Wheel chair ramp
By suspenseful
@suspenseful (40193)
Canada
March 6, 2012 4:33pm CST
I still have my wheelchair ramp even though now my husband is dead and was wondering whether someone asked you if yoo were going to remove the ramp. Of course, that also might include changing the bathroom baack to non handicapped status. I mean we paid a lot of money to put it in and even if we did get a handicapped rebate for doing so, if I went and had it taken out, I would still have to pay for it and there is no rebate for taking out a ramp. Besides it is easier for someone who has a broken leg or in a wheelchair to get into my house. There is a friend of ours on crutches, and there is a young man who had a work accident and he is paralyzed. So I was wondering whether for those who had handicapped members of the family who are no more, whether you had people inquiring if you were going to remove the handicapped access now they are no longer needed supposedly.
6 people like this
14 responses
@wilsongoddard (7291)
• United States
6 Mar 12
I haven't been in that situation, but my inclination would to be to leave things as they are. It does make your house more accessible for visitors such as the young man whom you mentioned. If and when you decide to sell your home, those features may be seen as an asset by a potential buyer.
3 people like this
@suspenseful (40193)
• Canada
7 Mar 12
I was born in Scotland, so I am a bit stingy and think that it would be easier on visitors, especially ones who cannot get on as well. I do not intend to remove the ramp, and I often wonder why people think that after the person who needed it is no longer there, that you will go and take it down. To me, it seems a rather silly question to ask.
@suspenseful (40193)
• Canada
8 Apr 12
Even if I wanted to, could not afford it. And I doubt that I would get a government rebate for doing so.
@suspenseful (40193)
• Canada
7 Mar 12
I feel the same way. There is no need to take it out and besides, it is hard here to make a house handicapped friendly with the cost and all that. Even with getting the deductions,we had to use all of my husband's registered retirement money that he had saved to do it, so now all I get besides the government pensions (that you are supposed to feel guilty about) are the survivor benefits. That means I would have to pay someone to remove it and of course there would be no deductions for that. Even from a practical and financial idea, that seems rather stupid to do so.
@lilaclady (28207)
• Australia
6 Mar 12
What is wrong with leaving it there, you yourself may need it one day, seems silly to me to remove it when one day who knows you may need it again, besides it could be a good selling point for the house in the future.
@suspenseful (40193)
• Canada
7 Mar 12
Most of the houses have at least one step up and are not level to the ground, so if someone is even a little handicapped, needs a cane, then it would be feasible for a ramp even one of those small ones. I do wonder whether the reason they do not make houses with street entrances because they want all of us to move into Senior Apartments when we get older, those of us who cannot afford to move to Florida. Just wondering about that.
@GardenGerty (158350)
• United States
7 Mar 12
No, never had that happen. I would not do it, anyway. It can be easier and safer to use a ramp even when not handicapped. There is a ramp at my brother's church and at the parsonage. Right now no attendees are in wheelchairs, but it still is easier to use the ramps a lot of the time.
2 people like this
@suspenseful (40193)
• Canada
8 Apr 12
I have a bad knee and it is easier going down a ramp then down the stairs, but of course, being one who wants to strengthen her knee, I go down the steps and use my bad leg, but of course there has to be banisters. With a ramp there is no problem. Also easy to get a shopping cart up especially after one bought a clothes rack or something that is top heavy.
@jillhill (37354)
• United States
6 Mar 12
My friends aunt just passed and she had all the handicapped things still in tact when they sold the house...and that was a huge selling point....the bathroom especially....they bought the house because it was ready for when they got older! I wouldn't take it out if you don't want to..
2 people like this
@suspenseful (40193)
• Canada
7 Mar 12
I do not intend to sell the house, but even so it seems rather silly to revert the house back to what it was - the bathroom too small, etc. Mind you I wish that there had been a small window in the bathroom as it was decades ago because then I would not need to turn on the light every time I went to the toilet, or had shower, but I guess when they made it small, they eliminated the necessary things that save energy.
@joystick (1675)
•
7 Mar 12
My friend has had a ramp done and it is great if you have a pushchair, plus she has the rails.Like she was saying, when her mum gets to old and her husband that they are unable to walk, then it will be great.I do think that it is an asset to any house.She also has a wet room that is designed for her and also a stair lift.All plus points I think for any person.It worked out that she never had to pay for any of the work that she had done, so that was better than moving to a ground floor house, as she would have had to sell her first.
