# Are there any ways to make a basement staircase safer for an elderly couple **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [February 10, 2020, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-ways-to-make-a-basement-staircase-safer-for-an-elderly-couple/847754 "2020-02-10T23:26:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2020, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-ways-to-make-a-basement-staircase-safer-for-an-elderly-couple/847754/41 "2020-02-12T16:04:04Z")
> [@Leviosaurus](#): > > Now when he wants to go downstairs, he gets his drill, sits on the seat, shoves the drill into the side and **whizzz** , down he goes with a giant grin on his face. He’s immensely proud of this thing and brags about it to _everybody_. > > That was five years ago, he’s in his late 90’s now, still uses the damn thing, still brags about it. Come _on_, that is freakin’ great. 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![somepumpkin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/7feea3/32.png) [@somepumpkin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/somepumpkin)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2020, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-ways-to-make-a-basement-staircase-safer-for-an-elderly-couple/847754/42 "2020-02-12T16:30:06Z")
I don’t know that it’s practical, but our local park has rubber \*ground \*for the kids to play on. Something like this: [Poured-in-Place Rubber Safety Flooring Surface Installer | AdventureTURF](https://www.adventureturf.com/poured-in-place/). My post is not an endorsement or recommendation of any kind; I’m just throwin’ it out there. ---
**Author:** ![ZonexandScout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zonexandscout/32/544_2.png) [@ZonexandScout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZonexandScout)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2020, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-ways-to-make-a-basement-staircase-safer-for-an-elderly-couple/847754/43 "2020-02-12T17:19:03Z")
Any way they can put a laundry chute in? We had one in our two-story house when I was young and my mother swore by it. Going up the stairs with laundry was a PITA, but it was going downstairs with a basket that created the more unsafe conditions. A chute can be nothing more than a framed opening with smooth wood sides and a discharge a few feet above the basement floor, or a length of metal duct. Ours had a spring-loaded door at the top. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2020, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-ways-to-make-a-basement-staircase-safer-for-an-elderly-couple/847754/44 "2020-02-12T20:50:09Z")
> [@ZonexandScout](#): > > Any way they can put a laundry chute in? We had one in our two-story house when I was young and my mother swore by it. Going up the stairs with laundry was a PITA, but it was going downstairs with a basket that created the more unsafe conditions. A chute can be nothing more than a framed opening with smooth wood sides and a discharge a few feet above the basement floor, or a length of metal duct. Ours had a spring-loaded door at the top. Upthread I suggested a low tech, cheap solution: > [@ThelmaLou](#): > > … > Going down, I’d be tempted to put the dirty clothes in a pillowcase and toss them down. As for bringing up the clean ones, maybe put them in a canvas bag and drag the bag up the stairs? ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2020, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-ways-to-make-a-basement-staircase-safer-for-an-elderly-couple/847754/45 "2020-02-12T21:36:28Z")
My mother just throws laundry down the stairway, so that most of it lands in a basket next to the stairs. And then when going up, she will put the basket on the highest step she can reach, so she’s not carrying it all the way. ---
**Author:** ![TruCelt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trucelt/32/523_2.png) [@TruCelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruCelt)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2020, 5:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-ways-to-make-a-basement-staircase-safer-for-an-elderly-couple/847754/46 "2020-02-13T05:49:06Z")
> [@Dinsdale](#): > > Chain them to the basement walls, so they quit climbing out and bothering you? 😉 > > Somewhat more seriously, at the end, before my parents moved out of their house w/ basement, I believe my dad went up and down the stairs on his butt. > . . . I did this for two years after injuring my back during pregnancy. It’s not that dang hard once you think of it. Just carry a light flour sack towel to sit on so you don’t get dirty. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-ways-to-make-a-basement-staircase-safer-for-an-elderly-couple/847754.md?page=2)