After seeing a flyer for Greater Rochester Habitat’s home repair program, Richard and Carolyn reached out to the affiliate to see if they could help make their home livable for the long term and comfortable again. Bob Merz, critical home repair coordinator for Greater Rochester Habitat, says a stair lift was the best way to make the home accessible.
"It’s not a super big house," Bob says. "We could have taken part of the dining room to make a bathroom on the first floor, but then we wouldn’t have room to make a bedroom. They’d still have to climb the stairs to rest. And vice versa: If we tried to put a bedroom on the first floor, then there wouldn’t be space for a bathroom there."
Richard and Carolyn’s home modification was funded in part by a grant from Lowe’s. "When we do these sorts of modifications, we’re always weighing out what we can do to help families within budget," Bob says. "Having the funding from Lowe’s, which would cover the majority of the US$16,500 cost, made the decision to put in the power chair lift a lot easier."
Richard says life is better with the stair lift, and the couple is grateful that they can once again move freely and safely around their home.
