What is a service dog?

101 Mobility learns about Service Assistance Dogs and More from paws4people!

101 Mobility recently met with Founder, Kyria Henry and Executive Director, Terry Henry of paws4people™, to learn about service canines. Kyria and Terry brought two service dogs with them to demonstrate what these amazingly intelligent and skilled animals are capable of.

What is paws4people™?
The Mission of the paws4people_™ foundation is to enhance the lives of active-duty service members, veterans, children/students, and seniors by utilizing the “special powers” of canine companionship and service displayed by highly trained assistance dogs, through specialized educational, private placement, therapeutic and visitation programs.

What is the difference between my dog and a service dog?
It is important to first understand that there are different types of dogs providing different services to humans.

Community Dogs: Community dogs are dogs that provide companionship to a service member, veteran or a senior who just lost a spouse and needs more than a pet. They receive roughly 120 hours of obedience training and at least three months of social training, meaning guided interaction with other animals and people in different settings.

Therapy Dogs: Therapy dogs receive obedience training and socialization in addition to learning far more extensive commands and facility training. Therapy dogs’ sole mission is to visit nursing homes, schools, and hospitals/hospice facilities and bring a sense of joy to patients. Therapy dogs are allowed ‘limited’ public access according to ADA guidelines, and only allowed in places where they are fulfilling their service duties, such as a hospital or nursing home.

Indirect Service Assistance Dogs: Indirect Service Assistance Dogs are also known as ‘Facility Dogs.’ These dogs are trained, certified and placed with a specific individual such as an educator, therapist or other health professional who will use the dog within his/her profession to provide educational instruction or therapeutic interventions to students with special needs or individuals with physical, neurological, psychological and/or emotional disabilities. These dogs do not live with the student or patient; they are kept with the handler.

Direct Service Assistance Dogs: These dogs are trained starting at just three days old, certified and placed with a specific individual who has a definable physical, neurological, psychological and/or emotional disability or disabilities. The direct-service assistance dog provides the client with assistance in conducting daily living activities, thus enabling them to perform more independently than they otherwise would without their assistance dog (AD). These are the dogs that you may see wearing a harness with someone who is blind (they are serving as a guide dog).

What do the direct service assistance dogs do?
Direct service dogs have full public access as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act guidelines. paws4people carefully trains each dog on a different set of commands specific to the human’s disabilities or needs. Some dogs are able to detect seizures in their humans eight hours prior and allow the human to take the proper precautions or medications. Other service dogs are trained to guide the blind (although paws4people™ does not train guide dogs, some other programs do) or to alert the deaf or hard of hearing. There are some service dogs trained to recognize dangerous blood sugar levels for humans with diabetes. Wheelchair users also utilize service dogs to assist in daily living tasks such as picking up or retrieving certain items, opening doors, carrying items, and turning on/off lights. One of the newest uses for service dogs has been to help mitigate symptoms of severe PTSD, TBI and other neurological disorders.

A few impressive feats from a direct service assistance dog:

•         Opening a door
•         Knowing over 130 commands
•         Ability to read flash cards: ‘sit,’ ‘stay,’ etc.
•         Helping with laundry

How can I get a service assistance dog from paws4people™?
paws4people™ is just as careful in selecting the service dogs they train as the humans they train to properly utilize these special canines. paws4people™ will assess your needs and if selected, you will be matched with the dog that chooses YOU. The dog will demonstrate that he or she accepts your personality, disabilities, smell, assistive devices, etcetera.  From there, the canine will receive the training that is specific to your needs. Unfortunately, there are not enough dogs to go around for everyone, so the selection process is meticulous. To learn more about the service assistance dog application process and to submit an application, click here.

*The information in the blog post is cited from the paws4people™ website and interview with Kyria and Terry Henry. Other Service Dog Training entities may show varying information as no program is exactly alike*

Hotwheels versus 101 Mobility in Adaptive Hockey

Hotwheels vs. 101 Mobility play adaptive hockey.

Power wheelchair hockey is a form of adaptable street hockey in which all players use a wheelchair or power chair. Power wheelchair hockey provides a physical and competitive outlet for people with Muscular Dystrophy, Cerebral Palsy and Autism among other disabilities. I recently had the opportunity to play against a local team founded by Hoggard High School Senior, Justin Verzaal, who also captains the team. Since the ‘Hotwheels’ inception, their players are undefeated and have beat the local Fire Department, Police Department and the Hoggard HS Baseball Team. I played against Hotwheels along with coworkers from 101 Mobility, a national franchisor located here in Wilmington. Powerchair Hockey has an “only wheels on the court” rule, whether you need a wheelchair or not.

