An 89-year-old woman is living as a prisoner in her own home because her housing association has failed to repair a broken lift.
Vidyaben Patel is unable to leave her flat as she would have to walk down 50 stairs to reach the ground floor.
As a result, the elderly woman who recently had surgery on her back, has been forced to miss medical appointments after an operation and is unable to visit her doctor.
Mrs Patel lives in Duncan House, in Northolt Road, South Harrow, which is supposed to provide sheltered housing for elderly people.
But the only lift in the three-story building broke in early October and the housing association which runs the block, Sanctuary Housing Group, has said that the lift cannot be repaired until May 2013.
Mrs Patel said: “It is nearly impossible for me to get out of the building now.
“I have had to miss treatments for my back because I cannot get to the hospital and I have been unable to get to the doctors.
“All my friends are old so they can’t come and see me as they can’t get up to the flat either.
“I am supposed to go for walks to help my back but I can’t get outside.”
She added: “My son has to help me with everything. He even has to do my laundry for me as the laundry is on the ground floor of the building.
“It is like a prison.
“It really is a terrible situation.”
In an attempt to alleviate the problem Sanctuary Housing Group installed stairlifts in the building.
But to get to the third floor, the residents have to use ten different lifts.
When Mrs Patel tried this it took her an hour.
It also meant standing up and sitting now numerous times which is something she is supposed to avoid since the surgery to her back.
As a result, she was in agony for two days after making the trip.
She said: “It was very tiring and I ended up in agony.
“Even if I could stand up and sit down easily the stair lifts would often be useless as the remote control you need to call them is often at the wrong end of the lift.
“The only way you can get it is by walking up and down the stairs.
“Everyone is very angry.”
The Harrow Times is awaiting a comment from Sanctuary Housing Group.
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