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VandaM Asked November 2023

How do aging people manage the New York walkups?

Does anyone have any experience with walk-ups as an aging resident? Perhaps you did not want to move because it's your home - how do you cope?

BarbBrooklyn Nov 2023
From the OP's profile:

"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? "
Lizhappens Nov 2023
Go interview them
sp196902 Nov 2023
Moving is the only option if a person can't manage steps anymore. Home is anywhere you are. It's more that the current home is familiar.

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.
anonymous1732518 Nov 2023
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,?

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lealonnie1 Nov 2023
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".

DrBenshir Nov 2023
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.
lkdrymom Nov 2023
Why do they enable her like that? What happens when one of them can't show up for their shift?
Beatty Nov 2023
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.
NeedHelpWithMom Nov 2023
Did you see the old Jane Fonda and Robert Redford movie, Barefoot in the Park set in a walk up in Greenwich Village?

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.
NeedHelpWithMom Nov 2023
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.

KNance72 Nov 2023
Crawl up the steps on hands and Knees - I have seen it done .

Llamalover47 Nov 2023
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.

waytomisery Nov 2023
IdK
But My mother in law lives in a two story condo and bear crawls up the stairs. 🙄
Beatty Nov 2023
😱
TouchMatters Nov 2023
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.

Gena / Touch Matters

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