A platform lift solution was required to create access between two floors of a private home, enabling a severely disabled boy to participate more fully in family activities. Although the parents had successfully renovated a room into a bedroom and a wet room, the stairs leading down into the main dining area and garden posed a significant barrier, preventing their son from easily joining the family for meals or enjoying the garden.
With the help of an occupational therapist who specialises in domestic adaptations, the family explored various possibilities. Due to the layout of the house, the initial thought was to install an external lift shaft, providing access from their son’s bedroom down into the garden. From there, the parents could push the wheelchair back into the home and dining room area. However, this option was considered less than ideal, as it would require the boy to go outside before re-entering the home. The occupational therapist continued researching alternatives and found the Cantilever Platform Lift from the Platform Lift Company, which met all the family’s needs. This lift is installed in a pit at the foot of the staircase, allowing it to remain flush with the surrounding floor when not in use, and rise over steps with the push of a button to overcome the height barrier within the home.
Collaborating with the family’s builder, the Platform Lift Company designed a bespoke Cantilever Lift tailored to the available space. The platform was finished in wood to match the original oak floor and the new stairs replacing the spiral staircase. The lift was installed with minimal disruption, requiring only the creation of a shallow pit for its lowered position. The elegant appearance and discreet functionality of the lift seamlessly integrated with the home’s interior design and architecture. The remote control allows the family to lift and lower the platform, safely manoeuvring their son between different levels while he remains in his wheelchair. The safety kerb that rises during operation prevents the chair from moving off the platform. The successful installation has expanded the boy’s living space within the home, allowing him to participate in family life, with a smooth flow from his bedroom through the kitchen to the dining area and garden. The family now enjoys meals together and can access the garden for sensory activities, transforming their daily lives. The parents praised the lift as a revolutionary addition, both in functionality and its unobtrusive design.
