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Elderly parents

Temporary access to house via ramp

32 replies

Moel · 16/11/2025 23:35

looking for some pragmatic advice here. My parent’s mobility has declined to the point they can only leave the house in their wheelchair. I’ve spent a lot of time and £££ getting a ramp fitted at their property to accommodate this. It’s a semi-permanent one. Problem is at my house. Parent only comes on Xmas day so I’m looking for a solution that doesn’t cost hundreds and isn’t permanent or semi permanent. I was thinking about loading ramps as to get a specific wheelchair telescopic ramp or suitcase ramp in the length needed would be very expensive. I’m scanning for second hand ones and no joy. Weight wise loading ramps are ok. I guess they aren’t recommended for wheelchairs as there is no groove either side so the chair could conceivably slip off. My
parent can’t push themselves so there would be two people assisting. Has anyone used these for a wheelchair or does anyone have any alternative ideas?

Temporary access to house via ramp
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Seeingadistance · 17/11/2025 22:30

Any churches near you which might be able to help? Especially if they're older or listed buildings which can't install a permanent ramp. My church has folding ramps which we would be happy to lend out when we weren't using them.

Lougle · 17/11/2025 22:39

Moel · 17/11/2025 08:38

@Puffins84 thanks - that’s outside of budget for a one off use. I’m really looking for solutions that are one hundred or under.

https://www.therange.co.uk/p/2-pack-heavy-duty-rubber-curb-ramp/m9797111?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=22769468773-&utm_content=-&utm_term=&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=22765783118&gbraid=0AAAAADFuktzImoJgmu3ONdbxwaDpE8bPB&gclid=Cj0KCQiArOvIBhDLARIsAPwJXOYIFO__8a4xGkJbk6rNtaDRoSilS1eOOESsTc1sNxSSe4IMElh4d1IaAgPSEALw_wcB#5810911

An example, but depending on how high your steps are, this sort of thing is cheap and chips and would work.

margegunderson · 17/11/2025 22:56

Scaffolding planks?

Moel · 18/11/2025 10:18

Seeingadistance · 17/11/2025 22:30

Any churches near you which might be able to help? Especially if they're older or listed buildings which can't install a permanent ramp. My church has folding ramps which we would be happy to lend out when we weren't using them.

Yes, I could do a Facebook shoutout. The church just had a permanent ramp installed. Sadly, these items are sometimes bought then not used for long someone might have one lurking in a garage…

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Moel · 18/11/2025 10:20

This is why I love Mumsnet - I would never have thought of the Range! They seem to have a range of aids (no pun intended).

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Moel · 18/11/2025 10:24

margegunderson · 17/11/2025 22:56

Scaffolding planks?

I would totally do this if I had some! For a one off as long as it isn’t utterly reckless, I would improvise.

I have mailed the company shared earlier - the ramp shows as trade and doesn’t pop up under domestic so I need to find out what the deal is. I’m also suspicious of the low price ((£25 with VAT) for a week as another company has one at £240 a week!

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Moel · 10/01/2026 10:01

Returning to update my thread; I ended up buying this ramp:Telescopic ramp

it was in budget and I chose it as the photo shows it being used to get an electric wheelchair into a car so I thought it would be ok with 3 high steps to the house.

good news - it did work. Other positive it is very slim, and the storage bag pops neatly
in a tiny space. Negatives are, it felt like we pushed this to the limit with my parent. We couldn’t go backwards as the rear brake wheels caught and forwards felt quite hairy. There is no way I could do this alone. It took 3 adults and a child to manage the chair going down/up. If the person in the wheelchair is light then you would probably find it easier. The other negatives are that it is hard to unfold and the finishing is poor with many sharp edges to cut you as you grapple with it. So, it was a solution for a one off home use but not for long term.

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