Stairlifts
n Collaborate with mobility specialists, occupational therapists, or experts in assistive technology, to ensure that the chosen lifts and their placements align with the specific needs of the care home’s residents.
n If a stairlift is being installed, residents should be assessed to see whether they are able to use them safely without assistance. Where a stairlift is installed in a care home and residents require help in using a stairlift, staff should be trained in its safe use and the best way to assist the resident.
As regards the specific requirements associated with care homes, if you are looking to install a lift in a very small pre-existing shaft, or where there is an existing non-compliant lift, do take into consideration that the building control officer will need to be made aware that a new non-complaint lift will replace the existing one. It is crucial to understand the traffic within the building and times the lift will be used – this enables the dealer or manufacturer to propose the best access lift solution possible based on the duty cycle.
Common mistakes
What are the common mistakes providers make when looking at installing a stairlift or home lift? Not considering future needs is one, as care homes should plan for future growth and changes in resident need. Selecting a lift that can be easily modified
Jeff Shepherd, MD, Morgan Ellis
It is important that care homes installing or replacing lifts pay close attention to the effects of such works on those living and working in the home. Jeff Shepherd, managing director of Access BDD business partner Morgan Ellis, points out: “It may sound basic, but when you are either replacing an existing lift or installing a brand new one, it is important to consider the effect this will have on the staff and residents. If it is a replacement, it is vital to ensure that the lift is out of action for as little time as possible and advise the staff to take the necessary actions to ensure the inconvenience to residents is kept to a minimum. In addition to cost, you must ensure that the lift meets the care home’s requirements in terms of speed, passenger
or expanded can prevent the need for costly renovations down the line, and therefore future proof the care home environment. In addition, a proper assessment is key. Failing to conduct a thorough assessment of the specific needs of residents is a common mistake. Each resident may have different mobility requirements, so it is important to choose the right type and model of lift for each potential situation.
New regulations Over the last 100 years, the stairlift industry has changed drastically regarding technology and safety. The latest development in this ever-changing market took place in April 2023, when new stairlift safety regulations EN 81-40:2020 came into force for the European stairlift industry, replacing EN 81-40:2008.
To comply with the new regulations, as of April this year, every new stairlift must now meet the following criteria: interlocking arms, a seatbelt detection system, a separate emergency stop button, and an optional two-way voice communication device. These new regulations are a positive step for all concerned, as anything that improves safety can only be a good thing. The implementation of these new regulations has resulted in manufacturers potentially bringing forward planned new product launches to ensure they meet the criteria. Here at Access BDD, we pride ourselves on being at the forefront of the stairlift industry and have ensured all
our products fully comply with the new regulations. We have trained our staff so they are fully educated on all elements of the new regulations and what they mean for end users and our business partners. While the extra features of the stairlifts will require a little more explanation from our partners when they are talking to care home managers and staff and handing over the product, I do not see this as an obstacle. For some, there has been some initial confusion on how to interpret the regulations correctly, but this now seems to have been resolved. As the regulations are designed with user safety and wellbeing in mind, the impact must surely be positive for all concerned, especially in a care home, where many of the users are quite vulnerable. Generally speaking, most of the feedback we have received since the new regulations were introduced has been very positive, and surely everyone agrees that anything designed to improve the safety of the user can only be a good thing for all concerned.
A wide range of options
capacity etc. Once the lift has been installed, we ensure that all relevant staff have been sufficiently trained to ensure they understand the product, and we also advise that when a new member of staff joins, they also receive training. While they will be trained on all care aspects, the use of a lift can be overlooked and this can result in a fault occurring and then the lift being out of action.”
Whether a home lift is being installed in a new build or existing care home, there are a wide range of home lift options available, all of which are considerably more cost effective than an elevator and, in some instances, cost little more than a curved stairlift. As a starting point, care providers should contact a home lift supplier that is local to them. Not only does this mean they will have someone based locally for servicing, but, more importantly, if there is ever a technical issue, they have the peace of mind that an engineer will be able to attend quickly. Many builders and architects will specify an elevator which requires considerably
February 2024
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