If you are having difficulty with day to day activities like getting up and down the stairs because of a medical health condition(s)/disability and would like to know what would make things easier and safer for you, you can contact the Occupational Therapy Service. They will assess your needs and make recommendations which may include the need for a stairlift.
A stairlift is a lift that takes you up and down the stairs within your home while sitting on a chair. The stairlift is operated by you or someone you trust and moves up/ down a track covering the stair. Stairlifts are suitable for straight or curved stairways and provides a safe way for people to use the stairs within their home ensuring they can continue to access all internal areas of it.
The stairlifts will belong to Angus Health and Social Care Partnership (AHSCP) who will service and maintain the stairlift and will remove it when it is no longer required.
The OT Service will discuss alternative funding options with you if this is required.
Who is involved?
Occupational Therapist (OT) (Angus Council)
An OT will be responsible for assessing your needs and recommending the stairlift, other adaptations and/or equipment that are essential in meeting your needs to allow you to live safely and independently in your home. Your OT is responsible for determining the need and urgency for the stairlift and in organising the works. Your OT will also ensure that appropriate permission from the owner of the property has been obtained prior to any works being carried out.
Contractor
The contractor is the person who has been asked to quote for the adaptations recommended for you. The OT Service have a contract in place with an agreed contractor for the installation, servicing, maintenance and removal of stairlifts. This contractor may need to visit you at home, along with the OT recommending the stairlift and others if required, to discuss the works required. The contractor is responsible for raising any issues that may affect the installation of the stairlift. The Contractor is responsible for providing an estimate of the costs for the stairlift and any associated works.
Admin
Admin staff will raise the order required for the stairlift. They will monitor the order and will liaise with your OT if any start dates are provided. Admin staff will reconcile any invoices received upon completion of the stairlift installation.
Others
Other people may need to be involved to agree the installation of a stairlift and any other associated works. We will tell you if this applies to you.
If the stairlift is required on stairs that are considered the only access to your property, we will need to liaise with the Fire Service for their approval. We will also need to liaise with Building Standards to ensure the provision is in accordance with the manufacture’s guidance/ recommendations and any required planning regulations.
Your responsibilities
- It is important you understand your need for a stairlift, and the arrangements being put in place. You can contact your OT at any time.
- It is important you keep us informed of any changes in your circumstances that may affect the stairlift being considered for you.
- Contractors and other personnel will need to visit you, so it is important that you allow these workers into your home. ALWAYS ask to see the caller’s identification before allowing them into your home.
- You must agree to use the stairlift as instructed to ensure it remains in safe working order.
- You must agree to being contacted by the OT service to review the ongoing suitability of your stairlift if this is deemed as required for you.
- You must agree to any new assessments being completed to ensure the stairlift remains suitable for you if this is deemed as required for you.
- You must allow annual access as a minimum for the stairlift to be serviced.
- You should inform your Home Insurance provider that you have had a stairlift installed in your home.
Funding
Angus Health and Social Care Partnership (AHSCP) will meet all the required costs for the stairlift installation as well as for any required works that are deemed essential.
AHSCP will meet the ongoing servicing and maintenance costs.
AHSCP will meet the removal costs should the stairlift no longer be required.
If you require the stairlift to be removed and then reinstated, for any reason, this must be completed by our agreed contractor and any costs incurred will be your responsibility.
What happens next?
The stairlift pathway information in the next section gives information on the stages involved. Remember, the timescales for stairlift can vary and will depend on several factors. These could include:
- The urgency for the stairlift as per the OT assessment
- The type of stairlift required – straight or curved
- The need for associated works – removal of radiators, banister rails, electrical work
- Availability of the Contractor to undertake the works
- The need for any alternative arrangements while works are being completed.
Stairlift pathway
Stage 1 Initial approval in principle
This means an OT has assessed your needs and obtained approval in principle for the stairlift to be installed from the designated OT/ Team Manager (OT). The request has been sent to our agreed contractor and your OT.
Timescales for this stage will vary from person to person.
Stage 2 Preparation of quotation and obtaining of permission
Your OT and the contractor will visit you in your home or alternatively, the contractor may visit themselves to consider the stairlift installation. The contractor will take sizes of the stair and space to allow a drawing and quotation for the stairlift and any associated works to be prepared. It is important that you ask any questions you may have about the works.
Your OT will also liaise with the owner of your property if that is not yourself to ensure they are in agreement to the works being completed. We may be unable to support a stairlift being installed if we can not obtain the required permission. We must obtain written permission before we are able to proceed.
Timescales for this stage will vary from person to person.
Stage 3 Final approval
Your OT will contact you within 5 working days of receiving the quotation to ensure you agree with the works. Your OT must approve and confirm the works they are supporting. This will then be reviewed and considered by the Team Manager (OT) who has 3 working days from receipt of the request.
Once approval is given the Team Manager (OT) will inform Admin so an order can be placed with the contractor.
Stage 4 Appointment of contractor
Your OT and/ or the contractor will advise you on the installation date for the stairlift when this is confirmed. Your OT will continue to liaise with you while you are awaiting the stairlift being installed. If any works are required to support the stairlift being installed, your OT will arrange this. If you need to cancel the stairlift once the contractor has been appointed, please inform your OT immediately.
Timescales for this stage will vary from person to person.
Stage 5 Completion of works
Whilst the works are on site, please contact your OT if any issues arise. Your OT will visit you at home or contact you to ensure the stairlift is suitable in meeting your needs and will provide any necessary demonstration on the safe use of the stairlift. Your OT will complete/ update any required documentation to support use of the stairlift should this be required.
Timescales for this stage will vary from person to person.
Stage 6 Payment
Once the works are complete and you and your OT are satisfied with them, admin will process the payment for the works.
Reporting faults
If you have any problems with your stairlift once it is installed, there will be a contact number on the stairlift advising who to contact. Please be advised the phone number to report any problems is 0141 287 6300. Please select Option 2 when prompted.
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