The equipment is our Sella mobility stairclimber, prescribed through the Occupational Therapy service at Ainsdale Centre for Health & Wellbeing.
Dad Paul says that our Sella has made a massive difference to family life normality: Isaac can have a bath again, sleep in his own bed in the room he shares with his brother, and they have space and freedom to be a family downstairs.
Isaac , 9, was born with Cerebral Palsy and has dystonia. A mistake during brain surgery meant to improve his quality of life made Isaac’s condition worse: he became less able and heavier.
Paul and his wife Rachel were struggling to carry Isaac up and down the steep stairs in their Victorian home.
The only answer for everyone’s safety until a solution was found was to move Isaac’s hospital bed into the front room.
The family’s Occupational Therapist Helen Murphy appreciated the family’s desire for Isaac to be able to access upstairs, to be in his own bedroom and be able to bath.
So she reached out to us to assess Isaac, the family and the home environment to determine whether our Sella mobility stairclimber would be appropriate.
Sella worked! Paul and Rachel found it easy to transport Isaac up, down the stairs and on to their final destination- the bathroom, bedroom, lounge, with no need to lift/transfer Isaac en-route…
Sella is the UK’s top-selling mobility stairclimbing wheelchair. Its light weight, high balance point and automatic braking make it easy for Paul and Rachel to use.
Sella’s in-built seat, arms and lap belt mean Isaac is always safe and comfortable, even if he has a dystonic episode whilst on the stairs.
For the family, it was an added bonus that AAT made the effort to deliver the Sella the week before Christmas.
“It made such a difference to our Christmas celebrations!” says Paul. “Isaac could be with his siblings upstairs and have a stocking at the end of his bed on Christmas morning. We were able to celebrate as a family, with space, in the front room.”
Adds Paul: “We know life will never be ‘normal’, but we want Isaac to do as much as he can. Little things like being able to have a bath, which he loves, and to be with his brother and sister upstairs make all the difference. Now he can do those things again, because we can safely get him up and down stairs with the stairclimber.
“And hopefully, in the summer, we can use it to get him out into the back garden too!”
Full details of the Sella stairclimbing wheelchair, how it works and how to book a free no obligation assessment can be found @ www.aatgb.com/s-max-sella/.
Safeguarding also involves empowering children to engage with normal family life and routine.
For any child with reduced mobility, there comes a point where their- and family life- is disrupted, because of a fixture present in almost every home: the stairs.
We, the UK’s biggest provider of stair navigation solutions to local authorities and the NHS, have developed a potential resolution, that prevents any disruption to the home, can remove the need for a major DFG adaptation/modification or re-housing.
We deliver access to the home, retaining routine and normal life.
Our proposal is cost-efficient: the core components not only answer the problem of giving them and their family a safe environment at home, they grow with the child to adulthood.
When the original recipient no longer needs the S-Max, Occupational Therapists can prescribe/recycle/re-issue it to another child. And there's little or no additional capital equipment cost.
Central is our proposition is our top-selling S-Max mobility wheelchair stairclimber. S-Max is a core powerpack unit that can be attached to a wheelchair or have an integral seat.
Add our unique Universal Seat System, which adjusts to individual need, and the child can be safely transported as they develop from infancy into maturity.
The way S-Max works further enables Occupational Therapists to enhance safety at home.
S-Max traverses the stairway and on to destination. S-Max removes the risk of a transfer at the top of the stairs that is inevitable with a stairlift.
Normal family life continues with dignity and privacy.
“Two of the four key aspects of safeguarding children are promoting welfare: ensuring children have the best outcomes and are growing up in safe, effective circumstances and early intervention: supporting children and families when problems emerge to prevent issues from escalating(1).
“Difficulty managing stairs is one of the most common reasons why any family with a disabled member needs intervention and support.
"Where appropriate, our S-Max is a time- and cost-effective means of preserving safety.
"We can support in PEOP assessment, service, deliver the S-Max and train the family in its safe operation within two working weeks. If one is available in Equipment Stores, it can be effected even faster!
“The child is kept safe. Their- and their family’s- wellbeing, mental health, dignity and privacy- is protected.”
Our re-issue scheme, and how the S-Max works, is explained on our website: www.aatgb.com/ots/ and www.aatgb.com/s-max/.
Our offer centres around disabled children, supporting them and their families to remain safe in their existing home.
We can improve outcomes for the children and their families, and reduce spending- even as the child grows into adulthood.
For carers of a child with mobility issues, the usual scenario is that they carry them up and down stairs. As their child grows, or their condition(s) worsen, that scenario puts the child and their carers at risk, of falling down the stairs, and injury to one or all involved.
