11 minute read
A simple solution to independent living after brain or spinal injury
Disability resulting from illness or injury can impact at any age. And it’s well-recognised that creating a positive environment, once discharged home, can be pivotal to successfully managing an acquired or progressive brain or spinal injury.
When a house ceases to work adequately in terms of layout and accessibility, it’s important to address adaptations quickly. Because losing the ability to perform simple daily tasks or maintain childcare responsibilities, on top of the psychological impact of life-changing disability, can be difficult to deal with.
Holistic home adaptations take into consideration the needs of everyone living in the home and providing safe access between floors has to be a priority to help normalise a complex and stressful time for all involved. Installation of a homelift can support independence and enable positive family living, keeping the family dynamic as stable as possible.
Stiltz Homelifts provide inclusive home access solutions to support users with conditions such as TBI, SCI, ABI and neurological conditions including Parkinson’s and MS. Offering a contemporary and attractive homelift range suitable for both younger clients as well as more senior homeowners, which comfortably marries form and function, Stiltz own installers can quickly deliver a full-service installation, while the whole process is supported by clinically-led assessment in collaboration with healthcare professionals.
REINSTATING ABILITIES FOR YOUNGER INDIVIDUALS
Team BRIT racing driver, Aaron Morgan, 31, is on track for the prestigious British GT Championships, despite breaking his vertebrae and spinal cord in a racing accident in 2006. However, Aaron’s racing success contrasted starkly with a lack of freedom in the home he shares with his partner and her son. He was unable to access upstairs without assistance, until a homelift from Stiltz reinstated independent living.
“The stress of worrying about how to get upstairs has gone. With a homelift, I’m far more independent now and not stuck downstairs all day. I work from home, and I can go upstairs if I need to. It’s lovely that I can tuck my stepson in at night and read him a bedtime story - it feels as if I have the same freedom in my home as I have on the racetrack.”
Paraplegic racing driver, Aaron Morgan and his recently-installed Stiltz Trio+ Homelift.
A healthcare professional’s view: As an OT, I assess how clients can maintain or improve their independence. With seamless transfers between floors, a next generation through-floor lift from
Stiltz perfectly demonstrates how home accessibility can be improved for a wide range of conditions and successfully managed moving forwards. As a respected manufacturer of domestic homelifts, Stiltz have combined aesthetics and design with the latest safety features and efficient operation. This type of home adaptation is an ideal solution for clients of any age group looking to regain safe movement around a multi-floor home, without reliance on anyone else. ENABLING OLDER GENERATIONS
Following a stroke in 2019, Steve Waller, 64, also installed a domestic homelift from Stiltz, to secure ongoing independence with his retirement guide dog, Evie. Steve lives with reduced mobility and balance issues. An additional visual impairment presents risks of falls on stairs. Part-funded by a Disabled Facilities Grant, Steve chose a wheelchair-accessible Stiltz Trio+ Homelift, which has allowed him to continue living alone and engage in daily activities, without additional carer support. ■
Stiltz specialist advisors can be contacted on: tel: 01384 880 343 email: enquiries@stiltz.co.uk web: www.stiltz.co.uk
Rated ‘Excellent’Rated ‘Excellent’
Rated ‘Excellent’Rated ‘Excellent’
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Home is where the heart is; it is also where we often feel the safest. Where we can regroup and recentre ourselves after the day’s trials and tribulations. This is all the more important if there has been some kind of traumatic event such as a life-changing injury involved and we’re returning home from hospital or rehabilitation.
Key to reassurance at home is the ability to move safely from room to room, and between floors and in order for this to take place, modifications and adaptions need to be made. The optimal way to secure safe, comfortable travel between floors is to install a homelift best able to meet the needs of the user. Stiltz Homelifts is the UK’s largest provider of lifts designed especially for use in the home. Stiltz works directly with the user or via Healthcare Professionals such as Occupational Therapists
to specify the most suitable product, in the best position within the home. The Trio+ Homelift model is Home is where the heart is; it specifically designed for is also where we often feel the wheelchair users. The Trio+ has safest. Where we can regroup a gentle access ramp plus the and recentre ourselves after the option of powered doors and the day’s trials and tribulations. This unique ThruCar configuration. is all the more important if there This means you can enter and has been some kind of traumatic exit the lift from opposite sides event such as a life-changing of the car without the need to injury involved and we’re reverse out at any point. returning home from hospital or But a Stiltz is also unique because rehabilitation. it looks like no other lift. The elegant, clear-sided car runs Key to reassurance at home is the on two slim, discreet vertical ability to move safely from room rails which allows the lift to be
to room, and between floors and in order for this to take place, modifications and adaptions need to be made. The optimal way to secure safe, comfortable travel between floors is to install a homelift best able to meet the needs of the user. Stiltz Homelifts is the UK’s largest provider of lifts designed especially for use in the home. Stiltz works directly with the user or via Healthcare Professionals such as Occupational Therapists
to specify the most suitable product, in the best position within the home. The Trio+ Homelift model is Home is where the heart is; it specifically designed for is also where we often feel the wheelchair users. The Trio+ has safest. Where we can regroup a gentle access ramp plus the and recentre ourselves after the option of powered doors and the day’s trials and tribulations. This unique ThruCar configuration. This means you can enter and is all the more important if there exit the lift from opposite sides has been some kind of traumatic of the car without the need to event such as a life-changing reverse out at any point. injury involved and we’re But a Stiltz is also unique because returning home from hospital or it looks like no other lift. The rehabilitation. elegant, clear-sided car runs Key to reassurance at home is the ability to move safely from room on two slim, discreet vertical rails which allows the lift to be
to room, and between floors and in order for this to take place, modifications and adaptions need to be made. The optimal way to secure safe, comfortable travel between floors is to install a homelift best able to meet the needs of the user. Stiltz Homelifts is the UK’s largest provider of lifts designed especially for use in the home. Stiltz works directly with the user or via Healthcare Professionals such as Occupational Therapists
to specify the most suitable product, in the best position within the home. The Trio+ Homelift model is Home is where the heart is; it specifically designed for is also where we often feel the wheelchair users. The Trio+ has safest. Where we can regroup a gentle access ramp plus the and recentre ourselves after the option of powered doors and the day’s trials and tribulations. This unique ThruCar configuration. is all the more important if there This means you can enter and has been some kind of traumatic exit the lift from opposite sides event such as a life-changing of the car without the need to injury involved and we’re reverse out at any point. returning home from hospital or But a Stiltz is also unique because rehabilitation. it looks like no other lift. The elegant, clear-sided car runs Key to reassurance at home is the on two slim, discreet vertical ability to move safely from room rails which allows the lift to be
to room, and between floors and in order for this to take place, modifications and adaptions need to be made. The optimal way to secure safe, comfortable travel between floors is to install a homelift best able to meet the needs of the user. Stiltz Homelifts is the UK’s largest provider of lifts designed especially for use in the home. Stiltz works directly with the user or via Healthcare Professionals such as Occupational Therapists to specify the most suitable product, in the best position within the home. The Trio+ Homelift model is specifically designed for wheelchair users. The Trio+ has a gentle access ramp plus the option of powered doors and the unique ThruCar configuration. This means you can enter and exit the lift from opposite sides of the car without the need to reverse out at any point. But a Stiltz is also unique because it looks like no other lift. The elegant, clear-sided car runs on two slim, discreet vertical rails which allows the lift to be
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