The sad part is that you are weighing "ruining the character" of a building versus accessibility, not only for older folks, but for disabled people like myself (time share owner for 20 years).

We have ended up renting out our Casa Ybel unit most years and going to the resorts with elevators due to accessibility issues.

Granted, no elevators reduces small children at the resort as well as us disabled folks.

Admittedly it is a very difficult call. The problem is that the design and structure of these buildings were never meant for lifts (as we call them), and to add them now would be a complete change and massive disruption - quite apart from the expense, which just would not be warranted.

Modern buildings would have those facilities if factored in at the outset - but not necessarily.