stairs

February 8, 2006

Are you in a wheelchair? If so, the trouble with a stair lift is you

don't have your chair with you when you reach the other floor unless you

have two chairs. We have a ranch home, but installed a porch lift (with

a 10 ft mast I believe) to get Jordan and his electric wheelchair from

the first floor to the basement family room. We installed it as part of

a dining room addition, so built a shaft to house it as part of the

addition...sort of a poor man's elevator, but it works great. It was

something like $8,000, but a portion of the construction cost (above

7.5% of income) was tax deductible. Also, if you have a flex plan at

work the portion below 7.5% could be considered medically necessary as

well, and make that deductible. That can put a couple grand back in

your pocket too. In addition, you might find an organization that would

reimburse you for some of the costs, or provide some assistance. I'm

sure they would agree that you need to be able to get out of your

house...if not for social well being they certainly would for safety

purposes!!!!!!!!!! I really think you can get some financial help from

someone. Not being able to exit your house in the event of a fire or

hazard is a big issue!!!!!

Also, there are organizations that have used equipment like this. If

you're not in a huge hurry you might find something around that you

could get cheap. For example, this place has used equipment. We have

one of the PAL's, but I can't remember if it's the 10 ft or 12 ft.. Jay

http://www.electroease.com/Used-Electric-Wheelchair-Lifts.html

<http://www.electroease.com/Used-Electric-Wheelchair-Lifts.html>

Stairs

Hi Everyone,

I was wondering if anyone lives in a two story home or how you all

handle

stairs. I currently live in a two story home and I live upstairs since

that's

where the kitchen and bedrooms are but in order to get out of the house,

I have

to go down about 16 steps. Because of the slope of the staircase,

getting a

ramp is not practical. It'd be too steep. I thought about getting a

chair

lift system but they're pricey ($13,000). My current method of getting

down the

stairs is being carried but my mom refuses to carry me anymore, nor

will she

allow anyone else to carry me down the steps so I'm basically stuck in

the

house. She sees no reason why I can't live the rest of my life couped

up at

home. (It's just so much easier on everyone she says). I've tried to

move out

but finding suitable housing that I can afford has been a problem. I'm

just at

my wits end. I don't know what to do anymore. I suggested I move

downstairs

for the time being till I find housing but she shot that idea down (as

well as

other ideas I've suggested). If anyone has any advice or can help me in

any

way, I'd be really grateful.

February 8, 2006

Shame on your mother for making such suggestions to

you. Like Jay said, aside from social well being

being a huge issue - safety reasons alone indicate

your current living conditions must change. Regarding

it " just <being> so much easier on everyone "

- what a ridiculous thing to say. My life would be

drastically easier if I didn't have to go to work -

but guess what, I do have to go to work. Have

accessible access in and out of where you live is NOT

an option. Perhaps in either finding a place of your

own, or at a minimum, your living conditions at your

parents house must be made universally accessible.

Period.

When we learned of our son's diagnosis, we considered

installing an elevator in our now old house (2-story)

- installation cost of $18 to $24K - but considering

all that was involved we chose to move to a ranch

style (1-level) house. After looking for what seemed

like forever, we decided to just build a new house -

custom to what we wanted. I know of a family that

lives in a split level home, that completely removed

their existing stairs and rebuilt for the

accessibility for their teenage son (with Type 3).

As a parent, I feel absolutely obligated to provide

for the well-being of my family - and your's should as

well. Seems to me your mother needs some serious

counseling to come to terms with some pretty whacked

out ideas about what it is to love and care for

someone. I'm sorry for your current living situation

- and hoping some suitable short and long term

solutions are found. Mitch

--- jondus@... wrote:

> Are you in a wheelchair? If so, the trouble with a

> stair lift is you

> don't have your chair with you when you reach the

> other floor unless you

> have two chairs. We have a ranch home, but

> installed a porch lift (with

> a 10 ft mast I believe) to get Jordan and his

> electric wheelchair from

> the first floor to the basement family room. We

> installed it as part of

> a dining room addition, so built a shaft to house it

> as part of the

> addition...sort of a poor man's elevator, but it

> works great. It was

> something like $8,000, but a portion of the

> construction cost (above

> 7.5% of income) was tax deductible. Also, if you

> have a flex plan at

> work the portion below 7.5% could be considered

> medically necessary as

> well, and make that deductible. That can put a

> couple grand back in

> your pocket too. In addition, you might find an

> organization that would

> reimburse you for some of the costs, or provide some

> assistance. I'm

> sure they would agree that you need to be able to

> get out of your

> house...if not for social well being they certainly

> would for safety

> purposes!!!!!!!!!! I really think you can get some

> financial help from

> someone. Not being able to exit your house in the

> event of a fire or

> hazard is a big issue!!!!!

