Question: I would like to know if you have a wheelchair that can be
taken downstairs easily. My grandfather is living on the 5th floor, and there is
no lift. ~Lilian
Answer: Living in an inaccessible house is risky for a wheelchair user
such as your grandfather, as he could fall down stairs, be unable to use the
bathroom or have to be carried through small doorways. Inaccessible homes cut
wheelchair users off from friends, getting outside and daily errands.
Inaccessibility often forces low-income chair users to become trapped in a
residence with stairs.
You don't say in your email if your grandfather
lives alone or if he has someone to aid with his transportation? I assume that
he lives in an apartment building and if he lives alone he is probably stranded
indoors most of the time. The best solution would be to move him into a
wheelchair-accessible residence.
If someone lives with him and is able to help transport him up and down the
stairs a portable ramp, available in a
rollup or a suitcase design, can be carried and used at each section of stairs
(if they aren't too steep, of course).