Senior forced to crawl up stairs after Henrico apartment elevator breaks: 'It's not humane'

Seniors at Parham Park Place apartments in Henrico's West End say they have been without a working elevator for about two months, forcing some residents to crawl up stairs or cancel medical appointments while management and county inspectors work to find a fix.

Barbara Temple, who has difficulty walking, said she has resorted to crawling to reach her second-floor apartment since the elevator in her building broke.

"I would say a good two months we've been without an elevator," Temple said. "It's not humane, it's not correct, it's not nice, it's not respectful to the elderly. We deserve better."

Residents say management has told them staff is available Monday through Friday to help carry items up the stairs.

A March 9 letter to tenants also informed residents they can call a company management contracted to assist anyone needing help going up and down the stairs.

But most residents we spoke with say the off-site service is still inconvenient, and they worry the temporary solution could delay a permanent repair.

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