>

> Also, there are organizations that have used

> equipment like this. If

> you're not in a huge hurry you might find something

> around that you

> could get cheap. For example, this place has used

> equipment. We have

> one of the PAL's, but I can't remember if it's the

> 10 ft or 12 ft.. Jay

>

http://www.electroease.com/Used-Electric-Wheelchair-Lifts.html

>

<http://www.electroease.com/Used-Electric-Wheelchair-Lifts.html>

>

> Stairs

>

> Hi Everyone,

>

> I was wondering if anyone lives in a two story home

> or how you all

> handle

> stairs. I currently live in a two story home and I

> live upstairs since

> that's

> where the kitchen and bedrooms are but in order to

> get out of the house,

> I have

> to go down about 16 steps. Because of the slope of

> the staircase,

> getting a

> ramp is not practical. It'd be too steep. I thought

> about getting a

> chair

> lift system but they're pricey ($13,000). My

> current method of getting

> down the

> stairs is being carried but my mom refuses to carry

> me anymore, nor

> will she

> allow anyone else to carry me down the steps so I'm

> basically stuck in

> the

> house. She sees no reason why I can't live the rest

> of my life couped

> up at

> home. (It's just so much easier on everyone she

> says). I've tried to

> move out

> but finding suitable housing that I can afford has

> been a problem. I'm

> just at

> my wits end. I don't know what to do anymore. I

> suggested I move

> downstairs

> for the time being till I find housing but she shot

> that idea down (as

> well as

> other ideas I've suggested). If anyone has any

> advice or can help me in

> any

> way, I'd be really grateful.

>

> [Non-text portions of this message have been

> removed]

>

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February 8, 2006

My advice is too hit the media and cry out to the public and big business to

help you make your home completely accessible if you're unable to afford it.

Maybe get a friend to do that so it doesn't make your mother freak thinking

you're rebelling (well you should!)

Your mother will have to realize that one day even she will not be able to

manage stairs, so would she want her family to stuff her somewhere she can't

get out of? Likely not eh? So why should you?

Call the tv stations, radio stations and newspapers! It isn't safe to be in a

home u cannot exist from on your own.

Angie

I live in a bungalow now. Lived in a duplex, apartment and basement

apartment.....all had ways for me to leave under my own power.

On 2006.02.07 17:49, DeTannous@... wrote:

> Hi Everyone,

>

> I was wondering if anyone lives in a two story home or how you all handle

> stairs. I currently live in a two story home and I live upstairs since

> that's where the kitchen and bedrooms are but in order to get out of the

> house, I have to go down about 16 steps. Because of the slope of the

> staircase, getting a ramp is not practical. It'd be too steep. I thought

> about getting a chair lift system but they're pricey ($13,000). My current

> method of getting down the stairs is being carried but my mom refuses to

> carry me anymore, nor will she allow anyone else to carry me down the

> steps so I'm basically stuck in the house. She sees no reason why I can't

> live the rest of my life couped up at home. (It's just so much easier on

> everyone she says). I've tried to move out but finding suitable housing

> that I can afford has been a problem. I'm just at my wits end. I don't

> know what to do anymore. I suggested I move downstairs for the time being

> till I find housing but she shot that idea down (as well as other ideas

> I've suggested). If anyone has any advice or can help me in any way, I'd

> be really grateful.

>

February 8, 2006

hi,

i`m not from usa, but still i want to say few words... i`m living on a ground

floor, but still i have 2 steps to porch and about 8 or 9 to our apartment. i`m

on a manual wheelchair, mostly because i can`t have powerchair because of

stairs. we were thinking about building ramp at the back, from our balcony, but

it was rather expensive. same as elevator. so for now my dad is pulling me up

and down the stairs on my wheelchair. when dad isn`t home, two people are needed

to help me. that`s how it works.

your mom don`t have right to keep you home, you are not a prisoner just because

u can`t walk out or whatever. that selfish from her side to keep you home,

because it`s easier. so maybe look for some volunteers who will help u out or

take you to some places?

love & light

patie

February 8, 2006

In a message dated 2/7/2006 5:54:46 PM Eastern Standard Time, DeTannousaol (DOT)

com writes:

My current method of getting down the

stairs is being carried but my mom refuses to carry me anymore, nor will

she

allow anyone else to carry me down the steps so I'm basically stuck in the

house

What do you mean she won't *allow* someone to carry you? Would she

physically intervene if someone you trusted helped you upstairs?

