Please help - has anyone fitted a stairlift in for their elderly parents?

[chelsygirl]

how much does it cost?

any advise welcome!

bump

Yes! But I can't remember -will ask the DH and get back to you...

Vaguely recall it was a scheme where we paid a deposit and then a monthly fee and then they take it away again at the end...

Couple of hundred quid deposit, then you have the choice of flexible scheme or fixed period (eg 6 or 12 months)... Seem to remember then the payments are around the 50 quid a month mark.

According to DH the best thing to do is go through social services to ask for recommended companies because lots of them are no better than double glazing salespeople.

yes I agree, thanks

just bumping for the evening crowd to see if I can get any figures

My parents have just had a reconditioned one put in - it cost about £2500 I think.

thanks pw

My mum had one put in when my dad was ill. They bought one - possibly a reconditioned one, I'm not sure. They were told the company would buy it back when they'd finished with it. But when it came to have it removed the company had a surplus, and so didn't particularly want it back. So with the removal charges my mum didn't actually get much back at the end.

In retrospect they agreed they would have been better off going with a 'hire' scheme like the one MonkeybirdisboredWITHbuns mentions.

It depends what the plans for the future are I suppose. Is it reasonable/likely that your parents will continue to live in that house for many years?

I don't know roisin, my mum is 80............

I hope so!!

can anyone tell me anything about the hire scheme MonkeybirdisboredWITHbuns mentions, my council claims to know nothing of this

Ring up your local social services office and ask to speak to the duty Occupational Therapist, your relative may qualify for financial costs or the OT may be able to suggest something other than a stairlift to help. Stairlifts aren't suitable for every situation, if you decide to go ahead privatly the costs will vary hugely depending on the type of stairs you have ('turns' bump up the price) and which company you use. Would second monkeys advice about double glazing salesmen!!!

I'd go for a hire scheme because they break down and need maintenance etc

thanks for all advice, on Thursday when I was at work she had a guy who works for a stairlift compamy very kindly come to visit her and when I called her after my work she was on the verge of signing for a £3.5k stairlift , she later gave me a row for shouting "NO MUM" down the phone as she said the salesman heard me shouting and he was SO nice

I tell you, between her and the kids I've got my work cut out all right

serin, I've rung them, waiting to hear from them after the holiday weekend!