Getting a Loved One Up or Down the Stairs After a Hospital Stay
Aurevia Patient Transfers | Non-Emergency Medical Transport in Toronto & GTA
Many homes across Toronto and the GTA were never built with limited mobility in mind. Front porches with six steps. Semi-detached houses with the bedroom upstairs. Walk-up apartments, split-levels and basement units. When someone you love is coming home after surgery or a hospital stay, those stairs can feel like the biggest obstacle of the whole trip.
They don't have to be. Stairs are part of most of the home transfers we do, and they are planned for well before the crew arrives.
Why family shouldn't carry someone on the stairs
Families often offer to "just help them up." It comes from a good place, and it's one of the riskier moments in any transfer. A person who can't bear weight, or who is weak after a procedure, can lose balance quickly on a narrow staircase. Two relatives trying to support them can be pulled off balance too, and a fall on stairs can turn a recovery into a new injury for more than one person.
Moving someone safely on stairs takes the right equipment, a plan for every turn and landing, and two people who do it regularly.
How Aurevia crew handles stairs
Every stretcher transfer with Aurevia is done by two trained crew members, and stair assistance is included in the price. There is no separate charge when stairs are part of the trip.
Before the day, we ask about the building so we can choose the safest approach for your loved one and the space. Depending on their condition and the staircase, the crew uses a stair chair or carries them on the stretcher itself. Both crew members coordinate every step, keep a steady pace and talk your loved one through what is happening, so nothing comes as a surprise.
If the staircase is too narrow or steep for the usual approach, we raise it with you at the booking stage and work out a plan together before anyone arrives.
What stretcher transport covers
Stretcher transport is built for the person who needs to travel lying down, or who needs physical help at every stage. With Aurevia, two trained crew members:
collect your loved one from their bed, hospital room or nursing unit
move them safely through hallways, elevators and stairs, with stair assistance included in the price
keep them secured and comfortable during the drive, with on-board oxygen available
bring them inside at the destination and get them settled, or hand over to facility staff
What to tell us when you book
The more we know in advance, the smoother the day goes. Let us know:
how many steps there are outside and inside
whether the staircase turns, has landings or narrows anywhere
which floor the bedroom or destination room is on
anything tight along the way, such as a narrow hallway or a door that doesn't open fully
any equipment that travels with your loved one, such as oxygen
For complex access, a couple of photos of the entrance and staircase help a lot, and you can mention them on the booking form.
Simple ways to prepare the home
A few minutes of preparation on your side makes the transfer safer and quicker:
clear shoes, rugs and clutter from the steps and hallway
keep pets in another room
turn on the lights along the route
in winter, shovel and salt the outside steps and walkway
make sure the bed or chair at the destination is ready
Booking with Aurevia
The easiest way to arrange a transfer is our online booking form. Add the stair details and we respond within an hour with a complete quote. Nothing is added at the door.
Phone: 437-870-8090 | Monday to Sunday, 8 am to 8 pm
Aurevia Patient Transfers provides pre-scheduled, non-emergency stretcher transportation across Toronto and the Greater Toronto Area.
Comments