For children's social care teams, managing that risk usually involves a significant home adaptation, funded via the Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG).
That takes time- assuming a suitable adaptation can be implemented.
Provision of our S-Max mobility stairclimbing wheelchair is a “quick fix”.
Most local authorities already have the Class 1 Medical Device so children's social care teams can prescribe quickly via our pioneering re-issue programme. There is no capital funding required.
Sella makes stairway navigation safe for child and carer(s).
The child can move around their home securely and comfortably.
Their carer operates and has complete control of the transfer process, making stair navigation safer for them too.
Being a portable unit, Sella carries the child from the stairway on to destination.
The child is protected from the risk of a transfer at the top of the stairs, as would be inherent with a more expensive installed stairlift.
The stairclimber evolves with the child over time when paired with our unique Universal Seat System.
The seat system incorporates adjustable lateral, hip and head supports.
“Providing a stairclimber where appropriate identifies the risk earlier and prevents a problem from needlessly escalating- key elements of the Independent Review of Childrens Social Care,” says Peter Wingrave, AAT Director.
“Such investment in family help also improves the child’s outcome and can reduce spending later on.
"we have numerous instances where our Sella has been provided as the short-term solution to manage risk, but the family has insisted on keeping it, even when a more long-term (and often more expensive) option is available!”
Detail of how the Sella stairclimbing wheelchair works, and AAT’s re-issue package, can be found at
www.aatgb.com/s-max-sella/ and at http://www.aatgb.com/ots/.
Daughter Amy has Cerebal Palsy. Affecting her whole body, it particulary impacts control over her arms and legs.
It means that when the family travel abroad, she has to have a bulkhead seat so she doesn’t kick the back of the seat in front.
But that in turn means she is not safe and secure: airlines do not allow a strap round the back of the seat, preventing the use of a harness.
Amy’s dad Stephen became aware of AAT’s Stabilo cushions from his teaching in a special school, where the innovative, infinitely adjustable vacuum posture support cushions were often used on wheelchairs.
He had a lightbulb moment: as Stabilo have no straps to secure them in place, utilising the occupant’s body weight to hold in place, would that be a solution?
It was! We even had an aircraft seat, so Amy and Stephen could try the Stabilo Comfortable Plus cushion with integrated head and body supports to see how well it worked.
It worked so well that Stephen bought one; the next trip- nine hours to Florida- Amy slept all the way there and back, she was so comfortable!
Even the pilot thought it was brilliant, never having seen one before.
"Amy sits more comfortably than any other time,” says Stephen. “The lateral pads wrap around her chest making her feel safe and secure without awful tight straps.
"We form the cushion so it acts like an armchair and prevents lateral movement and adjust as necessary during the flight to accommodate the aircraft pressure changes.
“Amy’s life is tough, full of challenges, but the cushion has made her adventures just a bit easier. Gareth from AAT went above and beyond in his efforts to help us find a solution.”
AAT’s Stabilo Comfortable Plus is one of several of our cushions that is approved by British Airways opening the world of foreign travel to disabled people.
Comfortable Plus is essentially a bean bag that can be fixed into shape to support and stabilise the head and torso without pressure points, thereby effectively reducing the risk of pressure sores.
Once moulded to the contours required, you just extract air within via a pump to fix the “beans” into shape. The process means you can be quickly and easily adjust it, to accommodate finite adjustments for continued comfort- from a small tweak to a complete re-mould.
Made from an advanced neoprene material, Stabilo Comfortable Plus Duo is waterproof and can be wiped clean to address spills or maintain hygiene.
Why choose AAT vacuum posture cushions?
- Hassle- free: no need for frequent re-plumping necessary with conventional cushions. The vacuum technology holds the moulded shape for months! No need for the delay and cost of a new fixed mould- we show you how to remould without pressure points as you need.
- Quick and easy: to fix the shape, mould to the required shape, use the handy pump (hand or electric versions available) to remove the air. Voila, the shape is fixed! To re-shape, just allow a little air back into the cushion and repeat.
- Instantly re-mouldable: comfort assured! Because you can re-shape yourself, comfort is constantly assured.
- Infinite possibilities: whatever precise contouring is required can be achieved- just form pommels, asymmetrical wings, channels to accommodate pegs and feeding tubes…
- Optimal practicality: our cushions can all be wiped clean and disinfected. Size allowing, they can be popped into the washing machine (see care instructions).
