Reducing the risks associated with using the stairs is incredibly important for people over sixty-five, because a fall on the stairs is the most common cause of hospitalization and accidental death amongst this group. It might be easy to think that the stairs can just be avoided and many decide to take this route, but this is neither convenient nor practical. This is because avoiding the stairs also means avoiding a large portion of your home and also usually requires you to drastically rearrange your home.

People who use stair lifts are at a much lower risk of falling, because the stair lift does all the work of climbing the stairs. All the person must do is sit back and relax as they are carried up or down the stairway. Of course a few lifts are available that use small platforms called perches instead of chairs. Since the platform requires the occupant to remain standing, most people are advised against using this type of lift, unless it is necessary for medical reasons. To help increase the safety of perch lifts, most have several places the rider can hold onto and some even have a waist-high support that the rider can lean against as they move up the stairs.

The one group that is most effected by falls down the stairs is the group of people who are over sixty-five. This group represents a large portion of Americans and makes up more than forty million people. Half of those who are over sixty-five also suffer from diseases like arthritis or Alzheimer’s, which can make using the stairs difficult and often times dangerous. To help reduce the risk of falling down the stairs, many people use stair lifts.

A new rule covering the use of mobility scooters on the Tyne and Wear Metro has been introduced by Nexus following two accidents in the last year. It requires scooter users to travel at all times with a companion able to guide and assist them safely when getting on and off the trains.

This rule does not apply to electric wheelchairs, for which existing regulations and restrictions will continue to apply.

Nexus is the Tyne and Wear Passenger Transport Executive. Bernard Garner, Director General, said: “We’re changing the rule on using mobility scooters on Metro for the safety and comfort of all passengers, including scooter users themselves. It’s not permanent but will stay in place until a safe alternative can be found.”

The change in rules follows two recent incidents in which mobility scooters have struck the opposite doors after boarding Metro trains, with the users falling through on to the track and needing hospital treatment as a result. The second of these occurred last week at Howden station and is now being investigated by Nexus and the Railway Inspectorate.

Metro train doors are designed to withstand a force of one metric tonne before opening outwards, but these incidents have shown that mobility scooters are capable of applying a force in excess of that on impact.

A reader of Mobility Today’s web magazine said: “I use my mobility scooter on the Tyne and Wear Metro operated by Nexus and access for scooter and wheelchair users in excellent. But this knee jerk reaction will cause myself and others - who regard ourselves as competent and are insured - serious inconvenience.”

Nexus has confirmed that companions can travel free with mobility scooter users who have a Gold Card.