I have been sole caregiver for my husband for 2.5 yrs. He's bedridden, incontinent, vascular dementia, on a feeding tube. We can still have great times and he would like to go out. The local fire department bills us $250 to take his chair up and down, even for a doctor visit.
Where I live we have an organization called Interfaith Community Services and they have volunteers that will come build something like that and you buy all the materials.
You would probably need a switch back ramp and handrails, that does get expensive.
Especially in this economy, everyone is so busy that they are charging an arm and a leg.
Do you have another exit that would be easier to install a ramp of some length?
Have you checked with your local transportation department to see if they have any transportation available that offers assistance getting him in and out of the house? That might be better than a construction project.
One thing to think about, 5k is only 20 doctors visits having to pay the fire department. I would ask the firefighters if they know how you could get a ramp, maybe they would be willing to do it for you.
Best of luck getting this sorted out.
you may be able to rent a hydraulic platform that could be used to move him to ground level. A safe ramp would require one foot of ramp for every inch of vertical rise so 5 8 inch stairs needs 40 feet of ramp. So the lift might be more practical.
This program is part of Medicaid's Home and Community-based Services for the Elderly and Disabled (HCBS/ED), and you must qualify for Medicaid to receive the services. Though you likely do not reside in Michigan, here's a link, for information. I would think that there are similar programs in most/all states.
https://www.payingforseniorcare.com/michigan/medicaid-waivers/choice-waiver-program
Otherwise, the only organizations I know of that provide free services are:
1. Habitat for Humanity
2. Christmas in April or Christmas in Action. I haven't checked those organizations recently so I don't have information on whether there are two organizations or if the name has changed. That's something you could research if you think that might be an option for you.
3. Contact your local county and ask
a. If it has a list of organizations and senior resources. You would be looking for an "adaptive" contractor, i.e., they make adaptations for senior living. I doubt it they would do free work, but they might discount it.
b. If it offers low interest home improvement loans to adaptive upgrading. A neighbor got a new roof and some other areas of the home fixed, and from what the heirs told me, the loan was never paid back.
A county rep also told me that when someone died, the loan was forgiven. The county never made an effort to collect on the loan. And it was a low interest loan.
4. The local Alzheimer's Assn. maintains similar lists, for specific categories. I've found them far more helpful than the AAA, and far quicker.
5. In my area communities hold "health care expos" or "senior expos" at which vendors appear and try to offer their services. I've seen and collected information from adaptive contractors.
Contact local senior centers throughout your area and ask about these kinds of expos. You can get free information, although I don't think you could get free work. But you might get discounted work if the company isn't very busy.
6. Contact your local community, probably the Building Department, and ask if they get HUD funds for emergency repairs. Mine gets HUD grants, on a fiscal year basis.
7. The local Alzheimer's Assn. maintains similar lists, for specific categories. I've found them far more helpful than the AAA, and far quicker.
https://www.lowes.com/pl/Wheelchair-ramps-Wheelchair-ramps-components-Wheelchairs-mobility-aids-Accessible-home/4294642675