On 1/31/2015 1:27 PM, (PeteCresswell) wrote:
Due to neurological issues, descending a staircase is becoming
increasingly problematic for Yours Truly.

Current strategy is going down sideways holding the railing, but a
collapsed knee could defeat that.

If I take a header, seems like the best outcome would be a quick
death... but the most likely outcome would be long term disability.

That being said....

Is anybody familiar with assistive devices to mitigate the risk?

A mini-elevator seems like overkill to me - and also a space-eating
PITA.

Ascending, no problem... worst case a bruised knee or something.

I'm starting to think in terms of some kind of quick-on-quick-off
harness attached to a spool whose speed of unwinding is governed.

You put slip the harness on around the chest, start going down the
stairs, start to take a header, and the inertial brake on the spool
kicks in reducing the header to something more like a straight-down fall
on to one's butt or knees.

Anybody been here?


You need a chairlift. New ones start at about $7000. If you have to turn
a corner then way more. Used ones are available if you look around, but
the lift track must be modified to fit your stairs. There are left hand
and right hand models depending on which side wall it needs to be
located near. You really need someone who knows what they are doing, its
not a DIY job.

I had to have one installed for my wife who was crippled in an auto
accident. We got lucky and found a person who collects them from people
who no longer need them or have passed away; and then sells and installs
them for a modest profit. Used, it cost me $1580 installed.

They run off of constantly charged batteries, so still operate if the
power goes out. The batteries will yield about 9 lifts if the power is
out - so I am told.

The chair folds upward so people can walk by, however moving furniture
or appliances by it is a non-starter unless your stairs are really
really wide. Even folded the chair and track take about a foot of space
next to the wall. So best take care of moving large items from one floor
to the other before installation.

John