Amy

Wife to Will 11/3/95

Mama to Olivia Isabelle 9/18/03 - she's two!

http://www.babiesonline.com/babies/o/oliviathegreat/

Phineas Maximilian 11/30/05 - he's here!

http://babiesonline.com/babies/m/mama20305/

February 8, 2006

In a message dated 2/8/2006 6:35:16 P.M. Pacific Standard Time,

blueyedaze@... writes:

What do you mean she won't *allow* someone to carry you? Would she

physically intervene if someone you trusted helped you upstairs?

It's more like she throws a fit and I get a huge earfull when I get home.

It's " you're going to break someone's back and you're so selfish because you

don't even care if that happens. We're gonna get sued (since my best friend

usually does it now). " I do think about that sort of stuff. I try not to leave

as much as I would like because I don't want to hurt anyone but sometimes I

just need to get out, you know? I limit the times I go out for this reason. I

spoke to my dad about the situation (it wasn't always this bad since I used to

be able to get up and down the steps with little help) and he's trying to

come up with a solution asap. We'll see.

February 8, 2006

In a message dated 2/8/2006 10:15:45 PM Eastern Standard Time,

DeTannous@... writes:

It's more like she throws a fit and I get a huge earfull when I get home.

It's " you're going to break someone's back and you're so selfish because you

don't even care if that happens. We're gonna get sued (since my best friend

usually does it now). " I do think about that sort of stuff. I try not to

leave

as much as I would like because I don't want to hurt anyone but sometimes I

just need to get out, you know? I limit the times I go out for this reason.

I

spoke to my dad about the situation (it wasn't always this bad since I used

to

be able to get up and down the steps with little help) and he's trying to

come up with a solution asap. We'll see.

Bah. I'm sorry she says crap like that. You're pretty light if I remember

correctly - are they having problems lifting ya?

Amy

Wife to Will 11/3/95

Mama to Olivia Isabelle 9/18/03 - she's two!

http://www.babiesonline.com/babies/o/oliviathegreat/

Phineas Maximilian 11/30/05 - he's here!

http://babiesonline.com/babies/m/mama20305/

February 9, 2006

I think your mom needs to take some humanitarian classes. I also think you

should try renting a room in a house somewhere. If possible, maybe you can find

housing for other people who are in wheel-chairs or who have similar physical

limitations. I know in California we have various places for Room & Board where

you pay rent to a care-taker and they cook meals and keep the place clean, but

you would usually have to share a bedroom with another occupant. I had a bad

experience with that so I would just suggest looking in the pennysaver and look

through the rental ad's in the " rooms for rent " section. Call the numbers,

remember to ask if the room being offered is up-stairs or downstairs. Make sure

to ask about security deposits and utilities and house privileges. I have a lot

of experience in this area. Stairs are quite difficult for me, but I'm not at

the wheel-chair phase yet either so I can still climb them.

As for your mother, she needs to grow a heart. It doesn't matter what is

" easier " or not, it's a matter of what needs to be done. The days are long past

when people could lock up disabled people, throw away the key, and wait for them

to die. I'm sorry if I'm sounding harsh but your mom is being selfish. You

didn't stop being her flesh and blood just because you needed a wheel-chair. If

your mom is too old or physically weak to carry you down, then that's one

thing... but preventing anyone else from helping you is WRONG. I had issues

with my mom and we would fight like crazy, but whenever I needed assistance

climbing a step, a curb, or when i fell down and needed help up, she was the

FIRST one at my side no matter how angry we've gotten with each other. I'm

sorry for ranting but I feel strongly.

Sincerely,

R.

February 9, 2006

If I were in a better financial situation, hell, I would let you move in with me

(if i had my own house, that is.) She is so worried about being sued, ugh,

money matters more to her than the health of her daughter? Doesn't she know

that going long periods without direct sublight is BAD? Our bodies get vitamin

D from the sun to process calcium. No wonder you're only 54 pounds, you're

probably losing bone and cartilage each day. Does she even feed you? I'm

sorry, I'm just wondering. 54 pounds is not a healthy weight for anyone over

age 13.

DeTannous@... wrote: