There is no doubt that the UK is facing a housing crisis, especially if you have a condition limiting your mobility/ ability to access your existing home. But, without being flippant, or overly simplistic the resources DO exist to potentially HALVE the problem- within DAYS- with just one change of strategy.
According to latest data(1), there are CURRENTLY more than 600,000 empty properties on Council lists. There are 1million people awaiting social housing(2). There are almost 120,00 people with disabilities needing rehousing(3)– an increase of >10% on previous figures.
Organisations such as Action on Empty Homes already acknowledge making use of these vacant properties would have a major, positive impact on our housing crisis(4). And I would stress by properties I mean a house OR a flat, which potentially could further ease the shortage.
Sometimes, it need not be a major cost to so do.
It could be as little as £1000/person or home, and achieved within DAYS(5)….
The thing that would make the difference, that can be achieved for so little and so quickly?
A stairclimber.
Stairs- or our ability to use them- is one of the biggest issues facing people with limiting conditions, whether a short- or long-term problem. Conventionally, the solutions are:
- A stairlift
- A through-floor lift
- Re-purpose the home so the limited person can live downstairs
- Move them
All of these, when applied to houses, incur significant disruption, to the building, the household or both. All of these take time- and we all know the continuing problem of delay in processing and implementation of adaptations.
If flats are included (and there is no differentiation in the long-term vacant property statistics between houses and flats), one has to consider common areas: if there’s no lift, can a stairlift be added? What about the other residents? Would the fixture be abused, vandalised etc?
A stairclimber overcomes virtually every issue, being suitable for almost every staircase configuration and being available in a couple of weeks(5).
It is a stand-alone, mobile, battery-operated mobility aid. It can be supplied with an integral seat or fixed to a wheelchair. Most local authorities have at least one as part of their community equipment.
It does not require structural fixing or alterations. It does not impede the stairway for other users of the house, block of flats.
All it requires is someone who can operate it, to safely transfer the limited person up and down stairs.
The operator need not be tall or strong, even if the person they care for is obese: indeed, one care-giver we know of who uses a stairclimber on a daily basis is under 5ft (1.5m) tall. Our assessment managers will provide appropriate training, whether the stairclimber is a new purchase or re-issued from community stores.
With our stockholding capability, we can deliver a new stairclimber within 5 days of receipt of order. If a re-issue, assuming one is available at the local authority stores, we can be with the client to commission and set up the stairclimber, and train within 10 working days.
Once to hand, it is easy and efficient to operate: a single charge will power 300 steps. When not in use, it can be folded compactly away, optimising available living space. It can even be used out of doors, to help someone overcome steps into their garden, the street, or into the wider community.
I appreciate the solution depends on a number of variables. I accept it is not an answer in every case. But surely we should at least consider better ways to use already available resources, to address the hardship being faced by so many?
Of course I have a commercial interest. But I also hate to see people suffering, unnecessarily, because the “powers that be” do not or will not look beyond the conventional ways of doing things.
By Peter Wingrave, Director AAT GB