“We know we’ve secured our future here, now that we’ve overcome the challenge of the stairs.”
Some people just grab all life has to offer, undeterred by setbacks coming their way. One such couple are Marian and Eric Ramsay, who turned to Stiltz Homelifts because they had absolutely no intention of slowing down and wanted help to continue with their busy lives.
We meet them in the leafy suburb of Stanmore in North London, where they’ve lived in the same house all their married lives. Now both retired, and in their seventies, it would take serious energy to keep up with their whirlwind of creative, educational and community activities. Between painting, sketching, calligraphy and seated exercise classes, Marian also finds time to volunteer at the local hospital. Eric is a keen Morris Dancer and enjoys model railway wagon building while both take Italian lessons. Their home isn’t just for relaxation, it’s a space for them to create and “We love where we live, and now there’s no reason to think about moving,” says Marian, but it wasn’t like this before the arrival of their Stiltz Duo+.
Since the age of 18, Marian has lived with rheumatoid arthritis, and then in her twenties, she lost a leg along with part of her pelvis to cancer. She has long defied expectations by wearing a prosthesis and staying active throughout her life. However, she admits, “Life was becoming a bit more difficult going up and down stairs. At the end of the day, I would have to hold on to both rails, and I was fairly tired.”
Inevitably, they had to consider whether it was sensible to remain living in their current home. “We thought about moving, maybe to a bungalow, but we love this house,” says Marian. “We’re in such a good position, close to the motorway and Tube, and close to Stanmore Country Park, which we love.” Realising that moving wasn’t for them, they now had a dilemma to solve: “We needed a solution that would keep our home open to us and not restrict our lives just because of two flights of stairs.”
Struggles to solutions
The couple explored their options. Traditional stairlifts, however, were quickly ruled out. “I don’t like them at all. I think they’re for old people,” laughs Marian. “Plus, they get in the way when you’re not using them.” Instead, an internet search led them to Stiltz Homelifts. Interested to find out more, they went to see the product for themselves at the Wokingham showroom. And, as they say, the rest is history.
Having braced themselves for major disruption, the installation was much easier than Marian and Eric anticipated. The team checked for asbestos, reinforced the floor, and cut the ceiling hole in less than three days. “They were so clean. Everything was cleared up when they left at the end of the day. Two men came, worked really hard, and then the following week they came back to install the lift. It took a day, and it was finished.” The entire experience proved that home modification doesn’t have to be a major upheaval.
They chose the compact Duo+ which now rises discreetly from the sitting room to a small upstairs bedroom.
A room reborn
Their Stiltz Homelift hasn’t just solved a mobility issue, it’s also unlocked a whole new space. For years, the upstairs bedroom had been wasted; a single bed gathering dust. Now, it’s Marian’s art studio. “I don’t consider myself a proper artist, maybe an amateur,” she says modestly. But her enthusiasm is anything but amateur. “I like to paint landscapes and animals. In fact, I think I like to paint or draw most things.”
Before the Stiltz was installed, she painted in the dining room, constantly fetching brushes, paints, and water from other rooms. Now, everything is to hand. “I’ve got a desk with drawers. My brushes and paints are in one, papers in another. If I want water, the bathroom’s next door. I can just pull out the drawer, get out brushes and paints, and I’m on my way.”
The joy is palpable. “The fact that I can access the upstairs and paint and draw is so calming. It’s so good for my mental health to be able to forget everything and just paint.”
The couple’s days are rich with activities. A former deputy headteacher, Marian retired early at 50 on health grounds, but never slowed down. Alongside her passion for painting, she also creates calligraphy, attends seated exercise classes with fellow amputees, and studies Italian for their frequent trips to Italy. Both she and Eric now speak enough Italian to feel comfortable getting around the country on their trips.
She also volunteers at the local hospital, The Royal Orthopaedic Hospital in Stanmore, renowned for working with some of the UK’s most complex cases. Marian visits patients who’ve undergone similar operations to her to offer up comfort and support using her personal experience. “I give them a little chat about practical things and give them hope that life can be really good still.”
The homelift has amplified her independence. “On a daily basis, I now don’t have to ask Eric to go upstairs and get something for me. I can go myself easily. It’s also allowed them to stay
local to their friends, who all adore the lift. “They think it looks like a Tardis,” Marian chuckles. “They’ve often said they want to ride in it.”
For Marian and Eric, investing in the Stiltz is more than just purchasing a piece of equipment; it’s a promise. “We know we’ve secured our future here, now that we’ve overcome the challenge of the stairs.”
And of course, they’re delighted with the unexpected bonus of rediscovering the unused bedroom space and all the joy it’s brought.
The Ramsays perfectly demonstrate how a Stiltz Homelift helps people continue living in the home they love without having to give up independence or downsizing to a single-storey, later living property.
