Home Improvements and Structural Alterations (HISA) and 101 Mobility

By admin // Franchises, Lifestyle, Products, Veterans and the VA // No Comments

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.

Apr
25

Aging in Place can be a Viable Option

By admin // Lifestyle, Products // No Comments

When faced with the choice of moving to a senior care facility, moving in with a loved one, or choosing to age in place, most of us would chose to stay in the home we love, among the things we know, and the memories that sustain us. Aging in place allows us to retain our independence and prevents us from feeling we are a burden to others. But with so many of us living in two-story, single family homes and relying on cars to get around, staying in our homes as we age is a significant challenge.

One of the greatest challenges facing those who wish to stay at home is adapting to the change in mobility. Adapting our homes to help us get around requires an investment, but that investment is far less expensive than a move to a senior care facility. There are many things we can do to make our homes safer, more accessible, and that will help us to keep our independence.

Investigate assistive living technologies that monitor your home. A 24 hour monitoring device can be activated if you fall giving you the assurance you need that help is on the way. Many companies that offer these services have enhanced options that will monitor other areas of the home such as the stove. For example, if your stove is left on for an extended period of time it can be turned off remotely.
Evaluate access in and out of your home. For some, the height of the stairs leading into and out of the home can become too steep. Simply installing a ramp can make your home more accessible.
Worried about climbing the stairs inside your home? Installing a chairlift can make it easy to access the second floor or basement once more. This is especially important for those homes where the washer and dryer are in the basement. A chairlift can be a much easier fix than relocating water lines and exhaust vents.
The bathroom can be a particularly dangerous area as we age. Installing toilets that are just a few inches taller, handrails, a tub door, or adjustable shower head can make it much safer for you to stay in your home.
Those suffering from arthritis find that a simple change from doorknobs to lever handles makes a world of difference.

Simple changes like these can make a real difference in the ability to stay in our homes as we age. With changes like these, the loving support of family and friends, and the determination to age in place, many more aging Americans will be able to stay in the homes they love.

If you would like more information on aging in place, please contact the National Aging in Place Council.