- Support that goes the distance: our free no obligation assessment considers all aspects- home environment, user and ‘operator’. We personally show you how to configure the cushions so you are comfortable re-moulding without causing pressure points. And if you can’t find a standard shape that works for your precise requirements, we’ll do our best to make it for you.
- Proven in practice: our vacuum posture cushions have been used by professionals and individuals alike for 20 years
Full details of the Stabilo Comfortable Plus infinitely adjustable posture support cushion, including booking a free, no obligation demonstration and/or assessment, can be found here: https://www.aatgb.com/comfortable-plus/.
Comfortable Plus is just one of numerous vacuum posture cushions in AAT’s Stabilo range, which range from arm rests to full-size mattresses. And if there is no standard cushion to suit a client’s specific issues, AAT can make one to order. You can find out more about the whole range here: https://www.aatgb.com/posture-cushions/
38% of disabled people live in rented accommodation(1). Mobility is the biggest disability issue(2).
Being a portable piece of equipment, our stairclimber is classed as an auxiliary aid.
Our stairclimbing wheelchair overcomes the issue of stairs limiting accessibility.
It works whether in a rented house or common parts in a MOU (multiple occupancy unit).
Unlike the conventional alternative of a stairlift or through-floor lift, our battery-powered S-Max stairclimber requires no physical or structural change to the home.
Once the client is sat on the S-Max, there’s no need for intermediate transfers until the destination is reached.
Their carer just pushes a button and guides the S-Max from room to room, up and down steps and stairs.
S-Max solves accessibility and mobility for more than one disabled tenant.
Our equipment helps numerous disabled tenants overcome their mobility limitations over its average 15 year lifespan(3), using our unique re-issue scheme.
Nor is additional capital equipment funding/ DFG allocation(4) required.
“In our 25 years’ experience, we find S-Max can solve the problem of stairway access in 90+% of scenarios,” observes Peter Wingrave, AAT Director.
“S-Max provides a fast, safe, cost-efficient way to enable people to remain in their homes.
"People are no longer at a substantial disadvantage in their home, unable to access various floors or go beyond their front door.
“Something as simple as re-allocating a stairclimber could avoid disabled tenants having a sense of isolation and inaccessibility. And most local authorities already have our stairclimbing wheelchair!”
Full details of AAT’s S-Max, and the company’s re-issue facility, are available on its website @ http://www.aatgb.com/ots/ and http://www.aatgb.com/s-max/
references:
(3)http://subject to appropriate assessment, care and servicing.
Almost every home has stairs, whether to gain access if a flat, or to move around the home if a house.
For the patient to be able to continue with their daily life, they need intervention. Delay waiting for modification causes bed-blocking.
Where appropriate, Occupational Therapists have an easy intervention available for prescription- an S-Max stairclimbing wheelchair.
The battery-operated kinematic Class 1 Medical Device can either fit to a wheelchair or include an integral seat (the S-Max Sella), to safely transfer the injured person up and down steps and stairs. The person overcomes the barrier of wheelchair stair access.
There is no installation, fixing to walls, floors: all that is required is an hour or so’s training, provided by AAT.
Lightweight and mobile, the S-Max mobility stairclimber can be used by even the most petite operator. It folds away when not in use.
With the addition of a Universal Back accessory, any additional thorasic or pelvic support required can be achieved- whether for the initial recipient or future beneficiaries.
Most local authorities have the equipment already, so it is just a case of re-issuing from stores.
If one is not to hand, AAT’s assessment managers can visit the patient within days. A stairclimber delivered from stock within 3 days of receipt of order.
That purchase can then be used to support the specific person, then taken into stores and re-issued to others.
In this way, Occupational Therapists achieve a person-centred solution.
They manage risk of the injured person falling on the stairs.
Their client's environment and ability to perform routine occupations is also safely addressed.
Thus, Royal College of Occupational Therapists’ guidance on falls management(3) is followed.
And the person is discharged from hospital, releasing the bed.
“Prescribing a stairclimber is a best-value way to achieve a broad, holistic answer to a client’s ability to be discharged faster from hospital, and live home life better, with less disruption to routine,” explains Peter Wingrave, AAT Director.
“It is the most efficient way to overcome the issue of navigating stairs, removing all the danger of someone trying to go up or down on crutches (an accident waiting to happen), the indignity of bottom-shuffling, or them being confined to one level with all the disruption to them and the rest of the household in moving beds downstairs, commodes etc. With its re-issue capability, one stairclimber can help numerous people.”
