Case study how a Home Lift improves Lives
🏠 Case Study: Reducing Falls with a Home Lift in Stafford
How a Through-Floor Lift Transformed Safety, Independence & Peace of Mind
Falls on stairs are one of the biggest hidden dangers in UK homes — especially for older adults. For many families, the staircase quietly becomes the most hazardous place in the house.
This detailed case study explores how a retired Stafford couple dramatically reduced their fall risk, regained independence, and avoided a potential move to residential care — simply by installing a home lift with DHG Services.
If you’re researching whether a home lift is worth the investment, this real-life example shows the powerful difference it can make.
👵 Background: Meet Mr. & Mrs. Turner
Mr. and Mrs. Turner are in their late 70s and have lived in their two-storey home in Stafford for over 35 years.
Like many UK couples, they:
- Raised a family in the house
- Built memories across both floors
- Wanted to remain in their home long-term
However, age-related mobility changes began affecting daily life.
Mrs. Turner’s Condition
- Severe arthritis in both knees
- Reduced joint flexibility
- Pain when climbing stairs
- Increasing fatigue
Mr. Turner’s Health
- Mild stroke two years earlier
- Ongoing balance issues
- Reduced confidence on stairs
- Primary carer for his wife
Neither wanted to move. But the staircase was becoming a daily challenge.
Modern lifts from DHG Services are specifically designed to help reduce the risk of falls while supporting safe and independent movement around the home. As mobility needs change, stairs and level differences can become one of the biggest hazards, increasing the likelihood of slips, trips, and injuries. By providing a smooth and secure way to travel between floors, modern lift solutions remove these risks entirely.
Today’s lifts are built with advanced safety features, including gentle start and stop technology, safety sensors, secure platforms or seating, and easy-to-use controls. These features work together to create a stable and comfortable journey, giving users confidence every time they move between levels.
In addition to safety, modern lifts are designed to be convenient and user-friendly, allowing individuals to maintain their daily routines without assistance. Whether it’s a stairlift, through-floor lift, or home lift, each system is tailored to suit the user and property, ensuring maximum comfort and practicality.
At DHG Services, we focus on delivering lift solutions that not only improve accessibility but also enhance quality of life. By reducing the risk of falls and making movement easier, our modern lifts help you stay mobile, safe, and independent in your own home.
⚠️ The Challenge: When Stairs Become Dangerous
1️⃣ Daily Stair Use
Their bedroom and main bathroom were upstairs.
This meant:
- Multiple trips daily
- Carrying laundry
- Accessing storage
- Night-time bathroom use
Even routine movement required navigating a full staircase several times per day.
2️⃣ High Fall Risk
Research shows:
- 1 in 3 adults over 65 falls each year
- Stairs are one of the highest-risk areas in the home
- Stair-related falls frequently result in hip fractures
- Recovery times for older adults are significantly longer
In Mr. and Mrs. Turner’s case, risk factors compounded:
✔ Arthritis
✔ Balance instability
✔ Carer strain
✔ Reduced reaction speed
✔ Fatigue
One slip could have meant hospitalisation — or worse.
3️⃣ Emotional Impact
The physical risks were only part of the issue.
Mrs. Turner began avoiding the upstairs entirely.
This led to:
- Sleeping downstairs occasionally
- Feeling dependent
- Reduced confidence
- Emotional frustration
- Anxiety around stairs
Mr. Turner, meanwhile, felt:
- Fear of falling while supporting her
- Increased physical strain
- Worry about what would happen if they both fell
The staircase had become a psychological barrier as much as a physical one.
🛗 The Intervention: Installing a Through-Floor Home Lift
After researching options, the Turners contacted DHG Services, a Stafford-based home lift specialist.
They explored several options:
- Stairlift
- Curved stairlift
- Through-floor lift
- Compact home lift
After a free consultation and home survey, they chose a through-floor home lift.
🏗️ Installation Overview
The selected lift required:
- A carefully positioned floor aperture
- Minor structural trimming
- Electrical connection
- Safety certification
Installation Timeline:
- Consultation & survey
- Planning & design approval
- Pre-installation preparation
- 4-day installation period
- Final safety testing & handover
The entire process from initial consultation to handover took approximately 6 weeks.
