Stairs
If you find it harder to get up and down the stairs, you should go and see your doctor. You may have an illness or another medical condition, which they can treat quickly and easily.
If your problems with stairs are more long term, you need to think about how to work around them.
What you can do to help yourself
Ensure you are sure-footed and able to go up and down the stairs safely, by:
- Making sure your stair carpet is fitted properly, and not worn out
- Making sure your stairs are well lit, so you can see the steps clearly and don't fall
- Getting banister(s) or hand rail(s) fitted
- Moving any loose rugs or mats away from the top and bottom of the stairs
- Keeping the stairs clear
- Painting the bottom basement step white, so you know where the floor begins
- Carrying small loads, so as to not overload yourself
- Making sure you can see where you are going
If you have some tips that help with stairs, let us know and we can publish them here.
Making changes to how you use your home
If you don't think that these ideas will work, then you may need to make some changes to how you use your home.
Reduce the number of times that you go up and down the stairs during the day. If your toilet is upstairs in your house, fit a commode downstairs, perhaps under the stairs. You can buy these from mobility shops or we can loan you one.
Can someone help you move your bed downstairs, so that you don't need to go upstairs at all?
Adapting (building work) or moving home
Most stairs can be fitted with a stairlift, but if your home can't have one, then it may be possible to have a lift put in.
This type of home adaptation can be expensive. You need to make sure that there is a good breakdown service, and that it is the best, safest option for you. Before you order a stairlift, we can advise you about the best options. We may also be able to help you with the costs.
Is your home is right for you, or would a bungalow or ground floor flat be better? Our Housing Choice team can help you find the right home. They can also help you with moving.
What we can do to help you
If you want more advice or you feel that you need more support, use our online enquiry form or contact us. We may be able to assess your situation and discuss the type of support you need.
Who else can help?
- Age UK sells mobility equipment, including stair lifts
- Disabled Living offers independent advice and information as well as having items of equipment for sale
- Helping Hands handyperson scheme can help with small maintenance jobs around the home - fitting new lightbulbs, banisters, hand rails, guttering, etc
- Housing Connections Partnership can help you with home adaptations, maintenance and with moving home
This page was last updated on 18 November 2011