Ful details of the S-Max, including videos on it in action, and an assessment booking form, can be found on AAT’s website: https://www.aatgb.com/s-max/.
references:
(1)https://www.jla.nihr.ac.uk/priority-setting-partnerships/broken-bones-in-older-people#:~:text=priorities%20Key%20documents-,About%20this%20PSP,as%20the%20population%20gets%20older.
(2)https://www.jla.nihr.ac.uk/priority-setting-partnerships/broken-bones-in-older-people/
(3)https://www.rcot.co.uk/node/396
AAT has always been committed to putting client safety first.
It is why we don't rely on a set of printed instructions, or a training video, whenever we provide one of our market-leading stairclimbers (stairclimbing wheelchairs).
It is why we have an impeccable safety record, stretching back over 20 years.
One of our team personally visits to formally train users of its equipment.
We spend as long as is necessary with each user to ensure they understand the process and are comfortable using the stairclimber.
The personal training applies whether a new purchase, or a re-issue/re-prescription.
The “hands-on” approach means any questions or issues are instantly addressed. It optimises safety.
Indeed, we have refused to provide the stairclimber if we felt the user was not competent or comfortable, or the environment was unsuitable!
“We have a duty of care, and I believe a moral obligation, to everyone involved in the sales process, to ensure we have done everything within our power to make stairway access easy and safe- for the passenger and the stairclimber operator. It’s about doing the job right.
"Client safety is paramount. The fact that we have not had a single negligence claim throughout our 20-year history is testament to that commitments” says Peter Wingrave, AAT Director.
Our stairclimbers are battery-powered devices that help people with impairments safely and comfortably navigate stairs with the support of a carer.
They are the most popular choice of stairclimbing wheelchair throughout the UK, chosen by almost every local authority in the country.
Why choose a stairclimber from AAT
- No installation, no structural changes—just plug and play.
- Effortless stair navigation: AAT powered stairclimbers handle single steps or full flights with ease- even tight turns and spirals!
- Comfort and safety built in. Our stairclimbing wheelchair range prioritises comfort and safety for users and carers—at home and beyond. We have an impeccable safety record stretching back two decades.
- Support that goes the distance: our free no obligation assessment considers all aspects- home environment, user and ‘operator’. We personally set your stairclimbing wheelchair up for you and spend all the time you need to ensure you are comfortable using it. In the rare event it won’t work, we’ll say so.
- Reliable after care: our team of highly trained engineers can service it on site annually and speedily effect any issues in the rare event you have a problem.
Key features:
- Adjustable to each user
- Completely portable
- Range of accessories for optimum comfort and security
- Re-chargeable battery- each charge delivers up to 390 steps(1)
To find out more about our range of stairclimbers and to. book your free no obligation assessment, visit http://www.aatgb.com/mobility-stairclimbers/.
(1)https://www.rospa.com/campaigns-and-fundraising/current-campaigns/safer-stairs
It's even the advice of the Chief Medical Officer(1). Prescription and implementation of straightforward, compact equipment to enable older people to access their homes safely and remain independent is crucial.
Almost all older people in England (96%) over the age of 55 live in mainstream housing, but that housing often has small room sizes, steep internal stairs, and steps outside.
Most of the houses we will occupy in 2050 are already built, highlighting the need to address existing stock(2).
Stairs are the second biggest hazard in our homes, accounting for 1million+ accidents/annum(3). Ability to move around our home affects our wellbeing(2)..
A stairclimber or stairclimbing wheelchair (AAT’s S-Max) typifies the type of straightforward equipment that can help rectify the access problem.
It can be attached to most wheelchairs, or supplied with an integral seat. Te stairclimber moves at a rate determined by the operator. It makes dealing with steps and stairs safe and secure.
The Class 1 Medical Device certified battery-powered kinematic S-Max stairclimbing wheelchair is portable and mobile.
S-Max requires no installation, no need for a structural survey or building works. This means it can make home access safe within a matter of days.
Further, it means the person does not need to transfer at the top or bottom of the stairs or steps, but can remain safe in the S-Max to wherever they need, want to go.
Says Peter Wingrave, AAT Director. “S-Max’s relevance as a piece of equipment to help elderly people remain safe and independent in their homes is proven. With the growing crisis in social care and the NHS, use of S-Max could help reduce both admissions and delays in discharge and empower our ageing society to remain in their homes.”
Full details of S-Max, including how it works video, technical details including the range of accessories available, case studies and testimonials from real-life users, can be found at www.aatgb.com/s-max.
