Access home and away for Alexander thanks to stairclimber
The doors to “normal” family life at home and away were shut to the Nelsons because of son Alexander’s reliance on a wheelchair. Our Sella mobility stairclimber has changed that.
Alexander has severe epilepsy, Lennox Gastaut Syndrome and global development delay affecting his cognitive, learning ability and motor skills.
As a result he relies on a wheelchair to get around. He is, and always will be, reliant on others for daily living, including all transfers. Also, his capability can be affected by his seizures, meaning Alexander sometimes requires hoisting to support safe transfers. Access at home and away is restricted.
Alexander's limitations have also meant the family had to carry him up and down stairs. Mum and dad have experienced a few “near misses”.
They were getting increasingly worried about safety.
However, Alexander’s medical conditions and the design of the house meant a stairlift was not an option. Nor would a through-floor lift be a straight-forward solution because of the property’s structure: that would have been very disruptive and costly, requiring structural changes to the family home.
The Occupational Therapists' Answer- "a light bulb" moment for access at home and away!
The family’s Occupational Therapist, Fran Richardson, had an idea.
She suggested a mobility stairclimber, and arranged for us to visit and assess Alexander, the family and the home environment to see whether a Sella stairclimbing wheelchair would work.
We found in our assessment that Alexander could transfer from his wheelchair onto the stairclimber with only some support, and was relaxed when going up, down the stairs on the Sella.
As Alexander tends to sit cross-legged, we have accessories the mobility stairclimbing wheelchair to maintain correct and safe posture, and his comfort. We included a large seat with a ramped pelvic pad, small head rest, thoracic pad plus a lap belt and dynamic harness to supplement the standard integrated arm rests and seat.
Because of these additions we made, the accessories be easily altered to ensure his continued safety as he grows, stability and comfort with no need to change the core equipment.
When Alexander is transferred into the Sella stairclimber, the technique and process is similar to that used to transfer him into his functional chair or shower chair, maintaining consistency for him and his family.
If Alexander needs to be hoisted into the Sella stairclimber, the unit’s brakes are applied and it reclined against an appropriate support, thereby replicating a tilt-in-space chair and facilitating good transfers.
Alexander's mum says:
“We love the stairclimber for Alexander. He’s comfortable and happy in it. And, because it is not fixed to the structure of the house, it allows us the flexibility not only to use it at home but away- we take it with us when we visit family or go on holiday.
“AAT has been brilliant in their attention to detail setting up the stairclimber to suit Alexander, with the advice and hands-on training. And we know we csn contact them if we have any questions or issues.”
“AAT has been brilliant in their attention to detail setting up the stairclimber to suit Alexander, with the advice and hands-on training. And we know we csn contact them if we have any questions or issues.”
Our Sella stairclimbing wheelchair is now the UK’s biggest-selling stairclimber. The Class 1 Medical Device certified equipment is unique in its sector in that, when the original recipient no longer needs it, the Sella can be prescribed (re-issued) to another user.
When coupled with our pioneering Universal Seat System, we can help Sella accommodate almost every additional postural support the user may need whilst using the stairclimber, further helping make best use of available resources and budgets.
Full details of the Sella stairclimber, including how to book a free, no obligation demonstration or assessment, can be found at http://www.aatgb.com/s-max-sella.
With stairs being the most common hazard in the home(1)- a risk exacerbated when someone has impaired mobility- AAT is giving local authority social care teams a best value tool to manage safety, fast.
Falls and manual handling are among the most common personal injury claims lodged against Councils(2), the bill for which now tops £100m(3).
Minimising risk is a growing priority
Minimising risk is therefore a growing priority.
Thus, AAT has developed its recycling (re-issue) package, whereby its stairclimbers already purchased by the Local Authority can be re-allocated and in use within a matter of days.
That the stairclimber can be collected from stores or the previous user and taken direct to the new potential client.
This removes the delay of arranging for the client to travel to a demonstration site for a stairlift or similar device, further accelerates the speed with which the risk is managed.
No other stairway access system can be delivered so cost-effectively, so fast, AAT believes.
