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Elderly parents
Original poster

The tale of the mysterious ghost stairlift

55 replies

TeenToTwenties · 05/12/2025 06:49

My DPs stairlift has started occasionally moving all by itself!

They called an engineer - apparently the code shows that one of the remote controls is missing and is being pressed down causing it to operate.

My brother has helped hunt for the controller - no luck.

We have sent away for a bug hunting device that should detect the signal from the controller but they probably won't try to use it on their own.

I'm the chief finder in the family, even when I am 70 miles away but I can't visit until Tuesday. Who wants to take bets on whether I find it within 10 mins of arriving without having to use the tech?

OP posts:
BuoyedWithOptimisticIgnorance · 10/12/2025 09:45

Have you checked everyone's pockets, especially costs and jackets and dressing gowns that are hanging up?

Radiatorvalves · 10/12/2025 09:09

I’m getting quite invested with this. Love a good Who Dunnit!

BadgernTheGarden · 10/12/2025 09:06

Under a book or in a pile of papers or magazines?

Talltreesbythelake · 10/12/2025 08:56

Have you looked inside boots and shoes? My Dad dropped his stairlift remote into a boot and we were mystified until someone needed to go out in the rain.

MinnieCauldwell · 10/12/2025 08:55

TeenToTwenties · 09/12/2025 18:03

A what?

Show quote history

A riser recliner chair I think. Has it gone down the side or back of one?

Is there a dog that has taken it to their basket?

Clutching at straws now...

McSock · 10/12/2025 08:50

Our remote control doorbell used to dingdong randomly when one of the neighbours blipped their car remote - apparently many remotes use similar frequencies.

This won't apply if it's a paired Bluetooth remote, but the infrared ones are susceptible to interference.

Original poster
TeenToTwenties · 10/12/2025 06:36

I have been thinking overnight. I may need to pull out the fridge etc. If it were knocked onto the floor it could get kicked under anything and dad wouldn't notice.

OP posts:
funnelfan · 10/12/2025 00:02

Have you taken out all the drawers and checked at the bottom of the chest?

Sympathies, I know how frustrating it is when something like this goes missing. DM lost her call button for her fall alarm that the carer placed round her neck at the breakfast visit. It wasn’t on her when the carer checked at lunchtime. DM had been in bed all morning. More than one carer searched that bedroom from top to bottom and so did I. The call company said it was still connected to the box and had a strong signal so it was in the room and not accidentally thrown away.

A couple of days later mum was admitted to hospital and then to her care home so we gave it up as a bad job and returned the box. I’ve been gradually clearing the house and found the call button in the drawer by the bed where mum kept it when she wasn’t wearing it. That drawer had been thoroughly searched by several people including me. Goodness only knows why none of us found it.

Original poster
TeenToTwenties · 09/12/2025 20:33

I've given up. I've looked in all the obvious places, then a bunch of daft places. I've looked behind things, and in things and under things, and beside things.
Maybe tomorrow.

OP posts:
Original poster
TeenToTwenties · 09/12/2025 18:03

ExitPursuedByABare · 09/12/2025 16:51

Do they have a lefty up chair? Might be under that.

A what?

OP posts:
ExitPursuedByABare · 09/12/2025 16:51

Do they have a lefty up chair? Might be under that.

Original poster
TeenToTwenties · 09/12/2025 15:06

I'm hoping it is in a bag of rubbish or pile of newspapers that will get thrown out tomorrow.

OP posts:
McSock · 09/12/2025 13:09

Is it under a chair or sofa? i.e. On the floor - our TV used to change channels when someone sat down or moved about while sitting!!

BuoyedWithOptimisticIgnorance · 09/12/2025 12:38

As my mother always said "it's up your bum!" Someone is sitting on it.

Or their neighbour has it and is trying to wind them up Grin

Mochudubh · 09/12/2025 12:34

Absentmindedly put in a cardigan pocket and has fallen out. Try down the side of the toilet. Laundry basket/ironing pile, do they hang washing out and it could be outside?
Slipped between the lift chair and the wall? Got dropped and accidently kicked down the stairs and is somewhere at the bottom? Check behind all doors in case it's stuck and activating when the door is open all the way.

Any pets? Dog/Cat bed.

Someone will be along in a minute with a prayer to St Anthony, it's never worked for me but on previous threads posters say it has for them.

Original poster
TeenToTwenties · 09/12/2025 11:41

PermanentTemporary · 09/12/2025 10:33

Checking in to see where it was!

Have arrived and had a good initial look. Nowhere obvious.
I saw it suddenly starting operating when nothing much was happening.
Most strange.

Now at an eye test, perhaps that will help!!

OP posts:
Vroomfondleswaistcoat · 09/12/2025 10:36

Or it might be somewhere temperature differentials are causing it to operate - did it get put in the fridge/freezer, perhaps?

PermanentTemporary · 09/12/2025 10:33

Checking in to see where it was!

imnotsickbutimnotwell · 08/12/2025 21:33

down the side of the mattress?

OldPosterNewName2025 · 08/12/2025 21:21

Handbag
Laundry basket
Pocket

Most things end up down the sofa but because they are black they remain hidden in plain sight.

Lunde · 08/12/2025 21:06

Down the side/under the mattress? (this was the cause of my phantom TV turning on/off)

Side/under seat cushion

Do they have any loose mats upstairs that it could be under

Do they have pets?

Bottom of the washing basket

edited to add - could they have put it in a pocket? - dressing gown/fleece etc

Original poster
TeenToTwenties · 05/12/2025 19:55

Seeingadistance · 05/12/2025 19:51

Where were the occupants of the house when the stairlift started moving? Sitting on couch, leaning against something while wearing clothes with pockets big enough for a remote control?

Trying, and failing, to change channels on the TV?

It is happening randomly, they don't know when it started, it moves the chair off the charging point too.
I am going up Tuesday so hoping they survive until then.

OP posts:
Wreckinball · 05/12/2025 19:54

Dog basket?

Seeingadistance · 05/12/2025 19:51

Where were the occupants of the house when the stairlift started moving? Sitting on couch, leaning against something while wearing clothes with pockets big enough for a remote control?

Trying, and failing, to change channels on the TV?

Original poster
TeenToTwenties · 05/12/2025 10:53

I think under a pile of something is more likely, but who knows it could be in plain sight.

OP posts: