Pittsburghers Open 101 Mobility to Improve Mobility Across Western PA

Greg Slepecki, Franchise Owner and his son Brad are proud to announce the opening of 101 Mobility Pittsburgh. These Pittsburgh natives are committed to helping Western Pennsylvania families improve their mobility inside and outside of the home. 101 Mobility Pittsburgh represents 101 Mobility’s 22^nd national franchise opening.

101 Mobility Pittsburgh is a locally owned, family operated business. The Slepeckis were born and raised in the Pittsburgh area and understand the unique mobility needs of residents from the rough, hilly Pittsburgh terrain. They explained how most homes in the area are two to three level homes with upstairs bathrooms and downstairs kitchens, making stair lifts a must-have for those who plan to successfully age in place.

This charismatic father and son team have seen first-hand how people with mobility challenges have become an under-served demographic. It is their goal to provide the reliable mobility solutions that every Pittsburgh resident should have at their fingertips. Greg adds,

“The residents of Pittsburgh and surrounding areas are good people, blue-collar families who just want to stay in the home that they raised their children in.”

Greg recalled a personal experience with his late mother to describe how his parents relied on a stair lift to age comfortably in their home,

“My mother was nearly blind to the point of counting steps…she would count each step as she climbed the stairwell. We searched everywhere for something to help and there was no go-to name or business for mobility equipment in Pittsburgh; I think there is a general lack of awareness for what’s available.”

Prior to joining the 101 Mobility family, Greg Slepecki worked in one of Pittsburgh’s oldest companies as the President of Matthew’s International Architectural Group. He ran seven international manufacturing plants from Australia to Canada, California and New York. From constructing the memorial for Elvis Presley’s grave to engraving super bowl trophies, Greg has been a part of it all. Son, Brad Slepecki is experienced in disaster restoration/construction with a talent for exemplary customer care and relationship building. Brad will join the service and sales teams as Greg oversees the operation. The Slepeckis are also happy to have Primio LaLama join their 101 team as the top sales and technical person.  Primio has been providing Pittsburgh families with 101 Mobility products for over three years.

Brad and Greg believe that their broader breadth of mobility products ranging from wheelchair ramps to porch lifts and more, in-depth product knowledge and franchise support system which allows for more ingenuity, will give them an upper hand over any competition. This Pittsburgh duo is working hard to brand themselves as the number one source for accessibility solutions across Western Pennsylvania with the goal of becoming a household name.

Call 412.428.9485 or visit http://pittsburgh.101mobility.com/ for assistance or additional information.

Generous Stair Lift Donation in Rochester Exemplifies 101 Mobility’s Core Values

1. Be Available
2. Customer Care
3. Exceed Expectations
4. Operate with Integrity
5. Be Passionate

Last week, Miguel Millan, Franchise Owner of 101 Mobility Rochester donated a stair lift valued at $4,200 to his local Sea Breeze Volunteer Fire Department. His generous gift ended the department’s 10 year financial struggle to purchase a stair lift. 101 Mobility prides itself in operating with integrity and exceeding expectations. Volunteer Firefighter, Mark Champion attests that this custom installation was no different,

“Our volunteer firefighters are aging and a lot of them are senior citizens, one of our former firefighters is a double amputee; we don’t have to carry him or anyone else up the stairs in their wheelchairs anymore! We also raise money for the department by renting out the upstairs reception hall and now we can bring in more groups, there is a lot of excitement within the department. We really appreciate what Miguel has done and his donation has made a huge difference!”

Although Miguel opened his Rochester franchise just eight and a half months ago, when he received a call from the Sea Breeze Volunteer Fire Department’s chief, Miguel simply did the right thing. After working for years as an EMT and firefighter, Miguel explains,

“I know the hardships that they go through and they [emergency responders] are just good people……we at 101 Mobility saw a need and took the opportunity to help by donating and installing a stair lift”.

Across the United States, local 101 Mobility franchisees are available to take your call and work with you to find the perfect solution for you or your family member’s mobility issues. 101 Mobility is the nation’s first full-service provider and installer of personal mobility products such as Stair Lifts, Auto Lifts, Wheelchair Ramps, Vertical Lifts, Porch Lifts, Overhead Lifts, Home Modifications, and Much More. Call 1.888.258.0652 to find your first course in mobility solutions for yourself or a loved one today.

101 Mobility Opens Franchise in Austin Market

New Company Fills Niche for Empowering the Disabled and Mobility Challenged in Austin

(Austin, TX)—Husband and wife team Bruce and Debra Dowden of Cedar Park are the owners/operators of 101 Mobility’s latest Texas Franchise serving Austin and surrounding areas, from South Austin to Waco. 101 Mobility Austin will join the Houston and San Antonio franchises in a recent string of 101 Mobility openings across the Lone Star State. As lifelong Texans, the Dowdens bring over three decades of management, purchasing, and finance experience to the organization. The Dowdens are active members in their community, and look forward to serving their neighbors with quality of life products that positively address personal mobility issues; allowing people to stay in their homes or “age-in-place”, despite facing everyday challenges such as stairways, raised porches, and other obstacles.

