‘She couldn’t get out’: Broken lift leaves 94-year-old woman stuck in her room for months

A 94 year-old-woman had to be carried down three flights of stairs at her home by her daughter because the landlord failed to fix the broken lift.

Ivy George, 94, lives in Charleston House in Clapham Common, a four-floor supported housing unit.

The only lift in the building was broken from the end of October until the end of January.

It was then fixed, only to break again within a week. Since March 1 the lift has been out of use once again.

Mrs George’s daughter, Josephine George Hanson, 54, has complained to the landlord, Metropolitan Thames Valley, since October about the broken lift that left her mother isolated in her third floor room.

She claims the specialist chair lift that has been supplied to the building sits on the ground floor unused. 

Mrs George Hanson said: “Neither the landlord nor the care providers want to take responsibility to operate the equipment. 

“I was told that lessons had been learned and if ever the lift was out of action again the equipment would be operational with trained staff available to use it. But that hasn’t happened.”

Mrs George Hanson explained that her mother is immobile, so when the lift is not working, she cannot come down to the social area for lunch or dinner.

Mrs George said: “I do not understand why one day the lift is working and the next day it is not and stays out of action for so long. It is very depressing when you are stuck in the house and not socialising.”

In December Mrs George had an important eye appointment at King’s College Hospital, in Denmark Hill.

Because there was no equipment to get her down the three flights of stairs, her daughter had to help her, holding her up by one side and stopping at each floor to allow her to sit down.

It took them over an hour to get to the ground floor.

Mrs George has also been forced to miss her Silver Socials club, run by the church every Tuesday, and she can’t go outside to Clapham Common, Brixton, or to church.

Over the Christmas period the broken lift meant that Mrs George missed all Christmas activities at Charleston House, as well as the annual trip to Wandsworth for Christmas shopping.

Mrs George Hanson said: “She couldn’t get out. In October they said a couple of weeks then weeks turned into months.

“When the lift was finally fixed at the end of January everyone was totally relieved.”

The broken lift also affects staff and carers who have to carry meals up and down the stairs, three times a day to residents of the four floor complex.

Mrs George Hanson said: “My mum’s quality of life is really important right now. 

“She’s quite cheerful but it is getting her down, and church is a highlight for her and a break for me. When she’s stuck in her room I am with her every day.”

A spokesman for Metropolitan Thames Valley said: “In order to provide immediate support to residents, we have arranged for a stair climber to be used in the block, giving access up and down the stairs for those unable to walk them.

“In light of the problems being experienced, we have therefore taken the decision to invest in a long-term solution – a full overhaul and modernisation of the lift, which will include the replacement of all controls and electronics. 

“Work is scheduled to begin within the next month, and we estimate that this work will take several weeks to complete.”

Pictured Top: Ivy George (Picture: Josephine George Hanson)