Grab Bars Keep You Safe and Steady

Did you know the installation of grab bars is one of the easiest ways to stay safe in the bathroom? Grab bars provide confidence to many people who worry about falling in the bathroom or have issues with their equilibrium.  These common and effective bathroom safety devices are easy to install and are a cost effective way to provide the confidence you need when entering and exiting the bath.

At 101 Mobility, we offer a wide variety of grab bars to meet your design and style preferences. From polished chrome to stainless steel and bronze to satin nickel, we have the variety of styles and finishes to meet your needs. We also offer folding and locking grab bars for those who desire a grab bar that can be moved out of the way when not in use. As your full service mobility professionals, we can order nearly any style of grab bar for your bathroom. We also offer expert installation of grab bars so you can be confident they will support you at all times.

We always recommend choosing a grab bar that meet ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) requirements. ADA approved grab bars are rated for a 250# dead weight pull. This will ensure the grab bar can hold your entire body weight should you slip and use the grab bar to steady you. We only sell grab bars that meet or exceed ADA requirements.

The most common placement for grab bars is at entrance and exit point of the shower for assistance in stepping over the tub wall. Grab bars can also be placed inside the shower for extra assistance should you lose your balance while in the shower. Next to the toilet is another common area in the bathroom to see grab bars; especially if your bathroom is small and can’t accommodate a safety seat frame. The installation of grab bars near the toilet will help with moving to and from a sitting position.  Grab bars can also be installed at the top or bottom of a staircase for assistance steadying yourself before climbing the stairs or as you enter or exit a stairlift. Grab bars can also be helpful when placed near a door. For those who suffer from vertigo or are unsteady on their feet, the simple act of opening a door can be difficult. The addition of a grab bar allows you to have something to hang on to as you reach to open or close the door.

If you have questions about the purchase and installation of grab bars for your home, please contact the 101 Mobility location nearest you.

101 Mobility Opens First Franchise in Texas

New Company Fills Niche for Home Health Care Mobility Devices in seven (7) Counties, Serving a Population of five (5) Million

Houston resident Deanna Geggatt, a registered nurse and home health care administrator with more than 20 years of experience in the medical field, has taken her compassion for helping the disabled to another level by introducing 101 Mobility to the Houston area. As the first location in the state, 101 Mobility is a franchise provider and installer of affordable brands of mobility and accessibility equipment for the elderly and disabled.

While working as a home health care administrator, Geggatt discovered a void in the home mobility device market.  She found that many patients in need of home mobility devices—such as grab bars, stair lifts, modular ramps, etc.—needed a simple way to choose the right equipment and have it installed quickly and easily.  After researching the options available in the greater Houston-area, she found that consumers in need could either go to small, independent “mom and pop-type” local businesses who at times lacked practical knowledge in mobility-related equipment (because it isn’t their core focus), or they could go to large online distributors who often fail to offer installation or face-to-face-support.

“When the elderly or disabled and their families invest in expensive mobility equipment, they prefer to have local experts install and service as well as provide face-to-face support for ongoing service and repair issues,” Geggatt said.

On August 31, Geggatt, along with her husband Glen, will introduce 101 Mobility to the Houston area, serving a population of more than five million people in seven counties, including Fort Bend, Galveston, Harris, Liberty, Matagorda, Montgomery and Waller.

101 Mobility is the franchising world’s first full-service sales, service and installation provider of a complete line of mobility and accessibility products and equipment, including stair lifts, auto lifts, ramps, porch lifts, power wheelchairs, scooters and more. By working with patients to identify which home health care devices best suit each individual’s needs, 101 Mobility provides an alternative to group homes and rehabilitation centers by allowing patients to live self-sufficiently in their homes.

The combination of Geggatt’s experience in the home health care industry and Glen’s professional experience working as a contractor serves as the perfect combination for a successful full-service home mobility device business. Glen is also certified as an “Aging-In-Place-Specialist” through the National Association of Homebuilders.

“I think there’s good synergy between Glen and I where I can identify the patients at risk and recommend the right products to them; Glen then brings the technical aspect to the table by handling all the installations,” Geggatt said.

With her background, Geggatt lends her expertise in all things related to home health care mobility to the disabled and senior population throughout the Houston area.

“Our goal is to become a solution that people didn’t have before,” Geggatt said. “There’s not much awareness of what home mobility devices are available to encourage independence and serve as a practical, real alternative to moving to an assisted living facility.”

She continued, “Since we’re part of a larger franchise, we are able to offer better pricing than the small local shops, plus extra support for our customers by tapping into our franchise support network. We hope to develop a strong local business relationship with the community.”

101 Mobility plans for further expansion throughout the state of Texas and is growing rapidly across the Country as well. For more information, visit www.101mobility.com

Tips for Preventing Falls in Your Home

Because falls are one of the leading causes for injuries among aging adults, we thought we would pass along these Tips for Preventing Injuries from the American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS). We hope they will help you to stay safe.