As one of the 101 Mobility hockey players, I learned that it wasn’t easy trying to maneuver a manual wheelchair especially when you are carrying a hockey stick and trying to use a wheelchair at the same time. I used my knees to hold onto the stick while pushing the wheelchair wheel handles to move forward, backward, left, or right. In order to hit the puck (a whiffle ball in this case), I had to learn to put a ‘brake’ on the wheels with just one hand while simultaneously picking up the hockey stick with the other.

Controlling the chair was difficult. During first and second quarters, I kept missing the puck because I hadn’t mastered how to swivel quick enough to block the whiffle ball before the opponent got to it. By the third quarter, I finally learned how to use the chair and I was able to defend the whiffle ball from the other team.

By the end of the game, my arms were exhausted. I was sore for a couple of days. The soreness came from using my muscles and balance to maneuver the wheels – there were times that I pushed the wheels as hard as I could to roll forward faster in order to catch up with everyone or chase the whiffle ball. As an ambulatory person, I never knew how much work could be involved in using a wheelchair. I’m in awe of people that use a manual wheelchair in an everyday life – I now have an idea of the strength required to get around. Hotwheels beat 101 Mobility, 4-3, in the end. The Hotwheels players demonstrated such skill as they effortlessly maneuvered their chairs while keeping the movement of the whiffle ball and their hockey sticks in mind.   I have a new appreciation for the sport and the Hotwheels players.

Wheelchair Accessible National Parks and Monuments

National Parks are regarded as America’s greatest national treasures. In 1916, the National Park Service was commissioned; their purpose is to set aside and maintain pieces of land for all to experience and appreciate the natural ecology, wildlife and historical significance. For many years, a large portion of American citizens were unable to view these expansive and awe-inspiring parks. It was not until the American Disabilities Act of 1990 that parks began to provide handicap accessible trails, campgrounds, exhibits and accommodations for wheelchair users.

Statue of Liberty National Park, New York
Lady Liberty is a robed bronze statue of a woman triumphantly lifting a torch to the skies with her right hand as she clutches a tablet with the date of the Declaration of Independence (July 4, 1776) in her left arm. With broken shackles at her feet and a crown atop her head, this gift from the French represents freedom and democracy for all. The Statue of Liberty has long been accessible on the first floor only. As of July 4, 2013, Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty will be totally wheelchair accessible. *The Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island will be closed to the public until July 4, 2013, due to damages from Hurricane Sandy.

Lady Liberty is a robed bronze statue of a woman triumphantly lifting a torch to the skies with her right hand as she clutches a tablet with the date of the Declaration of Independence (July 4^th, 1776) in her left arm. With broken shackles at her feet and a crown atop her head, this gift from the French represents freedom and democracy for all. The Statue of Liberty has long been accessible on the first floor only. As of July 4^th, 2013, Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty will be totally wheelchair accessible. *The Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island will be closed to the public until July 4^th, 2013, due to damages from Hurricane Sandy.

Photo by John de Rosier

Denali National Park and Reserve, Alaska
The Denali National Park and Preserve is home to North America’s highest mountain peak, Mount McKinley. Denali is composed of over six million acres of federally protected land. This park features a mix of natural habitats, from forests to tundra, rocky mountains to glaciers. Denali is known to be a birdwatchers’ paradise but is also home to grizzly bears, black bears and caribou.

Denali National Park and Preserve features several ADA complaint trails, all of which are composed of compacted gravel and range from three to ten feet wide. A popular wheelchair accessible trail is the McKinley Station Trail. This 1.5 mile, 6 foot wide trail allows visitors to view the diverse taiga forest, several cultural sites, Hines Creek, and the Alaska Range, among other sites! The McKinley Station Trail also connects to the visitor center and a campground.

Photograph courtesy of National Park Service

Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming
Yellowstone National Park evokes images of Smokey the Bear for some, and ancient boiling springs for others. Yellowstone hosts the globe’s largest collection of geysers. Visitors often stop by to see Old Faithful erupt for a glimpse into one of the earth’s most ancient ecological habitats. Much of the park is laid out into steep mountainsides which are home to wolves, bears, bison and elk, but Old Faithful is totally wheelchair accessible. A 1.5 mile (3 miles round trip) wheelchair accessible trail leads from the visitors center to Morning Glory Hot Spring (pictured below). Wheelchair users should remain alert on the trail as it is shared with plenty of bikers.

