I have MS and the only thing that brings me joy is running my trains. Problem is there in the basement and I can’t use my legs very well. Getting into the basement no problem, getting out big problem. I haven’t ran my trains in 4 years do to this. But I can’t help but think there is a way around this. I can lower the plat form to reach what I need to, but finding a way back up the stairs has me stumped. I think I can just muscle my way up the steeps but looking for possibley a better way. I can’t be the only one like this. Just looking fore some ideas. We are smart and creative people someone has to have an idea for me?
Have you thought of a chairlift? They are advertised on TV fairly often.
My mother in law used one from main floor to upper.
They are pricey if insurance will not help.
Dave
That is something I thought about but $$$$$ Y KNOW! i keep thinking I’m overlooking a simpler way!
I agree with the others mount a chair lift on the stairs if the layout must remain in the basement . Cost may be a problem. They appear to be $2,000 plus installation.
Perhaps have the layout moved or build a new layout upstairs.
OOPs, deleted, all ready suggested on the post before me. [swg] About moving it all upstairs.
Mike.
Do you have insurance that could pay all or part of the cost?
Just thinking outloud; to move between two levels you need stairs/ladder or ramp.Ladder or ramp woun’t work,brings us back to stairs.To just ‘‘man up’’ and drag yourself up/down sounds like a good way to get hurt.
Are there somekind of state/fed. programs to help? perhaps a preused unit? [chairlift]
It may be in your best interest, to move layout.Rebuild one that is costom built to your needs.
You can allways ‘‘give up’’ tomorrow,as for now keep trying
I have seen some small personal elevators in some houses I have inspected, but I’m sure these are even more expensive than the stair lift. I have seen 1 elevator unit that was retro-fitted into an excisting home.
I’m still thinking that moving the layout, or rebuilding it on the upper level would be the best.
Mike.
I have a friend who moved her mother(80) into her house. The bedrooms are on the second floor. Medicare and it’s add-on virtually paid for the lift and installation. The dealer even did all of the paperwork. If the OP is on some kind of disability or assistance, this should be a ‘no brainer’…
Jim
Contact charities. Lots of companies that renovate houses need to remove the chair lifts when the property is remodelled for the new (not disabled) tennant/owner. I know that here in Florida Habitat for Humanity takes these as donations and will install them for people who need them close to no cost.
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-Kevin
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I have several friends with MS. Some have had little progression and others have faired poorly. I am sorry for your illness.
Assuming it’s not covered by Medicare, how about a Go Fund Me page? You might not want to ask for help, but if they can raise $8,000 for a dog (and they do), why not you? If it helps you enjoy life, people can give freely or not. Facebook could be a help here, a story in the local paper or TV channel would also give you a jump start. If you a veteran that might help. Help from you church, just to spread the word on Facebook.
I have no idea how expensive an elevator is, but it would give you flexibility in the future. Plan for routine maintenance expense.
I installed a stair lift in my old house for my ex mother-in-law to be able to go upstairs. Installing them is actually pretty easy, you provide measurements and the track sections come pre-cut to length, and it’s just a few lag bolts into the stairs to mount them. The mechanicals are all in the chair and base, whioch sits on the track. The one I installed, it just had some contacts top and bottom connectedi with some two wire zip cord, and then a small wall wart at the top (or bottom) which served to charge the battery in the chair when it was at either end. The chair ran on a small sealed lead acid battery, and it had enough juice for several trips even if the power was out.
So what you need is a friend who is at least slightly handy with mechanical things to install it for you. There is often help available to reduce your cost for the unit, as well.
–Randy
SLK
I have a friend who has this. He is telling me that his Doctors are telling him that there is a medicine that is due out in a few months that they believe will cure MS. If that happens I will pass along the info. Do me a favor and send me a PM and I will pass it along then.
YGW