Elderly 20th-storey resident of Marine Parade condo climbs 400 steps a day as lifts not working
At a condominium block off Marine Parade Road, both lifts have been out of order for an astonishing 12 days.
Residents of Block 2 at Neptune Court, a 21-storey building, have been forced to endure the inconvenience of climbing multiple flights of stairs daily, reported Shin Min Daily News.
Source: Google Maps
Marine Parade condo lifts unavailable since last November & 14 Jan
A male resident of the block, who wished to remain anonymous, told the paper that one of the lifts has been out of service since last November.
According to a sign placed at the space where the lift was, it was supposed to be replaced.
Source: Shin Min Daily News
The situation worsened when the other lift broke down on 14 Jan, leaving residents without a functioning lift for 12 days.
Broken lift not repaired yet due to issue with components
The lift was expected to be repaired by 21 Jan, but as of now, it remains out of service, according to the resident.
According to the management, the delay was caused by an issue with the lift’s components, which had to undergo repeated testing and repairs.
A notice outside the broken lift posted on 20 Jan said its parts were faulty and needed to be replaced.
A notice posted outside the broken lift on 20 Jan stated that faulty parts needed to be replaced, and that spare parts would be sourced from another condo.
The repairs were expected to take about five days.
However, some residents expressed concern that the lifts, which are around 25 years old, may face difficulty in sourcing replacement parts, which could further delay repairs.
Additionally, the proximity to the sea means that parts are more prone to corrosion and wear, potentially affecting their durability.
Source: Google Maps
Elderly resident ‘out of breath’ climbing 400 steps a day
Meanwhile, residents have expressed frustration over the inconvenience caused.
A 70-year-old male resident, who lives on the 20th storey, shared that he has to climb about 400 steps daily, taking 15 to 20 minutes just to get home.
As a result, he has been forced to reduce the number of times he leaves his apartment, as climbing the stairs leaves him out of breath.
Source: Shin Min Daily News
While the 70-year-old is still in good health, the situation is much worse for other elderly residents, particularly those with mobility issues, such as those in wheelchairs.
2 elderly residents stuck at home for 12 days
Two elderly residents, both wheelchair-bound and living on the 21st floor, have been stuck at home for the past 12 days.
They rely on assistance for food and daily necessities.
To make matters worse, one of them requires weekly visits to the hospital for medication.
Management offers assistance to residents
A notice in the lift lobby informs residents that mobility assistance, including a staircase-climbing wheelchair, is available.
Residents can also contact the management office between 9am and 6pm, Monday to Friday, for grocery and parcel deliveries.
Additionally, the management has placed two to three chairs at each staircase landing for residents to rest while climbing the stairs.
Shin Min reported that a resident whose family returned from overseas on 20 Jan had to call for help to carry three large pieces of luggage upstairs.
Unfortunately, they had to wait for more than an hour before receiving assistance.
‘Getting very inconvenient’ as Marine Parade condo lifts not working: Resident
The resident said the management should explain the delay in repairs as it was “getting very inconvenient”.
He added that with Chinese New Year approaching and relatives and friends set to visit, the situation was only becoming more challenging, saying:
It’s really hard to imagine how people are going to climb up and down to bai nian.
Also read: 3 days of consecutive rain paralyses both lifts at Serangoon block due to water seepage
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Featured image adapted from Shin Min Daily News and Google Maps.