 AANS Injury Prevention Tips for Inside the Home

• Buy bath mats and rugs with slip-resistant backing and secure them.
• Do not walk on slippery, freshly washed floors and avoid floor waxes.
• Install grab bars and handrails if you are frail or elderly.
• Improve the lighting in your home; dim lighting can increase the risk of falls.
• Install night lights in halls and bathrooms, and keep a flashlight near your bed.
• Store products in easy-to-reach places; use stepstools/ladders only when absolutely necessary.
• Wear proper shoes with slip-resistant soles.
• Secure loose electrical cords and put away any items that are lying around.
• Do not use recalled products – discard or take back to the store.
• Keep chairs and other furniture away from windows.
• Use safety gates and install window guards.

AANS Injury Prevention Tips for Outside the Home

• Install outdoor handrails if elderly or frail.
• Inspect and remove debris and ice from walkways, driveways, porches, and yards.
• Inspect and remove debris from lawns before mowing or gardening.
• Store outdoor equipment and tools properly.
• Make sure that ladders are stable and secure before using them.
• Do not use broken equipment or tools.
• Do not let children engage in activities inappropriate for their age.
• Supervise younger children at all times.
• Never drive while under the influence of drugs or alcohol or ride as a passenger with anybody else who is under the influence.

As a side note to these outside tips, if you are unstable on your feet please consider asking for help or hiring out your lawn care and outdoor home maintenance projects for your safety.

Preventing Falls and Staying Healthy

Among adults age 65 and older, falls are the leading cause of injury death and the most common cause of nonfatal injuries.  According to the Center for Disease Control, one in three adults age 65 and older falls each year. With so many older adults falling, fall prevent should top the list of safety and health concerns for those aging in place and their families.

What are some of the ways we can prevent falls in the home and promote mobility and independence? 

An easy way to prevent falls is to increase leg strength and balance through regular exercise. Many older adults enjoy Tai Chi because it promotes both of these concepts through a low impact exercise routine. However, simply enjoying a regular walk around your neighborhood is good exercise and a great way to stay fit. Staying active can go a long way toward preventing falls.

Be sure to ask your doctor or pharmacist to look at all the prescriptions you are taking to ensure there are no reactions between your medications.  Many medications can cause dizziness and when medications interact, dizziness can be enhanced.  If you are feeling dizzy, please take care and speak with your physician immediately.

Don’t forget the importance of regular vision checkups. Getting your eyes checked and keeping your eyeglasses up to date is an important step in keeping falls to a minimum.

Another important way to prevent falls is to install safety equipment in your home. Safety equipment from 101 Mobility helps to maintain your stability. With the help of 101 Mobility, you can install features such as chairlifts/stairlifts and bath safety products to prevent falls in the home.  Our complete line of stairlifts offers you a wide variety of options so you can choose just the right chairlift for your home. From straight line chairlifts to curved rail stairlifts, our experienced professionals can help you find the right stairlift for your home so you can be safe getting up and down the stairs each and every day.

We also offer a complete line of bath safety products. Falls in the bathroom are very common. Don’t let slipping in the bathroom become a concern for you. With the help of 101 Mobility, we can install bathtub doors, grab bars and a variety of other bath safety items for you.

Home Improvements and Structural Alterations (HISA) and 101 Mobility

101 Mobility is proud to help America’s Veterans. Under the Home Improvements and Structural Alterations (HISA), Veterans may receive “home improvements necessary for the continuation of treatment or for disability access to the home and essential lavatory and sanitary facilities.” We work with Veterans each and every day to help them improve mobility in their homes.

With 101 Mobility and the HISA, Veterans can:

• Replace all bathroom tubs with shower stalls complete with molded or pull-down seats
• Install non-skid strips or slip-resistant tiles in the shower
• Install grab bars in the shower stalls and toilet area
• Install hand-held showerhead
• Install raised toilet seats
• Install handrails on both sides of the stairs for better support
• Replace carpeting and tile flooring with non-slip/skid type flooring
• Install non-skid rubber strips on the edge of stairs to help prevent falls
• Convert kitchen cabinets into drawers to hold pots and pans for easier access
• Replace door knobs with lever handles
• Install lever-handle faucets in kitchen and bathrooms
• Consider increasing door opening sizes to as much as 36 to 42 inches
• Install a permanent or portable wheelchair ramp
• Install a stairlift or chairlift

Your local 101 Mobility location is ready to help you with need HISA improvements and alterations. All of our 101 Mobility locations are GSA Contract Holders, and have the experience and knowledge to help you achieve a completely functional and accessible home, customized for your needs.

For more information on how we can help you, please contact your local 101 Mobility location.