Making Life Easier: Help with Steps and Stairs

• Climbing stairs inside your home
• Hand rails
• Grab rails and half steps
• Stairlifts
• Ramps
• Further help and advice 
• Where to buy and hire equipment

 For a quick look at some of the services available for people with a hearing, sight or mobility problem, carers and people struggling to keep their independence, you can watch our 6 minute DVD, which is called Help with social care from Adult Services. You can also watch the 11 minute DVD, which is the British Sign Language version

If you do not have Realplayer, please visit www.real.com  (for free Realplayer download).

This page is aimed at anyone who is having difficulties at home because of mobility problems. In particular, it looks at how you can overcome problems with steps and stairs.

Steps and stairs can be difficult if you have mobility problems. Safety must be your first consideration but there are things you can do.

Listed below are some useful tips on how you can make going up and down stairs easier.

Climbing stairs inside your home

• Make sure all your steps are well lit.
• Keep carpets on stairs fixed down firmly and check regularly for worn patches.
• Never leave anything on the stairs which you might trip over.
• Take one step at a time and don't rush.
• Make use of the handrail. It will improve your balance.
• If one leg is better than the other, lead with the good leg first when you are climbing upstairs. When you are coming downstairs, put the bad leg down first.
• It is not advisable for someone to walk up the stairs behind you as you may overbalance onto them.

Hand rails

• If you have a few steps or a flight of stairs, a rail from the wall to the floor on one or both sides can help.
• If you have a number of steps along a path to the entrance a hand rail on one or both sides can be useful.
• Be careful to ensure that rails or steps do not affect public rights of way.
• If you already have a banister on your stairs, you may find that putting another hand rail on the opposite side will help. Ideally the handrails should extend beyond the staircase at the top and bottom. This will give you extra support as you step off the top or bottom step. Alternatively you could fit a grab rail.

Suppliers of rails can be found at your local hardware stores. Alternatively try contacting one of the Useful Organisations listed below.

Grab rails and half steps

• If you have one or two steps at your front door you may find that putting a grab rail on both sides of the front door will help you to gain balance and give you support.
• A high door step can be made easier by adding a half step.

Stairlifts

• A stairlift may be a solution if you are unable to climb the stairs even with the addition of an extra stair rail.
• Stairlifts can be made to fit almost any flight of stairs. It is important to measure both the stairs and the person who would be using the stairlift to make sure it is suitable and safe to use. There are lots of companies which make stairlifts so it is always worth shopping around. The Mobility Aids Guide  provides information on a wide range of products that could help you to live independently in your own home.
  
  Further information on points to consider when buying a stairlift is available from the Assist UK. or take a look at Stairlift Advisor  website that offers helpful advice on buying a stairlift and provides answers to the most frequently asked questions.

Ramps

• If you are going out in a wheelchair pushed by a carer and there is a step at the front door, it may be easier for you to climb down the first step then get into the wheelchair once outside the house.
• If you are going out in your wheelchair alone or can't manage the step even with the help of a carer, you may be able to replace your step with a ramp. If a ramp is regularly used by someone on foot, a hand rail can be useful.
• It is important that the gradient (the slope) of the ramp is not more than 1 in 12. If you use a wheelchair you will also need to make sure the ramp has raised edges to stop your wheelchair from tipping over the side.
• Most builders will be able to fit a ramp for you. The cost of putting in a ramp will vary depending on the size you need.

Further help and advice

If you need any further information or advice on the alterations outlined on this page, or you have particular difficulties because of disability you can contact Adult Customer Care Team.

Information is also available at the Disabled Living Centre  in Manchester. There is a permanent display of equipment for you to try. The service offers impartial advice about items that can help you keep your independence. The centre is open Monday to Friday from 9.00am to 4.30pm.

Direct Equipment Helpline
(9am to 4pm - Monday to Friday) 0161 839 8383

Age Concern Tameside provides a wide range of services for older people, including a wheelchair hire service. Their First Call Scheme can assist with minor repairs and security measures, together with the fitting of hand rails and grab rails.

Where to buy and hire equipment

Please note that we cannot recommend particular companies. Inclusion on this page does not constitute a recommendation.

This list is not exhaustive. The Disabled Living Centre in Manchester and the Independent Living Centre in Stockport , have details of manufacturers and suppliers of equipment on a national scale.

British Red Cross

The British Red Cross can lend items of medical equipment, such as wheelchairs, bed rests and commodes, to people on a short-term basis.

Manchester South and Central Branch
Bradbury House, 10 Brindley Road, City Park, Cornbrook, Manchester, M16 9HQ
0161 888 8900  0161 888 8901

Manchester North East Branch
Amalfi House, 285 Featherstall Road North, Oldham, OL1 2NH
 0161 888 4893

Help Shop
71 Lees Road, Oldham OL4 1JW
(9am to 4.30pm - Mon to Fri) (9am to 1pm - Sat) 0161 652 2071

A wide range of daily living and nursing equipment is available for purchase including mobility equipment, high seat chairs, continence products, wide fitting footwear and nebulisers. In addition, some items are available for hire such as wheelchairs and commodes.

Mobility Supplies
The Courtyard, Wellington Road North, Stockport SK4 1HT
(9.30am to 4.30pm - Mon to Fri) (9.30am to 1.30pm - Sat) 0161 429 6000

Mobility Suppliers have a wide range of equipment to buy. They also hire out wheelchairs, hoists and beds and have a repair service for certain wheelchairs, scooters and hoists.

Tameside Healthcare
Bentinck Street, Ashton under Lyne (www.thc-tis.co.uk )
(9am to 5pm - Mon to Fri) 0161 330 1446

Tameside Healthcare has a range of equipment to buy and also has some equipment available for hire. They also do repairs to equipment including bathlifts and wheelchairs.

Wheelchair Centre and Invalid Aids
229 Droylsden Road, Audenshaw M34 5ZT
(9am to 6pm - Mon, Tues, Thurs and Fri) (9am to 1pm - Sat) 0161 370 2661/5949

The Wheelchair Centre has a range of walking aids and other equipment as well as manual and electric wheelchairs. Some equipment is available for hire.

Further information is available if you are having difficulties with Bathing.

Contact Information
Send us a Message	Tameside Adult Services Stalybridge Resource Centre Waterloo Road Stalybridge SK15 2AU View local map
0161 342 2400
0161 342 2460
0161 342 2577