Easier Stays Near MD Anderson: Elevators, Low Floors and Less Walking
When you're coming to Houston for treatment or surgery at MD Anderson or elsewhere in the Texas Medical Center, the apartment matters less for how it looks and more for how many steps it takes to get through a day. How far is it from the car to the door? Are there stairs to the laundry? Can a caregiver get a wheelchair or walker through without a fight?
We've hosted more than 10,000 patients and families over the past 12 years, and the ones who have the easiest stays usually told us about their mobility needs before they arrived. This guide covers what to ask for, what we can arrange, and what to check with your care team first.
Start with your care team, then call us
Your doctors and nurses know what your recovery or treatment will look like. Before you book, it helps to ask them a few practical questions:
Will I be able to manage stairs after my procedure, and for how long?
Should I plan for a walker, wheelchair or shower chair?
How often will I need to get to appointments, and at what times of day?
Then call us at 713-909-7725 with the answers. That makes it much easier to match you with the right apartment, rather than guessing from photos.
Ask for an elevator or a low-floor unit
This is the most important request for most patients, and it's one we hear often. Elevator access and low-floor units are available on request. Tell us when you reach out, and we'll factor it in when we suggest apartments.
A few things to mention when you call:
Who will be walking. It isn't only the patient. An older caregiver may also prefer fewer steps.
Equipment you're bringing. Walkers, wheelchairs and rolling luggage all affect which layout works best.
Your timing. If surgery comes partway through your stay, plan for your post-surgery self, not your arrival-day self.
You can browse our furnished apartments near MD Anderson, or see every building and unit on our apartments page.
Keep laundry inside the apartment
Shared laundry rooms usually mean carrying baskets down hallways, waiting for machines, and coming back later. That's tiring on a good day. Every one of our units has its own washer and dryer, so laundry happens a few steps from the bed.
That matters more than people expect during treatment. Bedding, towels and clothes may need washing more often, and caregivers can run a load between other tasks without leaving the patient alone.
A full kitchen means fewer trips out
Every apartment has a full kitchen. On days when energy is low, being able to heat up something simple at home beats getting dressed and going out to eat. Caregivers can cook in batches on better days, and you can keep the foods your care team recommends on hand.
We covered groceries and meal planning in more detail in our kitchen and meal logistics post on this blog.
Shorten the walk from the car
Parking is free at our apartments, which removes one daily task: no meters, no garage payments to track. When you call, let us know if a short walk from the car to the door is a priority, and we'll keep that in mind when suggesting a unit.
If you won't have a car in Houston, our recent post on getting to MD Anderson without a car covers rail, shuttles and rides.
Make arrival day simple
Arrival is often the hardest day. You may have been travelling for hours, and you may be heading to an appointment the next morning. Our check-in is built to keep things simple:
Lockbox or agent check-in. You can let yourself in with a lockbox, or have one of our team meet you.
Move-in ready. Apartments are fully furnished, and utilities and Wi-Fi are included, so there's nothing to set up or transfer.
24/7 support. If something isn't working, whether it's a lock, the AC or the Wi-Fi, you can reach us at any hour.
If mobility is a concern on arrival day, mention it. Having an agent meet you can help with getting the keys and finding the right entrance.
Bring your pet
For many patients, a pet is part of how they cope. Pets are allowed, so you don't have to arrange boarding back home for weeks at a time. Just tell us about your pet when you book.
Plan the length around the treatment, not the calendar
Treatment plans change. A typical stay with us is about a month, but some guests stay only a few days around a single procedure. Others extend as their plan evolves. If your dates move, call us as early as you can and we'll work through the options with you.
Which building fits best?
We have furnished apartments in two buildings near the Texas Medical Center:
Kimpton (formerly Kirby Place), 7500 Kirby Dr.
Maroneal, 2222 Maroneal St.
When you call, we'll tell you which of our current options best match your needs: elevator access, a low floor, a short walk from parking, or a particular layout.
A quick checklist before you call
Your appointment or surgery dates, even if they're approximate
Mobility limits now, and expected after any procedure
Equipment you'll bring (walker, wheelchair, shower chair)
Who's staying: the patient, caregivers, and any pets
Whether you'll have a car in Houston
Your preferred check-in: lockbox or an agent meeting you
For medical staff and other visitors
Many of the same requests help traveling nurses, visiting physicians and other medical staff working long shifts: in-unit laundry, a full kitchen, free parking and fast check-in. Learn more on our page for patients, caregivers and medical staff.
Talk to us
Looking for furnished apartments in Houston that work around a treatment schedule and your mobility needs? Call 713-909-7725 or send us a request, and tell us what you need. We'll share current options that fit.
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