‘Near misses’ carrying their young son on the stairs are now all in the past for the Nelson family. The solution has been the prescription of a Sella stairclimber, solving both the immediate and long-term risk.
The case was referred to Fran Richardson, Paediatric Occupational Therapist for the local Children’s Disability Team when the parents reported struggling to carry Alexander up and downstairs safely.
The 12 year-old has severe epilepsy, Lennox Gastaut Syndrome and global development delay affecting his cognitive, learning ability and motor skills. As a result Alexander relies on a wheelchair to get around. He is, and always will be, reliant on others for daily living, including all transfers. Also, his capability can be affected by his seizures, meaning Alexander sometimes requires hoisting to support safe transfers.
Alexander’s medical conditions and the design of the house meant a stairlift was not an option. Nor would a through-floor lift be a straight-forward solution because of the property’s structure, the level of disruption and therefore financial implications.
Fran proposed a stairclimber.
An in-depth assessment showed that Alexendaer could transfer from his wheelchair onto the stairclimber with only some support, and was relaxed when going up, down the stairs on the Sella. As Alexander tends to sit cross-legged, the Sella has been accessorised to maintain correct and safe posture, and his comfort. Thus, the stairclimber includes a large seat with a ramped pelvic pad, small head rest, thoracic pad plus a lap belt and dynamic harness to supplement the standard integrated arm rests and seat.
This also means that as Alexander grows and/or his needs change, the accessories can be easily altered to ensure his continued safety, stability and comfort with no need to change the core equipment.
When Alexander is transferred into the Sella stairclimber, the technique and process is similar to that used to transfer him into his functional chair or shower chair. This maintains consistency. If Alexander needs to be hoisted into the Sella stairclimber, the unit’s brakes are applied and it reclined against an appropriate support, thereby replicating a tilt-in-space chair and facilitating good transfers.
Says Fran, “The stairclimber eliminates the risks associated with using the stairs for Alexander and his family. Its versatility ensures it effectively addresses their current challenges and supports Alexander’s long-term needs. The Sella. Along with all accessories, cost less than half of the alternative options.”
The Sella – exclusively from AAT GB Ltd – is now the UK’s biggest-selling stairclimber. Almost every public social care organisation in the country uses them as a short or long-term solution to make stairs safe for people, young an old, with impaired mobility.
The Class 1 Medical Device certified equipment is unique in its sector in that, when the original recipient no longer needs it, the Sella can be prescribed (re-issued) to another user.
When coupled with AAT’s pioneering Universal Seat System, the Sella can accommodate almost every additional postural support the user may need whilst using the stairclimber, further helping make best use of available resources and budgets.
Full details of the Sella stairclimber, including how to book a free, no obligation demonstration or assessment, can be found at: www.aatgb.com/s-max-sella