Are there any ways to make a basement staircase safer for an elderly couple

[Dung_Beetle]

@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.

[somepumpkin]

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. My post is not an endorsement or recommendation of any kind; I’m just throwin’ it out there.

[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.

[ThelmaLou]

@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?

[Dewey_Finn]

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.

[TruCelt]

@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.