Photography by Matthias Kabel

Congaree National Park, South Carolina
The Congaree National Park in South Carolina is one of the world’s largest deciduous forests. The biodiversity noted  are astonishing and the greenery is absolutely breathtaking in this expansive old growth bottomland hardwood forest. Those who require the use of a wheelchair or scooter may enjoy their 2.4 miles wheelchair accessible boardwalk loop. All public facilities at the Congaree National Park are ADA complaint, including the port-a-johns. Plan to visit this park on a relatively dry day as water levels may rise to cover the boardwalk loop during times of heavy and consistent rainfall.

Photo by Ken Lund

• For further information on national parks and monuments with universal design specifications, please visit www.nps.gov. If you are traveling to any of these destinations, remember there may be limited wheelchair rentals available. Carrying your own mobility device on the road may lessen the hassle. Many travelers opt for auto lifts for their car, truck, van or SUV, and some choose to bring a folding ramp and/or install a turning automotive seat for added convenience. To learn more about mobility solutions on the go, visit 101mobility.com and give us a call for assistance in your area.

Don’t Try This At Home (If You Want to Age in Place)

by Michelle Seitzer

Aging in place, otherwise known as staying home for as long as possible, is what most people want for their lives. They want to be independent, comfortable, and in control of their circumstances and surroundings, regardless of the changes that growing older may bring.

If you or someone you know would do anything to stay home, following these house rules are bound to obliterate all plans of staying put:

1. Let the phone ring when your kids are calling. This is a surefire way to throw your adult children into panic and paranoia, followed by planning your move to a senior living community, or one of their homes, immediately.
2. Move furniture & DIY (do-it-yourself). The doctor said not to bend, lift, or strain to pick up heavy items. But if the living room couch just doesn’t look right in that corner anymore, or you’ve got to take a look at that record player on the top shelf, don’t call your grandsons to come help you… it only wastes time.
3. Slide down the banister. If it’s too difficult to get up and down the stairs without risking a fall, by all means — ditch the cane, throw away the information your son gathered about installing a stair lift, and go for a ride like you did when you were 12.
4. Keep your doors and windows open/unlocked. This is especially effective when done overnight.
5. Don’t put any lights on when you need to use the bathroom at night. It’s a quick and easy way to cause an unnecessary fall, especially since you’ve been collecting the week’s laundry and mail in the hallway.
6. Get rid of the grab bars, non-slip rugs and mats in the bathroom/shower. Isn’t your balance better when the surfaces below you are in their most slippery state? And you keep bumping your head on those grab bars; they’re more harmful than helpful, in your opinion.
7. Don’t throw out anything in the fridge, pantry or medicine cabinets. Someone might be able to use those expired antidepressants and moldy peaches.
8. Refuse to learn how to use computers, tablets and cell phones. You want to maintain your privacy, right? Isolating yourself and cutting off new means of communication is a good way to show your independence.

All joking aside (Happy April 1st!), we offer many useful tips and resources for successful aging in place here at the 101 Mobility blog. Check out the posts and help yourself or a loved one make their stay-at-home-for-as-long-as-possible dreams come true!

Also, if an older loved one is truly having difficulty managing household tasks at home (i.e. laundry, cooking, cleaning, etc.), consider bringing in home care help. It’s a great alternative to full-time residential care. Learn more here.

A Multigenerational Household Survival Guide

by Michelle Seitzer

Mom and Dad are moving in. Time to celebrate — or panic?!

Whether the reason is advancing Alzheimer’s, decreased mobility, vision loss — or if it’s just to be closer to the grandkids and save on monthly bills — there are some things you should know before the big transition.

