Although Obama might tax you extra for it. For some reason, he doesn't like Batman.
Posted on 09/22/2009 6:09:56 PM PDT by Blueflag
Fellow FReepers -- We are going to move my aging parents into the finished ground floor of our home. To make this work best we want to install a residential elevator into our existing structure. Architecturally, this is not hard to do, as there are several locations in the home where we can easily fit the 'column' of the lift.
BUT ... we don't have the first clue of what this might really cost us.
Who has done this? ... and can shed light on the REALISTIC costs of putting in a lift capable of handling my mom in her wheelchair and my dad assisting her.
Many thanks.
Ouch. $60K is above tolerance. I have seen that you can really add in lots of options, and we’ll stay basic. We can use the kind that either DO or DON’T require an equipment room, as we have a good deal of space on the first floor.
Ramp won’t work due to slope of the yard and other factors. When we built the house 12 years ago we designed the first floor for handicapped access and use ... but didn’t think far enough ahead to put the elevator in then. But we also delayed the cost til now.
No need really. The first floor is already finished out for ADA compliance. totally flat, 36” doors, hi-rise commode, zero-entry shower.
Our only BIG new expense is this elevator. Can’t see us ‘moving’ for less.
Cool. I’ll check it out.
Could you use a lift rather than an elevator?
Good insight. Thx. $20 - $25K installed is our ‘guesstimate’ from looking around on the internet. Below $20K the options look insufficiently ‘robust’ for our tastes. We’ll see!
We can look at stair lifts again, but my Mom is getting to the point where she really can’t walk, and my dad is too frail to move her SAFELY at the top of the stairs to a wheelchair. Safety is what shied us away from stair lifts. We can be convinced though.
The $28K fihure is in line with what we have heard about ‘nicely finished and trimmed’ units. thanks.
Patience is a virtue “al” ;-)
Might it occur to you that I might step away from the keyboard for a bit?
FReepers have never let me down, and I always thank those who contribute.
I posted the vanity at ~9 and came back to it at 9:45 or so. Is that rude in your book?
al — I checked out the site. Thanks for the link.
How about those chairs that go up and down the stairs? Got to be cheaper than an elevator.
Although Obama might tax you extra for it. For some reason, he doesn't like Batman.
They are, but the SAFETY concern is what happens at the top of the stairs — transferring Mom from the stair lift to her upstairs chair. If *I* am there, that can happen safely. but if it’s just my Dad, it can’t be safely completed.
al — on your $30g add on, was that for just two floors? Was that hydraulic? Fancy wood trim?
Just curious.
$30g is reasonable, but seems to be towards the mid-to-high range on simple home elevators for two floors.
Thx.
There’s another alternative: You could move downstairs and give them the upstairs. It might be difficult, but it’s temporary, after all.
It sounds like you really need for your Mom to stay in her wheelchair. Getting on at the bottom might be fairly easy, but off at the top is a little bit more tricky and takes some maneuvering,
If your Mom can’t walk a couple steps, the stairlift is probably not the best solution, especially at the top...safety could indeed be an issue.
I think, just from watching my folks, that an elevator would be a better solution for your folks.
Check if a platform can be installed that will securely lock the chair in place.
Thanks “mad” .. but our challenge with these is what happens at the top of the stairs. The stair-rider has to be sufficiently mobile to SAFELY step of the stair glider. Our concern is that Mom can’t do this, and could fall down the stairs.
See their pic from their website, and imagine the action at the top of the stairs.
http://www.tkaccess.com/images/levant2.jpg
I have to agree. My Mom has bad knees and faltering balance. Her greatest fear is falling, breaking a hip, and dying in a hospital. Whatever we put in MUST allay her fears. (and ours, as the risk of her falling is real.)
We need to keep her in her seat between floors.
Thx.
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