We've got a problem.

[conuly]

The plan had been to put a ramp in so my grandmother could get from the basement apartment to the backyard easily.

After much looking around and sighing, it's become clear that there is no earthly way that this is going to happen. Not unless we give up on having a backyard... and even then, it might not happen. It's just too steep.

So now we're thinking "lift". If anybody can give us any advice on this (what sort of lift, are there better options for different situations, how can we afford this), it'd be greatly appreciated.

Comments

[lakidaa.livejournal.com]

I'd need to know more before offering advice, but I know how balls it is when someone's in a wheelchair and needs to get around.

Is the chair motorized? What KIND of lift do you mean? Do you wanna just move grandma and get her in/out the chair, or get something that'd move both at the same time? Are there stairs? How much are you willing to spend; how much would it be used? There's a lot of questions that go into this. v(._.)v

[conuly]

She's not in a wheelchair, although she probably will be at some point, I mean, she's in her mid-80s. Right now she has a walker to get around.

There are stairs, it probably would be used a few times a day in warm weather (but not much in winter, that's why she moved to CA in the first place), and the stairs are absurdly steep.

I don't know how much we're willing to spend. What's the range, do you know?

[lakidaa.livejournal.com]

EXPENSIVE. Medical equipment is ridiculously expensive. If she has insurance, see if you can talk them into getting her a lifty-thingy as a mobility aid.

It looks like, as a starting cost, $1,500-$2,000 is what you're looking at. That's just a stairlift (a chair on a moving track). Then there's shipping/delivery- it's heavy so that'll be a pretty penny- and installation.

A quick google told me the price I just rattled off, so it might be more or less :V

It looks like this is the only type of stair defeater there is; I haven't heard of anything else.

http://www.usmedicalsupplies.com/Stair-Lifts.htm

http://www.stairliftusa.com/ (this one has nice pictures and stuff but is clearly a company website)

[conuly]

She's getting money from the house, and she does have insurance, so now that she's not having the money ripped from her hands more or less it should be possible to swing it... I think.

I'll pass the info onto my sister when she wakes up and we'll call my mother with it, at any rate. Thankies.

[lakidaa.livejournal.com]

Definitely look up medical supplies in your area and butter them up. :V

[conuly]

I'll leave that to my mom. She hates talking on the phone more than I do (you don't want to be here when we try to order pizza! My sister has recently started arguing when we try to make her call....), but she's a heck of a lot better at it.