Stairlifts???

My mother had COPD and couldn't manage the stairs so my parents installed a stair lift. Fortunately their stairs were straight up and down, but we're rather narrow. The seat and footrest folded up so there was plenty of space to get by when you wanted to run upstairs. My sisters and I took turns to go and clean for them and the stairlift was an asset. We would put the cleaning materials on it and walk up behind it, very labour saving. ??

I bought one for my mum - a Stannah - and it worked a treat. She had a contract to make sure it was regularly serviced. A friend also has one though I'm not sure of the make. She finds it so helpful. I can't have one in my house because it dog legs with a door way halfway up [bit difficult to describe] but if you have a straight staircase or one with a corner/bend but a continuous wall without any doorways there shouldn't be a problem at all.

I have had a stairlift since 2009. I bought it from a small company which has now been swallowed up. Servicing is very expensive and it may be more cost effective to have a regular contract.

I had my "office" in my 3rd bedroom so I was going up and down like a yo-yo. This has now changed so that I rarely go up and down stairs. My stairs are straight so it was a lot cheaper to get it fitted.

I use it for all manner of things, mainly carrying heavy stuff up and down. There is a maximum weight so I am aware of that.

Our friend has one which I believe he paid to have fitted but he rents for £100 a month so no huge outlay.

We had a Stannah installed in previous home for FIL. Not cheap but it was a non standard staircase and the chair needed to be up to quite a decent 'payload'. We also had a contract to service and if there were problems. The service was excellent as was the installation. Its probably the same with any major expense, do your homework and you will probably get what you pay for.

P.S. when we moved they 'bought it back'. Not exactly any great saving but it did ensure it was properly removed and care was taken to ensure no damage was done. Especially important as we were selling the house.

We used www.advanced-stairlifts.co.uk was fantastic they helped out alot and helped re assure us that the stairlift was the right option and they also help with full servicing and if required repair works and i believe they even go out and repair stairlifts they have not put in really friendly chaps. The stairlift helps alot and we needed one to go round a corner which worried us but it works fine and easy to use, id say get one if needs be.

friends of mine had a stair lift fitted for free by their local council a couple of years ago, I could not believe it. It is more cumbersome than mine but they have no maintenance fees to consider.

Good information - we may well need one soon.

2 lots of friends had them fitted by social services, they were terrific , this was is Scotland so I'm unsure if SS in England , Wales or N.I can supply or not but worth checking

We had a stairlift installed three years ago and it has been a godsend. We have a dogleg staircase and it was fitted accordingly. We pay about £60 for annual service. It was expensive to buy, but in our case a must, as my husband can now access our bedroom, instead of sleeping on the couch downstairs.

Thank you bbgreen84 I have contacted www.advanced-stairlifts.co.uk they are coming around tomorrow thank you for the information they where very helpful

I`vev had one since the spring of 2012, it`s been a godsend, I was having difficulty with the stairs, now I can`t manage more than a couple of steps. We contacted 3 companies, 2 of them said our stairs were too narrow for a stairlift, the 3rd, Acorn, said they could fit one anywhere, and they did! The service plan is a bit expensive, we got the first 5 years covered for just over £500, but now they only do yearly contracts at £275. My daughter says I should look into independent servicing companies, so am going to do that before it`s up for renewal again.

My Dad had a Stannah stair lift in the last 12 months of his life , he liked the fact it could rotate so he could in the chair or out, they also gave it a 6 monthly service as well.
Mick

Another thought- be careful which company you choose if eg there is no downstairs loo and most bedrooms are upstairs because some companies do not send a technician the same day of the breakdown or the technician comes many hours after the phone call and if the loo is upstairs, disaster.

Once mine got stuck halfway up the stairs but that is a rarity and I was able with mega difficulty to get out of the chair and get downstairs. I live on my own and did not have my phone with me.

MIL had a Stanna fitted last year after a fall, the stairs are very narrow so it’s a bit of a squeeze to walk past, but that’s ok as she isn’t allowed to walk up them anyway.
It’s a bit slow, but faster than she can walk.
She loves it.