Stair climber - The innovative solution

Many people experience reduced mobility and might therefore depend on various mobility aids to live in their own home as long as possible.

For this reason, walking aids, such as walkers, rollators or crutches can be particularly useful for seniors and people with limited walking ability, in order to be able to continue to move independently on flat surfaces.

A lot of people however, live in a home containing two or more floors, which are important to be able to move between. This can be especially difficult for people with reduced mobility and therefore increased risk of falling. In this case, the stair climber is a useful tool that supports seniors and people with limited walking abilities during daily stair climbing.

Content of this article

✓ What exactly is a stair climber?

✓ How does the stair climber work?

✓ For whom is the stair climber suitable?

✓ What does the stair climber cost?

✓ Advantages of a stair climber

✓ What should you look for when buying a stair climber?

The Stair Climber AssiStep is a brand new product within the field of accessibility and mobility aids for people with limited walking ability. The AssiStep supports you when climbing stairs, so you can continue to stay active and keep your independence.

AssiStep is a mechanical stair climber that consists of both a handrail and a solid handle attached to it. The handle moves along the railing system when in use, while the railing system is securely attached to the wall.

The AssiStep has a patented locking mechanism that prevents you from slipping or falling in the stairs. Every time you apply pressure to the handle, it locks immediately, providing you support and safety.

Due to the modern Scandinavian design, the AssiStep fits neatly into most homes, and takes up very little space.

If the AssiStep is not used, the handle can be folded to the side, taking up only 18 cm of space from the wall.

The handrail and handle are made exclusively from high quality and sustainable materials such as Anodized Aluminum and Stainless Steel.

Development process

The idea behind the AssiStep started in 2012 at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), where three engineering students, in collaboration with physiotherapists, users and occupational therapists developed prototypes of a brand new type of stair climber that promotes activity, keeps heart rate up.

That is where the idea behind the AssiStep was born!

After having made 5-6 prototypes in 2012 - 2014 with great feedback from the suers, the product was finally put into production and launched in Norway in 2015. It was later the same year certified by the renowned Technical certification institution TÜV Nord in Germany.

Ascending the stairs

When going up the stairs, hold on to the lower part of the handle:

1. Move the handle in front of you and stretch your arms out to create some space between your body and the handle.
2. Take a step up the stairs while supporting yourself on the handle.
3. Repeat this for each step.

Descending the stairs

When descending the stairs, hold on the the upper part of the handle:

1. Lift the outer edge of the handle (it's not heavy).
2. While the handle is lifted slightly, slide the handle a full arm length in front of you.
3. Drop the handle or apply force to it. You'll notice that it's locked in position, and you can support yourself when taking a step down.
4. Repeat this for each step.

The ease of using something purely mechanical, without the need for buttons and electronics is an eye-opener for many people.

People with limited walking ability and difficulties climbing stairs can benefit greatly from the AssiStep. It's both a support and protection in the stairs, as well as a possibility to maintain mobility through daily activity, allowing to to lose weight, keep your heart rate up or even do interval training.

The AssiStep can for example be suitable for people suffering from:

• Stroke (Example)
• Multiple Sclerosis (Example)
• Cerebral Palsy (Example)
• Parkinsons disease (Example)
• Neuropathy (Example)
• Spinal cord injury (Example)
• Old age (Example)

Or people who are suffering from reduces mobility for other reasons.

The price of the AssiStep depends, like with most home adapted equipment on various factors. Being a purely module based system with no tailored parts, the AssiStep does not have to be individually adapted to fit your stairs. Deciding factors that affect pricing of the system includes;

• Type of staircase (Straight, 90-degree curved, 180-degree curved, etc.).
• The installation conditions, such as wall support and amount of space available in the top and bottom.
• The length of the staircase.
• What accessories you might want to have included with the AssiStep.

In a lot of countries and states, it's also possible to receive reimbursement through the governmental health care system or through your private health insurance. Contact us for assistance in this process.

There are two main reasons how we're able to keep the prices much lower than stair lifts:

1. The AssiStep is a 100% mechanical product, keeping it simple and reliable. There's usually no need for service, and it still works if the power is out in your home

2. The AssiStep is a 100% module based system. This means that we don't need to tailor our handrail system to your stair, but can instead use finished high quality modules and adapt it to your stair on sight. This reduces labor intensive work and makes it possible for us to install the product in your home quickly.

• No building permit required.
• Highly reliable since it's 100% mechanical and works even in the case of power failure.
• Less than 2 weeks delivery time in most areas.
• No maintenance contract required (regular service contracts are however available as an option through most of our distributors)

We always recommend a thorough consultation with a professional surveyor. In some cases it might be a good idea to test the product as well, to ensure that the product is the right solution for you and your loved ones.