✅ Immediate Outcomes
1️⃣ Instant Risk Reduction
The most immediate impact?
No more stair climbing.
The lift:
- Eliminated daily stair use
- Removed the primary fall hazard
- Reduced physical strain
- Removed reliance on handrails
Stair-related falls were effectively eliminated from their daily routine.
2️⃣ Increased Independence
Mrs. Turner could now:
✔ Access the bedroom independently
✔ Use the bathroom without assistance
✔ Retrieve items upstairs
✔ Maintain her normal routine
Mr. Turner no longer needed to physically support her on the stairs.
That reduced his own fall risk significantly.
3️⃣ Improved Mental Well-Being
Within weeks, both reported:
- Reduced anxiety
- Increased confidence
- Better sleep
- Greater freedom of movement
Instead of avoiding rooms, they regained full access to their home.
4️⃣ Avoiding a Move to a Bungalow or Care Facility
Before installation, they had begun discussing:
- Selling their home
- Downsizing
- Moving to a single-level property
The lift changed everything.
They were able to remain in the home they loved — safely.
📊 Supporting Evidence: Why Home Lifts Reduce Falls
Statistics in the UK show:
- Falls are the leading cause of hospital admissions in adults over 65
- Hip fractures often result from stair falls
- Recovery from hip fractures can take 6–12 months
- 1 in 5 patients never regain full independence
By eliminating the need to climb stairs, a home lift removes:
✔ The fall hazard
✔ The risk of misjudging steps
✔ The danger of carrying items upstairs
✔ The danger of fatigue-related slips
A home lift doesn’t just reduce risk — it removes the staircase from the equation entirely.
🏠 Why They Chose DHG Services
Mr. and Mrs. Turner chose DHG Services for several reasons:
✔ Local Stafford-Based Company
✔ Nationwide experience
✔ Professional installation team
✔ Transparent pricing
✔ Wide lift range
✔ Aftercare support
They felt reassured dealing with a real, local specialist — not a remote call centre.
🚪 What DHG Services Offers
DHG specialises in bespoke lift solutions, including:
🔹 Aritco Home Lifts
From Aritco, these lifts combine Scandinavian design with energy efficiency.
🔹 Altura Lifts
Luxury finishes, smooth operation, and long-term durability.
🔹 Pneumatic Vacuum Lifts
Compact, futuristic lifts requiring minimal structural work.
🛠️ DHG Services Installation Process
Step 1: Free Consultation & Site Survey
Step 2: Design & Planning
Step 3: Structural Preparation
Step 4: Installation (2–5 days)
Step 5: Testing & Handover
Typical full process: 4–8 weeks
💷 Is a Home Lift Worth the Investment?
Consider the alternative costs:
- Hospitalisation from fall injuries
- Rehabilitation
- Loss of independence
- Moving costs
- Care home fees
Compared to those risks, a home lift is often:
✔ Safer
✔ More cost-effective long-term
✔ Emotionally reassuring
✔ A property value booster
📈 Long-Term Benefits
| Benefit | Impact |
|---|---|
| Fall Reduction | Eliminates primary stair hazard |
| Independence | Full access to home |
| Carer Safety | Reduces lifting strain |
| Mental Health | Less anxiety |
| Property Value | Increased accessibility appeal |
| Future-Proofing | Age-in-place capability |
📞 How to Contact DHG Services
📍 2 Gunnell Close, Stafford, ST16 1AE
📞 01785 296 640
📧 hello@dhgservices.co.uk
They offer free, no-obligation site surveys.
🔑 Key Takeaway
Installing a home lift can:
✔ Dramatically reduce fall risks
✔ Restore independence
✔ Improve emotional well-being
✔ Prevent unnecessary relocation
✔ Support aging in place
For Mr. and Mrs. Turner, it wasn’t just an upgrade.
It was peace of mind.
If stairs are becoming a daily challenge in your home, the safest step forward may not be another step at all — it may be a lift.
For more mobility insights, safety advice, and real-life case studies, check out our blog for regular updates.
DHG Services works directly with suppliers and manufacturers to ensure the best installation possible every time. Our range of platform lifts, Home lifts, through Floor lifts, Dumbwaiters and Stair lifts are available throughout the UK. We also offer the full Stiltz range, aritco home lifts and motala.
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