Medical Conditions

With an age range of between birth to 16, Paediatrics encompasses the medical care of infants, children and adolescents who suffer from physical and/or mental illness. In cases where mobility is affected due to illness or injury, certain measures should be taken to ensure the appropriate level of care.

Paediatrics

With an age range of between birth to 16, Paediatrics encompasses the medical care of infants, children and adolescents who suffer from physical and/or mental illness. In cases where mobility is affected due to illness or injury, certain measures should be taken to ensure the appropriate level of care.

Living in the family home

Where possible, remaining in the family home is the best solution for continued care. To ensure that the child can live comfortably within the family home, home adaptations may be required. Appropriate adaptations should ensure the young person can live as normal life as possible without restriction, with the ability to move around the home freely. The child should not be separated from the family due to the inability to move between floors. 

Home lifts

A home lift is a safe, user-friendly and comfortable way to travel between floors. Many home lifts can be cumbersome and use a lot of space, making a lift impossible for many households to accommodate. Due to the compact footprint of a Stiltz Home Lift, safe movement between floors is possible utilising a relatively small space. With a home lift, the space on the stairs is not compromised and can still be used safely by the rest of the family.


Useful Legislation

Within the Children’s Act 1989 Schedule 2, there are two sections which are relevant to the safety of a child in the home.

Section 6 – Provision for disabled children

(a) to minimise the effect on disabled children within the area of their disabilities

(b) to give such children the opportunity to lead lives which are as normal as possible

Section 10 – Maintenance of the family home
Every local authority shall take such steps as are reasonably practicable, where any child within their area who is in need and whom they are not looking after is living apart from his family.

(a) to enable him to live with his family; or

(b) to promote contact between him and his family,

if, in their opinion, it is necessary to do so in order to safeguard or promote his welfare.

Also within Schedule 2 (Section 17) it states that a sibling of a disabled child should not be impacted by their brother or sister’s disability. An Occupational Therapist would evaluate other members of the household who need to use the stairs, especially children, i.e. a stairlift might encroach on the space to walk up and down the stairs and cause a safety risk.


Notes from our resident Occupational Therapist, Stuart Barrow

“Paediatricians manage the medical conditions of the growing generation. Working with children is rewarding, but it doesn’t come without challenges. Keeping families together should be a top priority where possible. Which is why home adaptation is a common solution.”

Stuart Barrow

Stiltz Homelifts Occupational Therapist and owner of Promoting Independence


Case Study

Four-year-old Matilda suffers from a condition called Sturge Weber Syndrome – a rare neurological and skin disorder which causes learning difficulties, paralysis and seizures.

Read Matilda Callaghan’s Customer Story here – this link will open in a separate window.


“Due to the compact footprint of a Stiltz Home Lift, safe movement between floors is possible utilising a relatively small space. With a home lift, the space on the stairs is not compromised and can still be used safely by the rest of the family…”

Customer Stories and Videos

Spina Bifida

Spina Bifida

Spina Bifida is one of the most common birth defects and occurs when the spine and spinal cord don’t form properly during early pregnancy. It can range from mild to severe and this directly affects the levels of mobility of the person with the condition.

Visual Impairment

Visual Impairment

Visual impairment, also known as vision loss, is a decrease in the ability to see to a degree that causes problems which are not fixable by glasses or contact lenses. In the UK, there are almost 2 million people living with sight loss.

Elderly Care

Elderly Care

With age, many mobility issues can occur. A loss of balance can mean an increased risk of a trip or fall within the home. Combined with weakened bone strength and fragility, a trip or fall can cause serious, long-term health issues. 

Amputation

Amputation

Loss of a limb, whether due to disease or sustained injuries is often sudden and unexpected. This gives the amputee little or no time to adapt their home to meet their mobility needs. Rehabilitation is an essential part of the recovery process and begins soon after the amputation is performed.