2 people like this
@suspenseful (40193)
• Canada
10 Mar 12
I have one of those shopping carts for when I have to walk someplace and do not want to pay the shipping charge. It s easy for me to take it up the ramp and not having to go up the stairs for instance when I bought a mirror or something breakable. I have a couple of friends who are a little older then me and who live in a Señor Aartment and they have to take theirs to their front door, then down the hall, to the elevator, open the elevator, go to the main entrance and walk with it to their car and it doe get slippery.
@Thoroughrob (11742)
• United States
7 Mar 12
I would not remove it, at least until it needs repaired. It is so nice to be able to to to someones house that we can actually get my son in the door. You may find you get a few visitors, along with the fact that you never know when you may need it. They are probably only asking because if you are getting rid of it, which there are a lot of people that would, because they are in need of one, or because they know someone that is. I will not undo what we have already done. In fact, I keep the equipment that my son outgrows until I find someone that can use it. It saves them money and I will not just donate it to some agency that will put it in storage, and probably throw it out at some point.
1 person likes this
@Fishmomma (11377)
• United States
6 Mar 12
I would leave it in now. One of my friends recently sold her house and she received more for her house because of the ramp. The new owners are grateful to not have to put one in, as the lady is in a wheelchair.
1 person likes this
@ElicBxn (63272)
• United States
7 Mar 12
I put in a concrete ramp when I remodeled back in 1999. I also got one of the bathrooms more accessible, I honestly announce to any that ask that I plan to die in this house and I might as well make it accessible NOW as later!
That's what I would tell anyone who asks, that I am leaving it accessible because I might need to later.
1 person likes this
@suspenseful (40193)
• Canada
9 Apr 12
I do not intend to go into a seniors apartment and if I were to move, it would because I would be moving to another city in another province and I would be buying a house the same size or larger and of course that would be to be close to someone. There is little chance even of a nice widower proposing to me and we buying a house together, so I am here and the ramp comes in handy.
1 person likes this
@Rosekitty (19368)
• San Marcos, Texas
14 Apr 12
Since this ankle brake is my 2nd on it in two years i sometimes still use the wheelchair cause i don't know how long this ankle will take if at all it ever will be the same..I doubt it..i have so much respect for people in wheelchairs all the time..it was very hard going to the bathroom since the hallway, bathroom and doors weren't made accessible for a wheelchair in this house. I'm so proud of you for doing what you did when you remodeled..Smart move hun!..You deserve a brownie for that!
2 people like this
@Rosekitty (19368)
• San Marcos, Texas
15 Apr 12
Hahaha..a perfectly good insane one..heeheee
2 people like this
@maximax8 (31053)
• United Kingdom
7 Mar 12
I believe that it would be fine to keep the ramp. It will be useful for a friend in a wheelchair on crutches. Many people in life brake a leg and are happy to see a way to getting in your home that is easy. I have in my home a wheelchair ramp and a wet room for a disabled person.
1 person likes this
@suspenseful (40193)
• Canada
13 Apr 12
That is good thing. There are people who do get into accidents and those like my husband who had als and I remember when I was in my twenties, a man who had ms and was in wheelchair. Not all those people want to go into homes for the disabled. Some of them like their privacy so being able to go visit a private home with a ramp and even having one made for themselves is a good thing.
@sid556 (30960)
• United States
7 Mar 12
I've never been in that spot but if I were, I'd ignore such questions. In my opinion, EVERY building should have handicapped access. Even if the residents are not handicapped, they may know people who are even if temporarily. I know people that are handicapped and it is so hard on them to not be able to visit certain people due to the inaccessability of the place. Towards her end, my mom could not visit me because of my stairs. Every place should be set up to be safe for handicapped.
1 person likes this
@suspenseful (40193)
• Canada
11 Apr 12
This is more than a simple ramp. Ido think there should be street entrance for people. They can build stairs inside a building and elevators. And there are some places where they cannot even out that chair; where somoene sits down and they go up to the next floor.
@Rosekitty (19368)
• San Marcos, Texas
14 Apr 12
Since i broke my ankle for the 2nd time in two years i sometimes still use the wheelchair and i have deep respect for anyone who uses it fulltime..i just wish my house and front porch was wheelchair accessible..so scary since i never want to fall again!
1 person likes this
@suspenseful (40193)
• Canada
14 Apr 12
I am thinking of the cost. It cost a lot of put it in and we did get a rebate back from the government. We will not get a rebate by removing it and also it is specifically designed for your house. And of course there is the visiting aspect - those who are not allergic to the cat.
@suspenseful (40193)
• Canada
10 Mar 12
It is so that the person in a wheelchair can get into a house without having someone lift them up the stairs. IT is useful not only for that, but if a person who has a bad leg wants to buy a house, he is not restricted to houses at ground level and in many case the houses with ramps will have an elevator inside.
