Data(1) reveals that children with a limiting long-term illness are more likely to be obese that their well counterparts. Children with intellectual disability are particularly high risk(2). That places a hidden strain on their parents and carers- how to move between levels in the home. When small, it is easy to carry them: what about as they grow?
There is a means to reduce the strain and achieve positive outcomes on every level: AAT’s powered mobility stairclimber.
The equipment enables single handed care- just one person, however slight of build, can easily move their charge up and down stairs, steps. Even the standard AAT S-Max and Sella stairclimbers can handle 135kg.
The AAT stairclimber is less cost than alternative means of transferring up and down stairs. Nor does it have the structural disruption of a through-floor lift or the impingement of household movement of other members of the family inherent with a stairlift.
The German-engineered, Class 1 medical and crash test certified device looks like a compact wheelchair with an integrated harness. A battery powered motor pack behind smoothly and safely drives the unit delivering 300 steps from a single charge.
Lightweight with a high balance point, the machine is easy to operate and manoeuvre by one person. Finitely adjustable controls enable the operator to set the stairclimber to whatever speed/rate of action is comfortable to transfer the patient to where required. If, for any reason, the transfer process needs to be interrupted (seizure, family distraction etc), the stairclimber can be safely rested in transit. When not in use, it folds neatly away optimising storage space.
AAT’s stairclimber includes a safety harness as standard, with optional extras enabling the technology’s tailoring to individual support requirements. Its low cost means it can be provided without lengthy Disabled Facilities Grant assessment, often already available from the local authority equipment stores. It can even be hired for short- medium term use whilst a more permanent solution is arranged.
“A stairclimber is a real ‘quick fix’ for any family that needs help to move their child with special needs safely between levels,” observes AAT Director Peter Wingrave. “It’s about safety for everyone involved. It’s about single-handed care. It’s about that most basic human right- dignity for the patient. Taken together, that’s best value.”
You can find out more about AAT’s stairclimber here: https://www.aatgb.com/mobility-stairclimbers/
or by calling 01978 82 18 75.
(1) https://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20170110165944
(1) https:/www.noo.org.uk/NOO_pub/briefing_papers
(2) https://bmcpublichealth.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12889-016-3309-1
