Stairs are one of the most common barriers to discharge. They are also one of the most common scenes of falls- a major contributor to hospital admissions.
So long as there is someone at home with them, re-issue of a stairclimber- at a cost of less than £1000 and often expediated within days- can positively impact both problems. The risk of falling safely managed and the patient can be safely discharged, and, without the need to allocate significant social care intervention.
“It’s a win:win situation. One piece of kit- often already available within Equipment Stores, can both help prevent falls, and help speed up the discharge process. And it can help multiple people over its lifespan. It just requires the healthcare professionals to change their way of thinking and working, to be more proactive in embracing the new options available.” Peter Wingrave, AAT Director
From a fall prevention strategy, using a stairclimber can contribute towards improved safety and reduced risk of falls within the home. The risk of a fall on the stairs is eliminated. As the stairclimber is not fixed to the staircase, it can move the person beyond to wherever they need to be within the home, thereby reducing the number of transfers for someone with reduced mobility- and potential to fall.
From a discharge perspective, patients live in houses where, because of reduced short or long term mobility, they cannot go up and down stairs. Or- in the case of 20% of the population, they live in a flat, so become homebound- or trapped in hospital- because of stairs.
How it works
AAT’s battery-powered stairclimber is Class 1 Medical Device certified. The free-standing unit requires no installation, just training of an appropriate person to operate it. When not in use, it folds compactly away, optimising use of space within the household.
AAT’s stairclimber has an impeccable safety record, with thousands of units already at Social Services’ disposal nationwide. With the addition of its unique Universal Back, one stairclimber can be adapted to suit any user, irrespective of their physical or mental limitations.
“We know healthcare professionals are under massive pressure. We have a nationwide team of assessment managers who will effectively case manage the whole process, from review of the patient, their home environment, setting up the equipment to their precise needs, and training the operator. When that patient/client, no longer needs the stairclimber, it can be taken back into stores, where we will service it, and it can be re-issued to someone else.”
Peter Wingrave, AAT Director
Full details are available here: https://www.aatgb.com/safe-fast-adaptations-for-less-than-1000-we-explain-how/. Alternatively, email sales@aatgb.com or call01978 821875 to set up a free, no obligation assessment.
#stairs #hospitaldischarge #fallprevention #bedblocking
