Friday, June 28, 2013

Getting a person in a wheelchair into a raised ranch house for family dinner?

Question by yussi1870: Getting a person in a wheelchair into a raised ranch house for family dinner?
My mother-in-law is in a wheelchair and we'd like to have her over to our house for dinner. The problem is, we live in a raised ranch. There are 6 steps inside (about 4 feet of rise) to the dining room. We only have about 9 feet of room for a ramp. Any suggestions?


Best answer:

Answer by Shane
i think two planks of wood would work. that is what i did to get my grandma into my house



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6 comments:

  1. My grandfather was in a wheelchair and we would put planks down as a ramp. Yes, it was steep, but with several of us helping, we kept him safe and he got to enjoy family get togethers. When taking him out again, we would walk the wheelchair down the ramp back first. That extra effort put forth to include him meant so much, it was well worth it. Good luck to you.

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  2. Hi.

    You could try to life her out of the wheel-chair then bring the wheel chair in separately.

    Or you could also put wood on top of the stairs to form a ramp.

    Good luck

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  3. You have two basic options...

    1. Short, steep ramps.

    2. Carry her up separately from her wheelchair. (Ideally, using a two-person lift)

    Both have pros and cons and both have a safety risk to you and her. Which you go for will depend on your situation.

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  4. Electric wheel chair will require ramps, regular wheelchair may be able to be lifted up the stairs or pulled up, leaning her back, with some strong assistance.
    Good Luck, ;-)

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  5. Is she able to use a walker or a cane with a transfer belt with two assisting? You don't say how heavy she is. Is she able to bear weight? Is this someone you can ambulate with appropriate equipment and assistance? If so, move her that way and bring the chair up separately.

    If she is large or too heavy or non wt bearing, is it possible to serve the meal in the livingroom or kitchen instead? It may be safer.

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  6. 1...turn her around facing the street and two strong men can pull her wheelchair up the steps.
    #2 sit her in a kitchen chair and two men can carry her
    #3place two 3/4 in plywood sheets on the stairs and two men can wheel her up safely.
    #4 if she is not too large one man can carry her up
    #5 if she is large sit her on the steps....help her go higher with each step...at the top sit her back in the wheel chair.
    It is wonderful of you to have her over. It is so sad wheelchair bound persons lead a lonely life.
    God bless you....Jehovah will reward you for your kindness.

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