With the therapeutic benefits of warm water therapy gaining notoriety, you may be in the market for a new soaking or walk-in bathtub. If this is the case, you might have seen an option called a hydrotherapy air tub. While many people are familiar with tubs outfitted with whirlpool jets, commonly called a Jacuzzi tub, an air tub is a newer concept.
Have you ever wondered how people get the help they need when physical challenges disrupt their independence? You may be surprised! Sometimes folks will call on their peers, others will look to co-workers, glean wisdom from medical professionals, senior centers, social workers or articles. Let this blog be the one to simplify the process, explain the truth about stair lifts, and guide you to solutions with one phone call, not ten.
Layout and Design Overhead ceiling lifts have been available for many years. Most people are not aware that such items exists. Depending on a person’s mobility, an overhead track lift could be a great solution for anyone having difficulty transferring from bed to chair. We normally recommend a lift system over the bed area. In this particular home we installed a lift that travels from the bed into the family room, through the hallway and into a bathroom. This is not a typical lift layout, but we pride ourselves in creating solutions for our clients. Structural Modifications This two story home has been engineered with TJI joist and multiple ceiling heights. Most new homes nowadays have such a joist. TJI Joist and overhead lifts don’t go well together, and here’s why: ceilings are made to hold the floor above, not a hoist from below. With some design work and modification to the ceiling and door ways, we were able to get this track system installed. Types of Overhead Lifts and Alternatives If one is considering a ShowerBuddy transfer system, it’s good to understand that in most cases this can prevent a rail from traveling throughout the home. We would normally recommend an overhead lift that starts over the bed transferring onto a TubBuddy system. This way the end user can be rolled over a toilet and slide into the tub. There are multiple types of installations available for overhead lifts. We prefer to use a wall mounting system which would prevent modification to the ceiling. Such installations are normally quick and can be removed with very little damage to the walls. If one wishes to travel from room to room, a wall mounted system cannot be used. . . . . . .
With so many brands, models, and features to choose from, selecting the right stair lift can seem overwhelming. Fortunately, if you know the right things to look for when shopping for a stair lift, choosing the right one doesn’t have to be a difficult task.
Holiday lighting, decorations, trees and more help to put everyone in the holiday mood. All of these things help set a cheerful holiday atmosphere, but they also pose hidden dangers. These tips can help you keep your family and home safe.
Walk-in bathtubs have long been known as an accessible bathing solution for people with limited mobility. But did you know that recent studies have also highlighted the therapeutic benefits of walk-in tubs? A walk-in tub can help people with a variety of conditions, including:
For seniors and those with limited mobility, grab bars can be a lifesaver. There are many types of grab bars that can be added throughout different rooms in a home to provide stability for people who have trouble walking. The bathroom is often the room that makes the most sense for the installation of a grab bar because it is the most dangerous room in a house for seniors or those with limited mobility. In fact, falls in the bathroom due to a wet, slippery floor is one of the top causes of injuries for elderly men and women. Whether it's the barrier that makes it difficult to get in and out of a tub or shower or a toilet that is tough to get off of, the bathroom definitely presents its challenges.
Fast approaching is that wonderful time of year when family and friends gather to celebrate the holidays. Often that means events and parties that include elderly parents, friends or relatives. Whether an elderly relative or friend with limited mobility is coming for the afternoon or staying longer, it is best to consider their safety and comfort.
If the stairs at home are becoming difficult to manage due to limited mobility or significant injury, a stair lift may be the perfect solution. However, because there are so many different available models and options to choose from, the research process can be pretty overwhelming. Many people don't know where to start and are often unaware of the factors that are most important when choosing a lift. In this post, we have compiled 7 tips that will simplify the process and make it easier to choose whether or not a stair lift is the best solution for yourself or a family member.
As we age, getting in and out of a bathtub can become a difficult task that can put us at risk of injury. For those that enjoy a warm bath after a long day but have trouble lowering themselves into a standard bathtub, a walk-in tub might be the perfect solution. A walk-in bathtub features a water-tight door that swings either in or out, and a built-in seat that allows you to bathe in a seated position. This means you can avoid lowering yourself into a traditional bathtub.
Long-term care planning can seem like a daunting task, but it doesn’t have to be. Many people wish to age within the home they have come to love. It is important to have a discussion with your doctor and loved ones to decide if this is the best option. 70% of people who are 65 or older can anticipate using some form of long-term care2. 80% of those who receive long-term care (LTC) support live in a community setting or age-in-place by living at home2.