Consider these tips and resources for surviving a full nest and the inevitable role reversal conflicts that come along with having your or a spouse’s parent(s) move in:

Prepare the home. Even if they will have their own private entrance and living quarters, do a walk-through of the space to determine areas that may need to be modified for safety or efficiency. It’s best to do this walk-through together in order to prevent installing a stair lift that your mother-in-law never plans on using, or offending Dad by putting up grab bars in the bathroom. They may need both of these features, and they may find them helpful, but include your parent(s) in the decision-making process to avoid unnecessary conflict or resentment. Several articles on our blog are applicable here:

• Tips for Supporting Aging in Place
• How to Pay for Home Modifications
• Home Design Features to Help You Age in Place
• Tips for Preventing Falls in Your Home

Set up house rules and boundaries. While a chore chart or curfew isn’t age-appropriate, it is your home and your new residents need to respect that. If you’re sharing the kitchen, it’s reasonable to ask for help with clean-up and food preparation, if Mom’s health permits it. When possible, try to make grocery shopping or cooking a family affair so that your parent(s) can feel involved with the family rather than dependent on the family. If Dad’s going away for the weekend to visit friends or family, ask him to let you know. A dry-erase message board in a common area for leaving notes, appointments or schedule changes might be helpful. It’s also vital to set boundaries to protect your privacy and theirs, and to prevent conflicts that could arise from spending too much time together and neglecting your own family’s needs for quality time and space. Schedule a time to reevaluate and reassess the arrangement. For married couples who are moving parents in, it’s important to be aware of difficult in-law dynamics and tensions. Be especially sensitive to your spouse’s needs in these situations, and respectful of their parent(s) even if you don’t get along.

Respect their roles as your parents. They’re living under your roof, but they’re still your parents. Don’t treat them as your children. Be sensitive to this new life stage and what that all means to them. Losing their independence by moving in with you is probably not the arrangement they prefer, despite the perks and benefits it may bring. Most parents would do anything to avoid being a burden to their children. Keep this in mind as you establish your new normal as a multigenerational household.

Celebrate the opportunities that multigenerational living offers. Despite the challenges that may lie ahead, there will be many wonderful moments too. If your children are still living at home, having Grandpa around could have a tremendously positive impact on their life (and yours too, if he’s able to drive them to soccer practice or help with math homework). Perhaps you and Mom have had your differences over the years, but living together may give you a chance to heal and resolve some of those hurts and misunderstandings. When the stress of the fuller nest gets to you, remember these joyful times and aim to create new memories together.

Kyle’s Wish

Cristine recounts how she and her husband simply reached out to help one courageous couple –

As an account manager, I am seldom out in the field.  I’m usually in the office speaking with clients and leads. One day, a local hospice called explaining their ‘Make a Wish’ fund to make patients’ dying wishes come true. They proceeded to tell me about Kyle Burkhart, who was battling brain cancer. Kyle’s last wish was to spend time with his amazing wife, Allison, two bunnies and two cats (one of which he’s had for thirteen years) in their home.

The hospice finished the story by requesting a ramp rental quote – three folding ramps were necessary to get Kyle home as he was paralyzed and required the use of a wheelchair. I put the hospice on hold and relayed their message to Dave Myers, owner of 101 Mobility Philadelphia. Mind racing, I volunteered to spend my Sunday delivering the ramps so that we could deliver/pick-up the ramps at no cost. Dave didn’t hesitate to okay the donation.

Sunday arrived and I brought my husband, Darrin, along to deliver the folding ramps. What started as a ‘drop and run’ mission suddenly became much more. The transporting company’s duty was to transport Kyle safely, providing assistance when he needed to be lifted or transferred. The transport company sent one thin and under-powered worker to assist Kyle. Luckily my husband, Darrin, stands at a solid six foot two inches and 260 pounds. Darrin ended up lifting and shuffling Kyle onto each of the three ramps.

We then returned a few hours later thinking that we’d pick up the ramps and be on our way. Instead, we again directed and assisted the transport worker with everything from resituating Kyle in his chair as he was in a great deal of pain to strapping him in for a safe return to the hospice facility. Kyle wears a specially made helmet and was concerned about his head and feet hitting various obstructions during the transfer. Throughout the careful transferring of Kyle, his wife Allison, made the most comforting comments every step of the way, “It will be okay sweetheart.” “Almost there.” You’re okay.”

In between lifting and directing, I learned a great deal about Kyle’s life before brain cancer. Allison, with tears in her eyes, described to me an accomplished concert and sports photographer who faced brain cancer ten years ago and beat it. Throughout his career, he’d produced famous photos of legendary artists such as Courtney Love, Tori Amos, and Eddie Vedder of Pearl Jam – many of those photos were proudly displayed all over the walls of their home. Just a year ago, the cancer returned. Doctors were fairly confident that Kyle was on the road to remission yet again. Their plan was to remove the cancer from Kyle’s brain via a robotic arm to deliver a more focused form of radiotherapy than traditional radiation treatments. After several cyber knife surgical procedures, too much scar tissue developed which caused severe inflammation – then paralysis. The most devastating news came when Kyle’s doctors informed him that he had just a few months to live.

