stair lift transfers

why cant stairlift companies design a seat that can be like a small lift weight wheelchair so that person can be transferred on to it from bed or arm chair and be taken to the lift and chair pushed on to the stairlift bracket, back wheels colapsing as it pushes on a bit like the ambulance stretchers . I am fed up of talking to the companies about this but it would be a massive help to us, as when people get too frail to transfer we could still use a stairlift rather then having to build massive extendsions or putting in throught floor lifts.is here an engineer out there who is stimilated enough to look at this!!

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Permalink Reply by David Jarrold on August 19, 2011 at 14:57

Hi Jan,

I'm talking to a couple of universities at the moment about setting design challenges for industrial design students. When this comes off I'll get back to you as I think this wopuld be an excellent idea.

Best regards

David

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Permalink Reply by Linda Jane McLean on October 1, 2011 at 20:11

This is the story of a patient I had who had a high lesion spinal injury and could not use a stair-lift. Before his injury he had been an engineer and still had many engineering friends, who were willing to help him obtain as high a quality of life as possible,

He was determined to have minimum disruption in the household, and wanted to remain sleeping in his bedroom upstairs.

How to do it, safely and comply with all the rules and regulations? He did not want to be trapped by fire. Friends came to his rescue and installed a platform in a cupboard which had access to the upper landing, and added a caw the handle mechanism, with pulley weights was added. There had also been the idea of a covered platform outside the house, (where a window would simply have become a door), to take him upstairs. there were so many ideas it was astonishing,
It allowed me to see the potential once experts were really engaged with the problem

It gave him the access to all of his house, was not a risk in fire, and was easy for him to operate.

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Permalink Reply by Jane Varden on October 3, 2011 at 9:52

i hope that an engineer can see the potential for a stairlift which allows a transit chair to clip on, it will make a hugh difference for people with deterioating conditions, end of life care. To be able to still go upstairs to be with your family and partner is a massive benefit in what are often desperately sad circumstances. I have had this idea for 20 years but no body has picked up on it. i just hopethat bespoken gives this idea a chance, As an OT i have lots of ideas how it could work and the design features needed for the transit chair, i just need an ENGINEER!!!