November is National Family Caregiver Month, and it is important to recognize and celebrate what these caregivers do to help others, often putting their own mental and physical well being at risk. According to the National Alliance for Caregiving, approximately 43.5 million family caregivers have provided unpaid care to an adult or child with a disability or chronic illness in the last year. These caregivers perform tasks that range from household activities such as shopping, food preparation, house cleaning, laundry, and transportation to more complex chronic care tasks such as providing medications, feeding, dressing, grooming, walking, bathing, toileting, coordinating medical care, and managing finances.
Many people are surprised to learn common home accessibility modifications such as stair lifts, ramps, and barrier-free showers are not usually covered by most standard health insurance policies or Medicare. It stands to reason that equipment that makes living at home safer for people with limited mobility due to injury, illness, or aging would be covered by these funding sources. Unlike standard medical equipment such as a wheelchair or commode, accessibility equipment is typically installed and attached to the structure of the home, making it ineligible for insurance or Medicare coverage under current standards.
As we age, tasks that we once took for granted such as climbing the stairs or taking a shower, can become a challenge. If you or a loved one are planning to Age-in-Place, there many home modifications or adaptations that can help make this a reality.
People with limited mobility can benefit from many different types of mobility aids and accessibility equipment. Mobility issues can be caused by injury, aging and illness or progressive diseases like arthritis. Products ranging from walkers and wheelchairs to ramps and vertical platform lifts can accomplish the same goals in different ways.
On Saturday, September 29th, Extended Home Living Services (EHLS), attended the annual ALS Walk for Life in Chicago, IL. EHLS proudly sponsored Paul Launer’s Iron Horse Brigade! They were a walk team from Barrington, which is very close to EHLS' office and showroom in Arlington Heights, IL. We have a long tenure supporting ALS and were proud to support the Paul Launer Iron Horse Brigade again this year. In addition to supporting that team, EHLS had a table at the Vendor Village on Saturday. We enjoyed meeting and talking with all of those who visited our booth on Saturday.
Television ads that you see for stair lifts often promise quick installation, sometimes the same day. While same-day installation can be a great service and is sometimes necessary due to a loved one being unable to climb the stairs after an injury or discharge from a hospital. However, when purchasing a stair lift, it makes sense to be sure that the unit you’re buying meets your needs and has the optional features that are important to you, instead of just looking for a quick installation.
Lifeway Mobility is excited to announce that Extended Home Living Services (EHLS) — a Certified Aging-in-Place Specialist, licensed general contractor, and licensed elevator contractor providing lifts and accessibility modifications in the greater Chicago area, southeast Wisconsin and northwest Indiana — has joined Lifeway Mobility.
After being diagnosed with ALS, Larry chose to prepare his home to accommodate his FUTURE accessibility needs. The key word is FUTURE. Learning of the diagnosis was not easy, yet he has accepted it, and with acceptance comes change. He has taken multiple steps to achieve a wheelchair accessible home, to plan for the when: When he needs a power chair When he needs access into his home When he needs a bathroom that will fit a power chair When he needs to get downstairs When he needs to go outside to enjoy the outdoors When he needs support from loved ones Larry is a very special man, husband, father, grandfather and friend. We invite you to meet him to learn how he has chosen to plan for his FUTURE, for WHEN he will need a wheelchair accessible home.
A wheelchair ramp or outdoor stair lift can be an effective solution for someone that is unable to safely get in and out of their home due to limited mobility. However, depending on the space, mobility of the person and many other factors, there's usually one that makes more sense than the other. In this post, we'll provide an overview of each product and help you understand when a stair lift or a ramp is going to be the best solution.
If you’re considering the purchase of a stair lift and have more than one staircase in your home, you may be wondering if you need more than one lift. It will likely come down to your budget and the need to access each stairway.
Increasing client mobility and safety at entrances of the home often includes the installation of railing(s) and wheelchair-accessible ramps. Lifeway Mobility specializes in designing and building permanent wooden ramps that are ADA compatible or installing temporary modular aluminum ramps. Our aluminum wheelchair ramps are also available for rent.
Are you struggling to take care of mom and dad…AND your children? Lifeway Mobility helps people in the sandwich generation* care for both their parents and their children and keep them safe. We offer a variety of services in child safety and accessibility remodeling.
Aluminum modular ramps have several advantages over wood ramps including low maintenance, quick installation, superior traction, and resale value. Despite these advantages, some people prefer the look of a wooden ramp over aluminum. This is understandable considering many people spend years perfecting their exterior decorating and take pride in the way their home looks.
In October 2017, EHLS / Lifeway Mobility Chicago finished the installation of a residential elevator at a beautiful new home in Lake Forest, Illinois. The new home that the elevator was installed is located on the property where the historic Villa Turicum was built back in 1912. The Villa Turicum was Edith Rockefeller McCormick's country estate. (See below for more information about the Villa Turicum.)