At forty-one years young with so much to give to the world, Kyle now sits paralyzed with his ability to speak slowly slipping away. ‘Til this day, one of the things that hurts Kyle most is that he is unable to hold a camera any longer. Kyle’s first bout with cancer left he and his wife unable to have children which is why seeing his animals meant the world to him. From the moment I first heard about Kyle, the unpretentiousness of his last wish is what impressed me most. Out of all of the wishes that organization could afford him, all he wanted was a ride home so that he could enjoy the company of his wife, two cats and two bunnies.

Throughout all of these hardships, Allison informed me that Kyle has been in good spirits and is currently planning his own memorial services. I left their home that Sunday with an offer extended that if anytime Kyle needed a lift, Darrin and I would be there. It was not until I left the couple that the depth of Allison’s courage and faithfulness fully set in – all I wanted to do was go back and give her a great big hug as another gesture of my support. And Kyle — He is a remarkably brave man with an amazing legacy that I will always remember.

-       Cristine Johnson

This is Kyle and his wife, Allison, with one of their cats. The family asks that if your life has been touched by Kyle to use this photo as your profile picture on Facebook for one day. Check out their ‘Make Your Profile Picture Kyle Day’ event on Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/events/321859717935227/

Sincerely, Your Local Service Technicians

At 101 Mobility, we don’t come to work every day for the thrill of selling and installing chair lifts and wheelchair ramps.

Being a local service technician means being out in the field and helping people in our communities get a piece of their lives back. Customers warmly welcome us into their homes in anticipation of a problem solved. We see what no one else in the company sees on a daily basis. We’ve met with a young man in his 20’s who relied on his mother to drive him places after a devastating spinal cord injury. But then we had the opportunity to watch as the expression of pure joy formed on the young man’s face while he drove his old truck through the use of hand controls. As service technicians, we witness frustrated caregivers who seem to be one ‘can’t do it’ away from heartbreak. And we meet World War II veterans who will never take help from anyone, much less a stairlift. We were there when one came home from the hospital to find another sign of his ‘fleeting mobility’. But – our team later checked on the veteran only to find him using the stair lift to watch a movie upstairs with his grandchildren for the first time in years.

The feeling of being able to help bring back some sense of normality, confidence, independence or activity into the lives of our community members is thanks enough. Just recently, a customer from South Carolina wrote us after a custom stair lift installation to show her sincere appreciation. In response, we can only say, it was our pleasure to be of assistance:

“Our grandmother was coming to live with me (Tamara) and was in need of total care, she has Alzheimer’s and is in the end stages; it has taken away her ability to stand or walk on her own. In order to come into my home you have to go up a set of stairs. I started a quest to figure out how I was going to make it possible for our grandmother to get upstairs with ease.

I (Tamara) remembered seeing commercials with stair lifts so began my search on the computer. I came across 101 Mobility and Amber and I made the call. From the moment our call was answered, we were treated with the utmost care. David, the gentleman that we were so lucky to have help us, listened to all of our mobility needs, explained all our options and went above and beyond to make sure my family was taken care of. He then came out personally to install our grandmother’s lift and adjusted it perfectly to fit her.  To this day he continues to call to make sure all our grandmother’s needs are still being met. 101 Mobility has given our grandmother life again and for that we will be forever grateful.” – Tamara  and sister Amber Valletta

 

Handicap-Accessible Buildings: Resources for Staying Up to Code

By Michelle Seitzer

Universal design and aging in place: these industry buzz words are the signs of the times. Though there is still progress to be made, it seems that builders, designers, architects and planners are recognizing the importance of creating accessible spaces for people of all ages and abilities.

We can all contribute to an age-friendly, disability-inclusive community, whether we’re builders or not. What does an age-friendly, disability-inclusive community look like? Here are a few features, compliments of this checklist from the World Health Organization (WHO):

• non-slip pavements that are free of barriers, reserved for pedestrians and wide enough for wheelchairs (with dropped curbs to the road)
• adequate signage outside and inside of public buildings; visible and well-placed traffic signs and intersections
• accessible elevators, ramps, railings, stairs, and non-slip floors
• specialized transportation options for seniors and people with disabilities
• sufficient street lighting, police patrols and community education to support outdoor safety
• in homes and buildings, interior spaces and level surfaces that allow freedom of movement in all rooms and passageways

Review the rest of the 4-page checklist here.

