How can I make the washer and dryer easily accessible to the elderly?

we all have your problem Eleanor! bring it up if you have the space

Getting up and down steps is a big concern for aging people. I'm sure if you bought a stacker that the store you got it from would have installation service.

That said, measure your space carefully, down to the quarter inch, and take those measurements with you to the store. Width, height, and depth of usable closet space. Then talk to the seller about what is appropriate for that space and any installation requirements for the washer and dryer.

To make your basement a friendlier place, you first have to get to it. And I wonder if an electric lift chair could be installed to the basement. That way you could get to and from the basement and have the use of it.

My daughter just moved into a tiny house and they purchased a washer and dryer combo (in one machine) and she said that it was smaller than the washer that she had in her house. If you can find something like this you don't need to switch from the washer to the dryer. Hope it helps

My son has had the stackable washer/dryer combo in two apartments. He's had to slightly reduce the size of the loads, but has been satisfied with them. If you can't move it upstairs, maybe a milk crate or something similar that you could slide down/up the stairs with laundry. I would attach a rope to it, that way you could let it down/up and then climb the steps. Good luck!

Before you move anything upstairs make sure you talk to a plumber about hot and cold water lines and your drain (to the sewer lines). That alone could cost THOUSANDS of dollars.

Putting your front loading machines on plinths will safe your back, as you age. Top loaders can be hard on the elderly, due to weight of wet clothes, and difficulty reaching bottom of washer tub.

Before moving w/d upstairs, insure the spin cycle won't result in "walking" due to vibration, which can cause major water damage if supply lines break, and to flooring, caused by friction.

If you keep these in the basement, increase your lighting. Aging eyes need more light.

Those with cataracts are very sensitive to glare, so use matte finishes on nearby areas. Have a large table nearby to fold clothing/sheets. Install a clothes line or folding dryer rack that's easily accessible.

Pay attention to flooring surfaces to avoid tripping and falls.

Place a multi tiered rack with manageable weight bottles/packages of detergents, clearly marked in larger letters.

Purchase measuring cups with handles easily used by those with dexterity issues/arthritis.

Use colored dots on the machines for "start" button, heat temps, etc., as some lettering can be too small for aging eyes.

A dryer with an interior, front lint trap is more easily accessed than one at top, rear of dryer.

Washer and dryer pedestals are a handy way to get the opening up higher - especially if you have front-loaders.

I would use a small apartment sized stackable set and put it in a closet.

We have a slab foundation and really appreciate that, our w/d is a stack-able unit and in the bedroom, how convenient is that? So easy to take off , put in the hamper and just do the wash and love to hang out to air dry.

Hi Eleanor, hope this helps you out. You can move it upstairs and stack it, or you can think about a chair that will take you up and down the stairs with the laundry basket

https://www.acornstairlifts.ca/stairlift/acorn-stairlifts