platform lifts that they have in public buildings for short flights of stairs. It would work for walking with an aid as well as for when a wheelchair is required. But it might take up too much of the width Tod your stairs to allow someone else to just walk up.
Yes they look ideal and fold up against the wall when not in use. We would have room for one but I was quoted £11000 which the council understandably won’t fund. The council OT thinks I will be fine with a normal stair lift and I probably would be at present if not in the future. So we have decided to go ahead with that. The council ot had seen a stair climber demonstrated and had reservations about it
I suppose that if the council will find the stair lift then let them for now. Some people manage a long time with a stairlift, depending on how things progress and the capability of the carer. We went straight to a through-floor lift which we had to self fund and was really expensive. We got a reconditioned one but it wasn’t very much cheaper, but I never regretted it as it accommodated walking frame initially and then the different wheelchairs that we needed.
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