Stairlift

[Moonhawk]

My in-laws are getting on a bit (mid 80s) and my mother in law is blind. She has recently had a fall on the stairs - nothing serious luckily, but both are struggling with the stairs.

We want to get them a stairlift fitted.

Can anyone recommend a good company who can fit at short notice and who won't try and rip us off.

Cheers

[Migsy]

Not long gone through the same, though not in your neck of the woods so can't recommend a specific company.

What I learnt along the way might help:

- use an independent company who sell, fit and maintain various manufacturers (plus have a showroom if possible), avoid picking a single brand just because they're known. Age UK have their own spin-off brand - it's £500 dearer going to them direct.
- if both parents are using it, they and their home will need to be measured in order for the right stairlift to be recommended
- unlikely to get a very quick fit unless right size/model with needed bits (hand control, stair length, access at top and bottom of stairs) - parents was a standard straight stairs and that was a 2 week wait from order date.
- cost wise, all depends on those individual factors, but expect between £1500 - £2500 (parents was £1650 ish).
- there's a stairlift forum on the net (yes, really!) - have a read so you're informed before
- if either parent has a registered health condition/disability, they can get it VAT exempt (extra form to sign via retailer)

Bro and I did the leg work, visited the retailer and showroom (Alton Towers for the elderly), got them out to our parents with us present, took parents to showroom to test drive and then ordered.

We used our nearest independent and had a really good experience - went with scepticism of being ripped-off but were pleasantly surprised.

HTH

[FlyingMeeces]

Great advice, with one addition.

There is no such thing as a 'registered' disability, health condition or anything else, with the single exception of the Visual Impairment register which is a Victorian hang-over listing blind and visually impaired people, and which seldom includes people who become visually impaired in old age.

It's simply if you have a diagnosis of anything, or anything diagnosABLE, or not.

So no question, yes they will be VAT exempt. They are buying a specially made product due to some impairing condition. They will also be VAT exempt on any future maintenance, parts and so on.

Relevant bit from HMRC:
"How to get the product VAT free

To get the product VAT free your disability has to qualify. For VAT purposes, you’re disabled or have a long-term illness if:

- you have a physical or mental impairment that affects your ability to carry out everyday activities, eg blindness
- you have a condition that’s treated as chronic sickness, like diabetes"

So your MIL's visual impairment, if either has been diagnosed with arthritis, any chronic/longterm condition, Parkinson's, anything like that. Just old age on its own does NOT qualify a person, but the enormous range of age-related conditions do.

PS do you/does your MIL know she's eligible for free post and stuff? Can be a real help to old folks struggling to make ends meet.

PPS I don't know where in Cheshire you are but Henshaws, based in Trafford, are an outstanding visual impairment support org and may be able to provide input with eg any particular considerations needed for a blind person using a stairlift (I suspect none, if she is cognitively unchanged, but I'm only guessing really).

[dandarez]

Just to add, go one better than just VAT exempt.
Government disabled facilities grants are available too, from your Council for stairlifts.

Why overlook it? They have paid their taxes all their lives!

Here is the GOV.UK web page.
https://www.gov.uk/disabled-facilities-grants/over...

[Moonhawk]

Thanks for the advice - really helpful