Anonymous
Post 02/22/2026 15:48     Subject: Mom still doing stairs
I am 75, go for hourlong walks, think I am pretty fit. Just was changing sheets on king bed, tripped on dustruftle, fell between bed and dresser. Landed on side on carpet. Sitting here with ice on bruised knee.
Sobered at how easily stuff happens.
Anonymous
Post 02/20/2026 10:25     Subject: Mom still doing stairs
10;12 again. My parents were still owners of their house. They could have left AL and moved. They moved into AL as snowy winter was beginning, they had several months to adjust. And after that amount of time, they weren't interested in going back. We did a couple visits with them back to the house. We thought maybe it might be a good sentimental thing to do. No talk of moving back. Btw, I am 65. DH and I have overseen the care and eventual passing of 4 elders. I know every situation and every family journey is different. Just sharing.
Anonymous
Post 02/20/2026 10:20     Subject: Mom still doing stairs
Anonymous wrote:OP, you need to find 1 friend. One friend who's moved to AL. Or a sibling. Or an old friend Mom knew from college or high school, "Mom, we need to visit them" And you stop by the office, Mom learns the people there are nice, take a tour. There's a lot of ground work and research that needs to happen and you can not expect her to do it. When the process gets to the point where she's not full-on against the idea, you pressure, "Do this for your kids. We don't want to be worried about you." She will likely adopt this as her reason - that you wanted this, not her. It's ordinary. "I moved here because it's what my kids wanted," but she will adapt. Within a months our parents forgot whose idea it was and were bragging to all who would listen, that it was their "brilliant idea". Honestly, they were happy. And they did not hold on to any memories of how difficult they had made if for us to get them out of their (unsafe) home. Btw in AL, they had more social interaction walking down the hall to dinner, more social interaction, than they would have had during a week in their own home.


Wow. You paint the ideal picture of AL. That's not always the case though.
Anonymous
Post 02/20/2026 10:12     Subject: Mom still doing stairs
OP, you need to find 1 friend. One friend who's moved to AL. Or a sibling. Or an old friend Mom knew from college or high school, "Mom, we need to visit them" And you stop by the office, Mom learns the people there are nice, take a tour. There's a lot of ground work and research that needs to happen and you can not expect her to do it. When the process gets to the point where she's not full-on against the idea, you pressure, "Do this for your kids. We don't want to be worried about you." She will likely adopt this as her reason - that you wanted this, not her. It's ordinary. "I moved here because it's what my kids wanted," but she will adapt. Within a months our parents forgot whose idea it was and were bragging to all who would listen, that it was their "brilliant idea". Honestly, they were happy. And they did not hold on to any memories of how difficult they had made if for us to get them out of their (unsafe) home. Btw in AL, they had more social interaction walking down the hall to dinner, more social interaction, than they would have had during a week in their own home.
Anonymous
Post 02/20/2026 08:24     Subject: Mom still doing stairs
1. It’s actually good for her to keep doing active things. Once they stop, they can’t go back.
2. Consider moving laundry to a closet upstairs.
3. Hire someone to do laundry with/for her weekly at her home.
4. Research going down stairs backwards. It reduces fall risk. There are videos online to demonstrate.
Anonymous
Post 02/20/2026 08:11     Subject: Mom still doing stairs
Make space to get a washer dryer upstairs!! Is there a guest bedroom you can convert?? Part of the kitchen or living room or dining room? Miele has dryers that don’t require venting. Not worth the fall and then hospital and recovery and assisted living, which will end up costing way, way more.
Anonymous
Post 02/20/2026 08:03     Subject: Mom still doing stairs
Anonymous wrote:How about hiring a laundry service?


This. It's the cheapest and most obvious solution. A laundry delivery service or housekeeper.
Anonymous
Post 02/20/2026 08:00     Subject: Mom still doing stairs
An elder are sw reviewed my mom’s set up and helped me with things I did not know.
Anonymous
Post 02/19/2026 23:40     Subject: Mom still doing stairs
I would recommend handrails on both sides of any stairs inside and outside of home. Also carpet such as Berber would cushion a fall. Grab bars in shower it tub and possibly a bench installed in a shower.
A friend described how a smart watch can notify help as well as contact either others so that seems like a great idea or a Medic alert
device.
Anonymous
Post 02/19/2026 22:25     Subject: Re:Mom still doing stairs
Contact your local agency on aging to see if they have a program like DC’s Safe at Home below.

Search: http://acl.gov/programs/aging-and-disability-networks/area-agencies-aging


“The Department of Aging and Community Living’s Safe at Home program provides in-home preventative adaptations to reduce the risk of falls for District residents age 60 and older and adults 18 and over living with disabilities.

Examples of adaptations may include but are not limited to handrails, grab bars, bathtub cuts, shower seats, and stair lifts.”

https://dacl.dc.gov/service/safe-home
Anonymous
Post 02/19/2026 21:59     Subject: Re:Mom still doing stairs
It is easy to get good used stair/chair lifts because many purchase, but use for only a short time. Do that for the basement because she can easily carry then clothes to be washed on her lap while riding the chair. Agree about having an OT assessment to work with her on getting used to new chair and assessing other possible issues. For the step in the family room, if a railing isn’t enough, be very careful with a ramp. Depending on positioning, it could actually be a tripping hazard from the side. Also look at front and rear home entrances if there is a step up. Handles to grasp can be helpful there.
Anonymous
Post 02/19/2026 21:48     Subject: Mom still doing stairs
People fall in assisted living and nursing homes too, andIwouldratherstay home longer when possible. I would focus on handrails and either laundry service or moving the washer and dryer. Carrying a laundry basket on the stairs is a risk she can avoid if you can figure out a plan she's OK with.
Anonymous
Post 02/19/2026 21:45     Subject: Mom still doing stairs
It’s actually good for her to keep using the stairs, even with the risk of falling.
Anonymous
Post 02/19/2026 21:24     Subject: Mom still doing stairs
Let her go out how she wants to go out. If she is willing to outsource laundry, great. If not, and she dies lying at the bottom of the stairs, she went how she wanted to go — living her best life in her house making sure her towels were just like she wanted them.
Anonymous
Post 02/19/2026 21:23     Subject: Re:Mom still doing stairs
I’m sure there is some room on the main floor for a washer dryer. They don’t need to be in a dedicated full size laundry room. A bathroom or closet on an exterior wall so you can run the vent.