An elderly North Queensland couple have died in hospital after tragically falling from an elevator in their home onto a concrete floor below.
Queensland police were called to a home at Little Crescent in Ayr at around midday yesterday.
Police said emergency services found the 85-year-old man and 78-year-old woman with critical head injuries after falling from the lift onto a concrete floor.
The husband and wife were taken to Townsville University Hospital but, sadly, both died last night.
An investigation is underway into how the incident happened, but police believe the elevator may have malfunctioned.
National Seniors Australia chief advocate, Ian Henschke told ABC that more elderly people were choosing to live out their later years in their own homes, which made malfunctions in elevators and mobility devices concerning.
“This device, which may appear to be something that’s useful to get up and down the stairs, has got dangers with it,” he said.
Mr Henschke said while mobility devices were generally safe, they required maintenance and posed a safety risk to the elderly.
“You have to be very careful with a device like this because some of them have the ability to lift the arm or the thigh, and so then it’s possible to fall out of it,” he said.
“That has happened in cases in the UK.”
Mr Henschke said it was often more suitable for senior people to live on a ground level.
“People need to be very very careful.”
“Stairs are dangerous even for healthy people,” Mr Henschke told the ABC.
“This is a problem particularly in Queensland and north Queensland where you have people negotiating stairs.
“If you are the relative, friend, family member of someone who is using one of these devices and they are very frail, I think it is time for people to talk about their living conditions.”
Mr Henschke urged people to think about elderly loved ones’ safety at home and consider consulting a professional before installing a lift.
“Occupational therapists, social workers, aged care assessment teams will look at these things and could provide advice,” he said.
“You’ve also got to remember the rule of common sense, because if you think it’s dangerous it is.”
Workplace Health and Safety Queensland are investigating the incident.