From the small changes to the great, consider these suggestions for making your home, office, church or business age-friendly and disability-inclusive:

1. Install grab bars in residential and business bathrooms.
2. Create at least one no-step entry into the home or building.
3. Make sure every room, hallway, entryway and exit is well-lit.
4. Swap round/twist-turn door knobs and handles for lever-style handles on doors and sinks. Automatic door openers may also be a good solution.
5. Install flooring made of non-slip, non-skid materials — or use non-slip coatings on floors — throughout the home or building.
6. Remove or adequately secure loose rugs and carpets so that individuals using mobility equipment (wheelchairs, power scooters, walkers, canes, etc.) can move with ease.
7. Install stairlifts or eliminate the need for using the stairs if possible.

For more specifics, check out this list of 2010 ADA standards for accessible design.

Also, watch and learn from aging in place experts Louis Tennebaum and Patrick Roden share tips on adjusting your home to accommodate people of all ages and abilities:

 Want to speak with a professional about integrating one or several of these items in your home, work or community space? Reach out to the 101 Mobility serving your city/state: start here.

Young at Heart Social – Love, Care and Just Plain Fun

On February 13th, 2013, students at the University of North Carolina Wilmington hosted the 19th Annual Young at Heart Social. More than 100 seniors from the community came to UNCW’s campus to socialize and dance with UNCW’s student volunteers.

Due to our local presence in Wilmington, we felt that this is one event that our team needed to be involved with – so we went and tried our best to keep up with the seniors as they danced the jitterbug, waltz, and electric slide among many other  dances. In between favorite songs, we seized the opportunity to speak with the local seniors.

Meet the musician who jammed all night long, from jazz to blues and other classics – this band man was the cat’s meow!

When asked if they were married, the woman with the flower in her hair exclaimed, “Of course we are married! Look at how I am matching his tie!” The couple has been married for 45 years.

This 73 year old dancing queen was a bell of the ball, she enjoyed herself throughout the night and was an amazing dancer. Her words of wisdom were simple, “Always dance.”

Gertrude in the red and Joe in his vest have been happily married for 60 years. Gertrude immigrated from Holland in 1948 and fell in love with Joe. They both danced throughout the night, teaching others how to box step.

This young man politely asked this beautiful woman to the dance floor. She tapped her feet on the hardwood as he scooted her around. After a song or two, the young man knelt down to both knees at eye level. They are pictured sharing an embrace after several songs, both delighted!

This is Maureen Parks. She has had Parkinson’s for 18 years and can’t stand without assistance or assistive technology. Our Marketing Director, Joel Brenner, had the pleasure of escorting Ms. Parks to the dance floor. Joel describes the dance,”She was able to stand as long as I held her and we danced, she told me that dancing with me was the first time in a long time that she didn’t feel old or Ill. She trembled in my hands as the music played, and she was nervous I think about being judged, but we just made a dance out of it and laughed together. When her caregiver came to tell her it was time to go she got sad… I begged the caretaker to wait for the end of the song and she obliged. That caused one of the best smiles I’ve seen.”

“We met in Brooklyn and been married for 50 years!” exclaimed Richard. When asked what has held them together, Betty gushingly says with a smile, “He’s a really good guy.” Richard responds, “She has always been patient with me!”

It was our pleasure to be involved in such a fun-natured event that helped to bridge the gaps between generations. We saw everyone whether they were wheelchair bound or not, young or old grooving to band’s jazzy tunes and smiling. Our belief is that more needs to be done to bridge gaps between the generations. We all have a lot to learn from each other and we can all contribute to making our communities a better place. Happy Valentines Day!

We are active members of our communities. Click here to reach out to the 101 Mobility location closest to you!

Gift Ideas for Caregivers

Caregivers are true renaissance men and women, helping with everything from running errands, paying bills, bathing, and house cleaning to providing emotional support. Often, caregivers are so focused on making their patient or loved one feel comfortable that they neglect their own needs or desires.

As you shop for the caregiver in your life, remember that lightening their burden is the best thing you can do. Below are some gift ideas to do just that!