Caretakers Step Up During Planned Elevator Modernization Outages

When Ms. May, a 102-year-old resident of Amsterdam Houses, needs to run errands, she calls her property management office for some assistance. This is because Amsterdam Houses is one of several NYCHA developments across New York City whose elevators are undergoing necessary modernization upgrades. As a result, the elevators have planned outages, and people who need help getting to and from their apartment can access a service provided by developments which involves assistance with stair climber equipment.  

NYCHA’s improved stair climber program equips stair climber operators with comprehensive training and has created a strong volunteer network through continuous recruitment efforts. A centralized system provides up-to-date visibility of stair climber locations, enhancing operational efficiency and ensuring support for residents. This revamped program allows residents like Ms. May to maintain their independence amidst elevator outages. 

Ronald Stokes, a Caretaker at Amsterdam Houses, had just taken the stair climber training prior to the planned outage at his development. The training, which is conducted by NYCHA’s maintenance training professionals (who in turn were trained by stair climber manufacturers), enables the volunteers to safely assist residents who are unable to use the stairs. 

“This young lady – she’s 102 years old, but she’s a young lady – had an appointment, so she requested a stair climber through the manager,” said Mr. Stokes. Ever since, Mr. Stokes and one of his colleagues have been happily assisting her. 

Stair climbers are portable wheelchair lifts for stairs that attach under most standard wheelchairs and can be used indoors or outdoors. They allow qualified volunteers, such as a trained NYCHA staff member, to easily and safely help a person in a wheelchair get up and down stairways.

At Queensbridge Houses, multiple team members have signed up to assist residents during planned elevator modernization work. Supervisor of Housing Caretakers Cheyenne Holley said that sign-ups increased after staff saw how the initiative has helped the elderly and people with disabilities.

Eric Fagin, Ricky Jennings, Shalik Lowman, Timothy Williams, all of whom are Caretakers J, and Lonnie Hick, a Heating Plant Technician and former Caretaker J, have all signed up, making multiple trips around the vast development to assist residents.

Ella Santos, Deputy Director of NYCHA’s Project Management Unit, helped revamp the program and is proud that developments are helping to empower residents with reduced mobility. 

According to Ms. Holley of Queensbridge Houses, residents relish their time with the volunteers and even request specific volunteers. Ms. Holley, who uses a dry erase board in her office to manage the volunteers and the requests, strives to foster a sense of safety and security for both residents and staff. “Residents feel safe with the Caretakers,” Ms. Holley noted, which is reassuring for the Caretakers.

Ms. Santos encourages NYCHA employees to sign up at their developments to help anyone who needs assistance with the stairs – staff interested in volunteering to assist with stair climber services should contact their Property Manager to enroll in training.