A home lift can be transformative during many important life moments, providing convenience and accessibility as well as boosting overall quality of life for individuals, families and carers. Based on real life customer stories, here are some heartwarming examples of where a domestic lift has transformed lives and created positive impact.
Dementia Support
Home adaptations can be extremely important for people living with Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia. The condition has a big physical impact on people as it progresses with mobility being compromised.
Planning ahead can make the world of difference when it comes to safe mobility and adaptations can be carried out to a person’s home to make it easier and more comfortable for them to live independently.
It is believed maintaining mobility can help slow dementia symptoms, but the disease itself can also cause problems including taking smaller steps, walking more slowly, and needing more support. Disorientation and the risk of falling is also increased.
The installation of a home lift keeps those living with dementia safely active and moving for as long as possible. A domestic lift provides peace of mind for the family, knowing their loved ones can maintain some independence and gives them an alternative way to move around their homes in comfort and safety.
Read the true home lift story of Judith and Tony from Frinton-on-Sea who can now continue to enjoy their breathtaking, balcony sea view together, despite Tony’s Alzheimer’s diagnosis.
Accessibility for People Living with Cerebral Palsy
Cerebral palsy is a movement disorder and as such almost always affects a person’s mobility. Mobility issues can range from mild to severe and can include problems with transitioning positions, rolling over in bed and walking.
Whilst the condition is not progressive, meaning it does not get worse over time, it can put a significant amount of pressure and strain on the body which can lead to problems later in life such as painful joints or further limited movement.
Emma Livingstone, who is a founder of a Cerebral Palsy charity, needed to have two hip operations which severely impacted her ability to use the stairs. After considering moving house, she decided to avoid all the expense, time and stress of downsizing to a bungalow – which also would not be ideal for the young children she shares with her husband – and installed a through floor lift instead.
The design of the Stiltz domestic lift makes it a hugely popular choice for those with and without disabilities. Gone are the days of home lifts looking like clunky, medical devices. Now, domestic lifts can be elegant, modern and attractive. Stiltz lifts are available in neutral colourways and, far from being an obstructive item in the property, these lifts can discreetly become part of a home’s décor, blending effortlessly into any layout and design choice.
Read the true home lift story of Emma Livingstone and find out why she loves the look of her domestic lift, which provides easy access to the whole house and even helps with transferring the washing – and, of course, her young children’s toys.
Elderly Care
It’s been proven the ability to live independently has a positive physical, emotional, and psychological impact on the overall wellbeing of older people.
As we age, mobility can be variable with people reporting the experience as having ‘good days and bad days’. But how well we move can also be affected by health conditions such as stroke, arthritis, heart disease or osteoporosis.
The installation of a domestic lift can reduce the need for care and boost independent living. With home lifts, seniors can stay in the home they love while reducing their risk of injury from falls, as they travel safely and comfortably between floors, with Stiltz easy ‘hold to run’ controls.
For those who have trouble with arthritis or are experiencing knee problems and have the need to use a walking stick or frame, even the smallest Stiltz home lift can accommodate a walking frame. A perching seat for resting on, while using the lift can be fitted.
Read the true home lift story of Maurice Allen and why he decided to make a home adaptation to make it easier to travel between floors in the compact 17th-century Shrewsbury cottage he shares with his wife.
Movement Disorders
Movement disorders are a wide-spectrum descriptor relating to either an excess of movement, involuntary movement or an impairment of movement.
There are many different types of movement disorder, but they are all neurological conditions which affect different parts of the body, causing abnormal movements.
As movement disorders are neurological conditions, the cause is most frequently a defect in a particular area of the brain, or in the base of the brain (cerebellum). These are often acquired through genetics, but abnormal movements can also be caused by stress, drugs, alcohol consumption, and chronic disease.
Some disorders, such as Parkinson’s, are called neurodegenerative conditions, and these are often genetic. Other movement disorders include, but are not limited Dystonia, Chorea, Huntington’s disease, Ataxia, Tremor and essential tremor, Myoclonus and startle, Restless legs syndrome, Stiff person syndrome, Gait disorders, Spasticity and Tics and Tourette’s syndrome.
For people living with a movement disorder, mobility can be extremely limited. Even if the individual is able to walk a short distance, it is often easier to use a wheelchair or mobility scooter. Attempting to get up and down the stairs can be almost impossible and, needless to say, extremely risky.
Increasingly, there is a dislike of stairlifts both due to the way they look, the amount of space they take up on the stairs and the transfer risks involved for those who have difficulty moving. One such movement disorder-sufferer decided it was time to invest in a home lift.
Read the true home lift story of Peter Kilburn from Whittlesey in Peterborough.
Peter has been diagnosed with a condition called Primary Orthostatic Tremor and is unable to stand or walk for any length of time. Having a domestic wheelchair lift installed has proved ‘life-changing’ for him.
Children with Disabilities
When a child has been diagnosed with an illness, disability, or sensory impairment, they are likely to need a lot of additional daily support.
There are many accessibility challenges around the home but often stairs present the biggest obstacle. If a child needs to be carried even if they are not especially heavy, using the stairs this way can become particularly exhausting, and hazardous.
Domestic lifts comfortably accommodate up to three people or a standard wheelchair and one parent. The lift can be placed between the main living space and a bedroom or from the hall, to the landing to make it easy to safely travel between the main areas of the home.
In some cases, domestic lifts can be funded through a Disabled Facilities Grant by the local authority who have a duty to provide what is best for children with disabilities. While DFG funding is means-tested for adults, that is not the case if the equipment or adaptation will benefit a child or children in the home.
Read the true home lift story of the Blueman family from Stockport. Dad Andy explains the challenges he and his wife experienced prior to installing their home lift. He also recounts the relief once they finally had a domestic lift installed for their daughter, Jasmine, six, who has received a Global Motor Delay diagnosis.
Visual Impairment
If vision AND mobility start to become more challenging, stairs can pose a real risk to falls and resulting injury. A home lift can provide confidence and peace of mind, giving users access to their whole home once again. While this is excellent for moving between floors independently and safely, people who install a domestic lift also find it a practical aid for transporting heavy items such as suitcases and laundry too.
Steve Waller from Rotherham is a stroke survivor and was experiencing worsening visual impairment after working for many years in the heavy plant and charity sectors. Due to his increasing visual impairment and the need to provide care for his son who developed a life-limiting condition, Steve gave up his career to focus on life at home.
Read the Steve’s true home lift story and how his life has improved immeasurably since installing a domestic lift in his home.
Funding for Home Lifts
From Disabled Facilities Grants (DFGs), local authority grants, Access to Work schemes and VAT relief, there are many ways to fund part or all a home lift. A complete ‘How To Fund My Home Lift’ guide is available and more information about how to apply for a Disabled Facilities Grant can be accessed here.