The Dowdens share a particular interest in helping the senior community, and felt that 101 Mobility offered a well-rounded model for assessing and supplying the mobility and accessibility needs of the seniors and mobility-challenged in their market. “Our goal is to be able to look back at the end of the day and see that we have helped people”, says Debra Dowden. “Through that, we hope to add value, not only to our lives, but to the community as a whole.”

101 Mobility Austin will focus on helping clients age-in-place by selling, installing, and servicing ramps, stair lifts, automobile lifts, patient lifts, vertical lifts, barrier-free baths and offering complete home modifications to incorporate total accessibility solutions. 101 Mobility is one of the nation’s largest sellers and installers of personal mobility products from well-known brands such as Bruno, Harmar, Liko, and many more.

101 Mobility is also a leader in providing services to our United States Veterans through the U.S. Veteran’s Administration. The Dowdens are especially excited to have the opportunity to give back to our Military Veterans. “Having  Veterans in our family, including a daughter and son-in-law that are currently serving on active duty, has made this opportunity to work with Veterans very special to us”, says Bruce Dowden.  “We consider it an honor to help those that have served and are proud to do so.”

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, patient lifts, power wheelchairs, scooters and more. Short and long-term rentals are also available for home, office, and institution. 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.

For more information, visit www.101mobility.com or call 512.650.0354.

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.

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.

Bathroom Safety Should be a Top Priority

When a loved one is disabled or aging, and wishes to maintain their independence by staying in their home, bathroom safety needs to become a top priority.  At 101 Mobility, we understand the importance of bathroom safety and have worked with hundreds of homeowners to make their bathrooms a safe place.

We offer a complete line of bath safety products to meet all of your needs.  Because most falls in the bathroom happen as people enter or exit the bathtub, we offer the Safety-Step Bath Door. This product lowers the threshold of entry into the bathtub to 9” making it easier to get into and out of the tub.  It includes a water-tight seal.  The Safety-Step Bath Door can even be installed on your existing tub for your convenience, eliminating the need for a lengthy and expensive bathroom remodel.

Grab bars are another important bath safety modification item.  Grab bars around the tub can help ease the transition in and out of the tub. It is important to note that no one should ever use towel bars to ease the transition in and out of the tub. Towel bars simply cannot support you if you slip or fall.  101 Mobility can position and install grab bars to help you get around your bathroom with ease.

Many of our clients also require transfer benches or toilet safety frames to ensure their safety in the bathroom. 101 Mobility has a wide range of products in this area to help you feel comfortable and safe in the bathroom. There is no need to worry about your safety when the team from 101 Mobility is around. We have the experience to answer your questions and provide the top quality products that will ensure your safety in the bathroom.

For more information about 101 Mobility’s complete line of bathroom safety products, please contact your local 101 Mobility location.

Veterans! Do You Qualify for a HISA Grant?

Are you a U.S. military veteran? Do you suffer from a disability due to your service? There is a lot of help out there for funding improvements to your home to assist you with your comfort and recovery.

The Home Improvements and Structural Alterations (HISA) grant can be used for any home improvement necessary for the continuation of treatment or for disability access to the home and essential lavatory and sanitary facilities. Among the improvements a HISA Grant will cover are:

• Allowing entrance or exit from veteran’s home;
• Improving access for use of essential lavatory and   sanitary facilities;
• Improving access to kitchen and bathroom counters;
• Handrails and grab rails;
• Lowered Electrical outlets and switches;
• Improving paths or driveways;
• Improving plumbing and electrical work for dialysis patients

A HISA grant is available to veterans who have received a medical determination indicating that improvements and structural alterations are necessary or appropriate for the effective and economical treatment of a disability. A veteran may receive both a HISA grant and either a Special Home Adaptation (SHA) grant (below) or a Specially Adapted Housing (SAH) grant (below).Home improvement benefits up to $4,100 are available to veterans with a service-connected disability, and up to $1,200 is available to veterans with non-service-related disabilities.To apply, the veteran must first have a prescription from a VA or a fee-basis physician. This must include:

• Specific items required;
• The diagnosis with medical justification;
• The veteran’s name, address, SSN, and phone number(s);

In addition, a list of other items regarding the exact work to be completed, costs, and site drawings must be compiled and submitted as well.101 Mobility is glad to help in this process from start to finish. We are here to make sure that you get the modifications and the equipment that you need in order to live a more comfortable and accessible life.Call us today at 1.888.236.6917 or visit us at: www.101Mobility.com and let us help get you the assistance you need without any hassle or inconvenience to you. Source: http://www.prosthetics.va.gov/docs/HISA_english.pdf