Recycle/re-issue= best value
AAT’s recycling scheme can be utilised by almost every Local Authority in the UK, as almost all have kit in stock among in its equipment.
“With budgets under so much pressure, every opportunity to make every £ work as hard as possible must be taken,” says Peter Wingrave, AAT Director.
“It’s not just about the money. It is about quality of life- and safety- for the vast number of client awaiting adaptations to their homes.
"It is about supporting OTs and adaptations teams to effect a solution- whether short or long-term- quickly. It is about helping their- and their clients’- mental health & wellbeing.”
Leeds City Council is one Authority already making use of AAT’s recycling scheme, to the extent AAT manages the Councils’ stairclimber stock too.
Says Leeds City Council Occupational Therapy Team Manager Jane Fisher: “Funds and time are under pressure now more than ever. This means we can quickly empower clients to still be able to access all levels of their home, with the peace of mind that the right kit is being supplied, maintained and serviced, and in full working order.”
Full details of AAT’s re-issue facility can be found here:
Home improvement body Foundations is urging social housing providers and adaptations bodies to commit to preventative measures. They could improve quality of life, reduce pressure on health services, and save £millions a year(1).
The report builds on a BRE study that similarly claimed investment in preventative steps to make homes safe would reduce the 1million+ accidents on stairs(2) – the second most common hazard in homes.
AAT the stairclimber people say the cost in time and money is not as great as adaptations professionals perceive, if they look beyond the ‘norm’.
And such an attitude enables multiple clients to be supported from one solution.
address stair safety: look to a stair climbing wheelchair
Provision of an S-Max Sella stairclimber aka stair climbing wheelchair, especially with AAT’s unique Universal Back accessory, makes stairway access safe for anyone who has, or cares for someone, with reduced mobility- be it an elderly partner through to a child with complex needs.
Unlike the conventional answers for help with stairs, the S-Max can be operational in the home within days of the need being identified(3).
There is no need for the usual processes that cause delay such as a structural survey, specialist installation etc.
The battery-powered portable Class 1 Medical Device also leaves the stairway free for other members of the household.
When not in use, it folds away, optimising living space.
Unlike fixed alternatives, the stairclimber/ stair climbing wheelchair can also enable the user to access outside spaces.
When the original recipient no longer needs it, the S-Max can be re-prescribed to another.
Tio further help adaptations professionals, AAT will manage the whole process. It will assess the client and the home to determine suitability, deliver and set up the S-Max, train the care-giver to LOLER requirements. AAT will also service the equipment to meet the provider’s legal obligations and manage the allocation process between users.
Help with stairs is one of the most common scenarios faced by adaptations professionals. The client and their care support can all be supported, safe transfer addressed and risk managed without the cost and delay of Grant funding.
using a stairclimber can manage the risk of stair transfer without Grant funding
How?
AAT’s top-selling battery-powered, mobile Class 1 Medical device the S-Max stairclimber/ stairclimbing wheelchair requires no installation or structural fixing nor modification.
Thus- as specified in the DFG Guidance section 2.30(1)- its provision can be covered by minor adaptations from social services. The time and delay involved in applying for Disabled Facilities Grant funding is eliminated.
The S-Max expediates a person-centred approach, enabling the client to remain at home without disruption to daily/family life.
Prescribing an AAT S-Max potentially expediates a dual-purpose safe transfer/fall prevention option.
The solution has even better use of budgets: with thousands already sold to local authorities over the past 20 years, there may be one already in Community Equipment Stores. This can be re-issued within days.
what is a stairclimber?
The battery-powered S-Max smoothly and kinematically ascends and descends steps and stairs. It can be fitted to a wheelchair or be supplied with an integral seat (the S-Max Sella).
It can handle most staircase designs, and complete 300 steps from a single charge. The rate of ascent/descent is set by the operator (care giver), via AAT’s innovative ComfortStep technology, including an energy stop function.
A range of accessories, including AAT’s pioneering Universal Back, means the S-Max can be configured for almost every client from small infant to obese adult with due care and support for their particular physical or mental disability.
The unit itself has full adjustability so it can be quickly set up to exactly suit each operator, making it particularly suitable for clients with several members in the care team.
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