Mobility Step

[Onoff]

My Dad is pretty much housebound and only able to walk short distances. Even negotiating a step is a mission. Various mobility issues! He can "walk" but with a frame etc.

 

My brother has had the idea to put a step just outside the back door to halve the height of the step out from the kitchen. This so Dad can "sit out the back for a bit". 

 

Now the ground height to damp course has always been a bit compromised but seeming never caused issues. From the concrete to underside of step is 130/140mm.

The boiler pipe runs under the step too.

 

 

 

My brother's idea was to cast a plinth against the house. I said bad idea ref the damp course etc. 

 

My thoughts were cast it away from the step a tad. I'd wire brush / clean then SBR the existing concrete. 

 

Need also to incorporate a grab rail. Similar to the reflection in the first photo of one I did him years ago.

 

Thoughts?

 

Cheers

 

 

[joe90]

Ramp? 

[SteamyTea]

Would he cope with a ramp?  Lack of handrail with this one is a problem.

https://www.mobilitysmart.co.uk/folding-wheelchair-ramp.html

 

Got my Father one for his last few months, Works well, and can take it to other places.

 

Got one of these by the back door.

https://www.mobilitysmart.co.uk/metal-half-step.html

 

My Mother finds it useful to get out.  Again can be taken anywhere i.e. visiting the pub.

[joe90]

9 minutes ago, SteamyTea said:

Would he cope with a ramp?

140mm over a metre!,! Hardly a slope

10 minutes ago, SteamyTea said:

Lack of handrail

 

19 minutes ago, Onoff said:

He can "walk" but with a frame

🤔

[dpmiller]

the door threshold will be an issue regardless of what you do surely?

[Onoff]

A freestanding step, he'll likely shuffle, wedge his foot under in then fall upending that and buggering his ankle. 

 

It'll work something on the lines of a grab handle on the wall between frame and external socket. With help he lifts one foot over the threshold onto the new plinth. Then he grabs the new handrail, shuffles and puts a foot onto the ground.

 

Rough thoughts are this at the moment (quick sketch with a Sharpie in a newspaper).

 

Stainless studs resin'd into the existing concrete. Existing concrete scabbled and primed with SBR. Step cast. 

 

He's a grabber when he falls so will take anything nearby with him. Similarly he will grab anything to haul himself back up. That handrail has got to be as strong as, maybe even one either side. I'll have to have a rummage as to what Tube Clamp fittings I have.

 

 

One of his ailments is postural hypotension. This coupled with hearing / balance issues means he's very unsteady going from one "level" to another. Just the act of going up/down a step height can end in disaster. 

 

Of course, with the time I take to do anything this could all be moot... 😉

[joe90]

1 hour ago, dpmiller said:

the door threshold will be an issue regardless of what you do surely?

But without taking the door frame out what can you do about that.?

[dpmiller]

23 minutes ago, joe90 said:

But without taking the door frame out what can you do about that.?

not a lot, as a certain Mr Daniels used to say...

[Radian]

10 hours ago, Onoff said:

This so Dad can "sit out the back for a bit". 

Make the area into a small deck?

[Onoff]

3 hours ago, Radian said:

Make the area into a small deck?

 

He's already got the neighbours complaining he attracts rats. Just slings his food scraps and tea bags out the bag door into the concrete!

[Radian]

Pity. Could have been a simple way to bring the surface level to the threshold, hide the ugly pipe & drain and make it a positive feature.

Get him a cat, then build the deck.

[Marvin]

IMHO: Ramp of concrete at most, 1 in 10.

Black tar to wall where rap connects . At least 1 meter wide.

Rail either side. 900 off ramp.

Drill hole through path for rail and concrete in. Other end in wall plates. Your bolt idea on the floor also ok if floor concrete man enough.

 

Good luck

 

M

[Onoff]

6 hours ago, Radian said:

Get him a cat

 

Mice is all ours will catch! Amazed it can move that fast tbh: