http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20051004/od_nm/dutch_raid_dc

This is ridiculous!!!!

Good for her neighbours!
Glad they wanted to help.

She probably could have worded the banner a little better than “Help I’m locked up”

Good on the neighbours for taking action.  Silly her for choosing such inappropriate wording.

Well it’s her fault for living on the 3rd/4th floor when she’s unable to walk properly. What would happen if there was a fire? We had a couple of old people who lived above us. She could hardly walk and her husband kept falling down the stairs and breaking his hip. (Nasty i know but if you’re 90 and can’t walk, why would you continue to live in a third storey flat with no lift access?)

Mort - 05 October 2005 07:25 AM

...but if you’re 90 and can’t walk, why would you continue to live in a third storey flat with no lift access?)

Affordability and availability.  If a seventh floor apartment is available at a price you can afford, you won’t take a ground floor apartment you can’t.

Mort - 05 October 2005 07:25 AM

Well it’s her fault for living on the 3rd/4th floor when she’s unable to walk properly. What would happen if there was a fire? We had a couple of old people who lived above us. She could hardly walk and her husband kept falling down the stairs and breaking his hip. (Nasty i know but if you’re 90 and can’t walk, why would you continue to live in a third storey flat with no lift access?)

Mort, this is Holland, more specifically west Holland. This is one of the most crowded parts of the world and has a serious housing problem. You just can’t change housing here that simple, unless you have money.

This old lady likely is on an AOW retirement,  which means she cannot afford renting in the private sector, or buying. And here in this part of the country, if you want to apply for a rental house through the municipal agencies, you have waiting lists of years (I am waiting for 3 years now for a house change myself and probably have to wait another few years). “Urgency status” are seldom awarded, and when (as it seems) her appartement building normaly has a working elevator, would certainly not be granted.

Mort, asides from the issues of affordabilty it can be somewhat beneficial for elderly people who are reasonably hale and hearty if NOT to confine themselves to accomodation where there are no stairs. I have worked extensively as a volunteer with the elderly and often find that those who continue to walk about as much as possible maintain much greater command of their movements. My own grandmother insists, despite having had both hips replaced, on remaining in her townhouse which has steps up to it and stairs inside. Although I worry about her sometimes I can see that it is a valid way of keeping fit.

Smerk - 05 October 2005 04:38 AM

Good on the neighbours for taking action.  Silly her for choosing such inappropriate wording.

Took the words straight from my voicebox.