"My name is Vanda and I'm a journalism grad student at Columbia University. I'm working on a piece about NYC walkups and accessibility.
In many cases, New York's tallest walkups are rent-controlled. In other cases, the people who live in those top-floor apartments simply love their homes. I am working on a profile piece about top-floor apartments in walkups - how do the stairs impact the residents' everyday lives? "
I laugh a little at those who have those big homes with several bedrooms and bathrooms along with other niceties. They don't think their needs will change when they get older,?
Either elders must be able to walk up the stairs or they'd have no other choice but to move to an apartment with an elevator. It's not a matter of "want" but of "need".
My daughter's grandmother-in-law lives on the third floor with no elevator. She can't walk. She has to be carried down stairs to go to doctor's appointments. She can't be left alone, so family members take turns sleeping over. She should have moved in with family or into AL years ago but refused. This is what happens when families don't plan. Now they are just waiting for her to die. Is the stress and resentment worth it? NIMO.
Have you seen that film '5 flights up'? Diane Keaton & Morgan Freeman - love 'em both!
I saw it recently for the first time & it got me wondering about this exact thing - when home is upstairs & the legs, knees or heart just can't make the climb.
I guess people either are Planners or Stickers. The Planners move to a new apartment with a lift. The Stickers await a crises, then get moved from a hospital to wherever.. maybe rehab then into a nursing home if they still can't/won't change.
If the rents are subsidised/held it may really impact affordability to both 1. move to a more accessable building but also 2. stay in their familiar neighbourhood.
This would be the same for any city with similar style walkups.
My husband’s grandparents refused to move out of their large two story home.
My grandmother in law wouldn’t even wear sensible shoes. She went up and down the stairs in high heels!
She refused to use a cane or walker when she got older. She considered sensible shoes, a cane or walker for old people. Mind you, she was in her 80’s and extremely vain.
How she didn’t have an accident is beyond me.
I remember running up and down steps when I was younger. Oh gosh, I am 68 years old now and wouldn’t dream of running up and down stairs now!
Of course, stairs are an issue for older people. Somehow, some people are able to manage them.
My daughter blew out her knees in dance. She took years of dance classes and was on her school dance team. She needed surgery. She struggled with stairs as a young person with an injury.
It would be great if every building had an elevator.
VandaM: Perhaps the individual who resides in a New York walk up hasn't planned ahead for their elder years, e.g. the person did not 'want' to move, but now 'needs' to do so.
Perhaps the question is who to contact at the County, State, or Federal level to assist you / whoever you are concerned about.
It is a disgrace in this 'rich' country to realize elders are crawling up their stairs to get to their apartment. We do not put elders / disabled at the top of the priority list; we are capitalism with greed. Capitalism is fine if compassion is part of our country's priorities. Still, as a HUGE VOTING base, as we age, we are not to be ignored. Things need to change politically as more people become disabled and/or acquire dementia needing more / different services.
We are power-ful in numbers. Voting is important. Voicing our feelings and needs is essential.
Depending on the actual situation, it may need to be decided by whoever legally manages the care, to decide if moving is needed / is an option.
"My name is Vanda and I'm a journalism grad student at Columbia University. I'm working on a piece about NYC walkups and accessibility.
In many cases, New York's tallest walkups are rent-controlled. In other cases, the people who live in those top-floor apartments simply love their homes. I am working on a profile piece about top-floor apartments in walkups - how do the stairs impact the residents' everyday lives? "
Unfortunately as you are you sometimes have to give up a lot of things and if you live long enough you lose everything before you finally die.
Don't hold onto who you were, accept where you are at now and make changes to reflect that.
I saw it recently for the first time & it got me wondering about this exact thing - when home is upstairs & the legs, knees or heart just can't make the climb.
I guess people either are Planners or Stickers. The Planners move to a new apartment with a lift. The Stickers await a crises, then get moved from a hospital to wherever.. maybe rehab then into a nursing home if they still can't/won't change.
If the rents are subsidised/held it may really impact affordability to both 1. move to a more accessable building but also 2. stay in their familiar neighbourhood.
This would be the same for any city with similar style walkups.
I think they were 5 or 6 flights up. It’s a cute movie. I saw it when I was young. My aunt would take my cousin and I to the movies every week.
My grandmother in law wouldn’t even wear sensible shoes. She went up and down the stairs in high heels!
She refused to use a cane or walker when she got older. She considered sensible shoes, a cane or walker for old people. Mind you, she was in her 80’s and extremely vain.
How she didn’t have an accident is beyond me.
I remember running up and down steps when I was younger. Oh gosh, I am 68 years old now and wouldn’t dream of running up and down stairs now!
Of course, stairs are an issue for older people. Somehow, some people are able to manage them.
My daughter blew out her knees in dance. She took years of dance classes and was on her school dance team. She needed surgery. She struggled with stairs as a young person with an injury.
It would be great if every building had an elevator.
But My mother in law lives in a two story condo and bear crawls up the stairs. 🙄
It is a disgrace in this 'rich' country to realize elders are crawling up their stairs to get to their apartment. We do not put elders / disabled at the top of the priority list; we are capitalism with greed. Capitalism is fine if compassion is part of our country's priorities. Still, as a HUGE VOTING base, as we age, we are not to be ignored. Things need to change politically as more people become disabled and/or acquire dementia needing more / different services.
We are power-ful in numbers. Voting is important. Voicing our feelings and needs is essential.
Depending on the actual situation, it may need to be decided by whoever legally manages the care, to decide if moving is needed / is an option.
Gena / Touch Matters
See All Answers