ENDS
references
(1) https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/65562fcfd03a8d000d07faa4/chief-medical-officers-annual-report-2023-executive-summary-web-accessible.pdf
(2) https://ageing-better.org.uk/resources/role-home-adaptations-improving-later-life
Local Councils and NHS Trusts are finding the number of, and wait time for, adaptations continues to grow. Stairs are the second most common hazard in the home(1) and one of the major barriers to both keeping people safe and home, and discharging them from hospital.
AAT has a solution: its Universal Seat System and brand-leading S-Max Sella stairclimber.
The combination means healthcare professionals can optimise use of budgets- usually without even requiring DFG funding- to deliver a safe stairway transfer solution within days. They do it by recycling (re-issuing) the equipment.
Because the equipment is not fixed to the structure of the home, it is easy to re-prescribe from one recipient to another.
The addition of the Universal Seat System means the Sella can be easily set up to ensure almost every potential user is safe and supported when using the Sella, irrespective of their physical and/or mental impairment.
It is achieved without the need to purchase extra accessories. No other stairway transfer system offers such flexibility.
And AAT will also support the assessment process, to ensure the relevance of the solution for the person, the occupation and the environment, and personally train the carer in the Sella’s safe operation.
Says Peter Wingrave, AAT Director:
“We have numerous examples of community equipment services (eg Nottinghamshire & Nottingham City) now buying not just additional Sella stairclimbers, but Universal Seat Systems, to have in equipment stores ready to go, so they can quickly deliver a solution for a client.
"It means local Councils and NHS Trusts can keep people safe at home. They can be discharged from hospital.
“Even if it is a short-term solution whilst a larger and/or more permanent adaptation is undertaken, our Sella/Universal Seat System and re-issue capability gives a highly cost-effective and fast way to manage the potential risk of someone falling on the stairs: a genuine adaptation without delay.”
Full details of the Sella and Universal Seat System can be found @ http://www.aatgb.com/s-max-sella/
where healthcare professionals can also book a free, no obligation client assessment or team demonstration session.
Reference:
(1)https://bregroup.com/press-releases/bre-report-finds-poor-housing-is-costing-nhs-1-4bn-a-year/
Because of a brain tumour, spinal fractures and osteoporosis, Mat Laban could not stand, walk nor weight bear.
One of his pleasures in life was a bath.
But the size and configuration of the family home in Bradford made it impossible for him to have that enjoyment any more.
Thanks to S-Max, Mat was able to safely and easily navigate the steps outside, feel the sun on his face, and enjoy fresh air—precious moments at the end of his life.
The transformation was made possible through close collaboration between Mat’s partner Jenny, the family’s Occupational Therapist, and AAT.
Using the S-Max in its Sella variant (with integral seat), Jenny could safely take Mat upstairs to relax in the bath in the way he loved- with a cup of coffee and a biscuit.
They weren't confined indoors any more!
Jenny used S-Max to take Mat over the front door’s raised threshold, down the stone steps to the pavement where he could transfer him to his wheelchair. This not only reduced the physical strain on Jenny but also significantly improved both their mental wellbeing.
When Mat’s condition worsened so external transfer was becoming difficult for Jenny, we stepped in again. We adapted S-Max to work with Mat's wheelchair, by removing the seat and adding brackets.
Jenny no longer had to lift Mat from stairclimber to wheelchair to go out and about.
And, as the Council already had the appropriate AAT accessories in its equipment stores, no additional funding was required.
“Mat was like the Duracell bunny- he just kept going. His legacy will be that our experience can help show other people facing a similar situation that with the right support and equipment, you do not have to be confined to the downstairs of your home,” says Jenny.
“I always say every day’s a school day: we’re always learning! Until you’re in that position, you’ve no idea what’s out there.
"The stairclimber was an absolute life saver, an amazing piece of equipment. It gave us some independence. Without that piece of equipment Mat and I would have had no way of leaving the house together.”
AAT’s S-Max Sella is unique in inter-floor transfer devices in that it is not confined to the stairway, and that one machine can both include an integral seat or attach to a wheelchair. Thus it provides a cost-effective and safe solution where stairs and steps are a barrier to daily life.
It requires no installation.
S-Max reduces transfers for the passenger and operator.
We personally assesses the passenger, operator and home environment to determine the suitability prior, including what accessories may be needed to ensure a safe, comfortable transfer process. AAT also personally trains the care giver(s) in S-Max’s safe operation.
Also uniquely, when the recipient no longer needs it, S-Max can be taken back into stores and re-issued/prescribed to another. It equates to less than £800/year(1) to gives multiple people and their families improved accessibility.
Full details of S-Max, including video of Matt and Jenny traversing their outside steps and how to book a free no obligation assessment, can be found @
