Cara Beth has severe arthritis, which affects her ability to walk and live safely inside her home by herself. She uses a cane, walker, and rollator to help her get around. “First, I had difficulty walking, and then I had a stroke that also affected my lower limbs, making it even more difficult to walk,” she said. Cara Beth struggled going up and down the stairs inside her home, and her children got more concerned about her safety.
She fell once, down a flight of stairs, while she was away from home, and that motivated her to consider a chairlift to increase her mobility between the first floor and the second floor, where her bedroom and bathroom are. However, purchasing a chairlift without any financing would have impacted her tight budget. A couple of Cara Beth’s friends who have chairlifts recommended that she call Peak Stairlifts https://www.peakmobility.com, which encouraged her to apply for a PATF loan. “The underwriter, Carmella, explained the loan process to me clearly and was very responsive,” she said.
PATF’s Mini-Loan along with a $250.00 AETNA mini-grant provided Cara Beth with the funding to purchase the chairlift. The loan has a term of 48 months and a 0% interest rate. Without the loan and grant, she says it would have taken her a year or two to save the money for the device.
The chairlift has improved her life at home by making it effortless to get around the house. The assistive technology provides her with the energy and time to do the things she loves, like volunteering at the Caring Ministry of First Presbyterian Church of York https://www.fpcyork.org/ministry, where her daughter is the executive director. The Caring Ministry assists more than 500 neighbors, some of whom are homeless or low-income. Most of Cara Beth’s work is on the first floor, so she does not have to concern herself with using the stairs. “Volunteering gives me good movement and it’s a relief being able to use the chairlift when I get home as I may be tired from moving around while doing this work,” she said. Cara Beth has a lifelong passion for music and was a church choir director for 50 years. She was also a substitute teacher for the York Suburban School District for more than 20 years.
Her children are relieved that they don’t have to fear their mother being alone at home and falling while using the stairs. “My goal is to stay in my home and be as independent as I can. The loan for the chairlift makes this possible for me, creating a safe place where I’m able to navigate things on my own,” Cara Beth said. Her story is a testament to the importance of accessibility and how it can greatly improve the quality of life for individuals with mobility challenges.