For more than six months, residents at The Life at Sterling Woods senior living complex in South Houston have faced an escalating crisis.
Many wheelchair-bound and mobility-impaired residents are unable to leave their apartments due to a broken elevator, and the situation has reached a boiling point as repairs continue to be delayed.
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Life without access to the elevator
Sharon Smith, one of the affected residents, says the lack of elevator access has left her feeling isolated in her own home.
“You can’t come out, and you’re stuck in here with no way to escape,” said Smith, who uses a wheelchair due to a combination of health issues including sarcoidosis and kidney disease.
Smith’s frustrations are echoed by many of her neighbors. She says she would usually take the MetroLift to do her daily tasks, but, since she cannot make her way down the stairs, that’s no longer an option.
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For months, she has been confined to her second-floor apartment, unable to take care of everyday needs like getting her hair or nails done — simple pleasures that have become impossible due to her inability to leave the building. “The little things I could do, I can’t do anymore,” Smith added.
Health and medical concerns: Inaccessibility hurts more than mobility
The impact of the broken elevator extends beyond just a lack of mobility. Smith and others in the complex, who require regular medical care, have been forced to rely on in-home healthcare services.
However, not all doctors offer house calls, leaving some residents without vital medical attention. Smith shared her concerns about not being able to seek help for vision issues after cataract surgery. “I got a spot in my eye and I’m not sure if it’s a cataract or what. It just keeps flaring up,” she explained. “But I can’t get it checked out because I can’t get down the stairs.”
Living in limbo: Residents waiting for a solution
The building’s management had originally promised the elevator repairs would be completed by mid-November. However, in a letter, management said the wrong parts were delivered, and the situation remains unresolved. In a letter to tenants, the complex acknowledged the delay but offered little information on when the elevator would actually be operational.
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Smith says her saving grace is her granddaughter. She visits her daily, brings her medication and groceries, and helps her outside to see a view of her pool.
“If I didn’t have her, I don’t know how I would get my medicine or groceries,” Smith explained. “I have tried grocery delivery, but they won’t bring them up the stairs. And I certainly can’t make it down.”
Seniors at risk and the fire department’s involvement
For many of the complex’s senior residents, the lack of an elevator has become a severe safety issue. Patricia Moon, who also lives at The Life at Sterling Woods, says the situation has led to numerous injuries.
“You have seniors trying to come up and down these stairs, and you have seniors falling, throwing their walkers down the stairs then trying to hold the rails to get down. It’s just really sad” Moon said.
The fire department has had to intervene on multiple occasions, carrying residents down the stairs so they could attend essential medical appointments. The safety of residents has become a major concern, particularly in the event of an emergency. Moon warned, “If a fire breaks out in this building, some people are going to die.”
Residents left without answers as the holiday season approaches
As residents continue to wait for a resolution, Smith says she has made the difficult decision to check herself into hospice care at home, where she feels safer and more comfortable.
“I’ll stay here until the elevators are fixed and I can be mobile again,” Smith said.
Despite numerous attempts to reach management for comment, no one responded to an emergency line call placed by our reporter. The office of The Life at Sterling Woods was also closed for the Thanksgiving holiday, leaving residents without answers on when the issue will be resolved.
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The ongoing situation has left many wondering why it has taken so long to repair the elevator, especially given the critical needs of senior residents who depend on it for basic mobility.
“This is senior living,” Moon said. “People are here because they’re elderly or sick. Those stairs are treacherous for them.” As the complex moves into the holiday season, pressure is mounting on management to prioritize the well-being and safety of its residents.
For now, those living on the second and third floors of The Life at Sterling Woods are left waiting — and hoping — for a resolution that will allow them to once again live with the independence they once had.
