101 Mobility Houston Prevents Falls with Vertical Lift Installation

Glen and Deanna Geggatt, of 101 Mobility’s Houston location, may be new to the mobility business, but they are passionate about helping their customers remain safe in their homes. Recently they received a call from a client who had fallen down the three steps that lead from the house to the garage. Thankfully their client sustained no injuries. However, just a few months prior he had fallen down those same stairs and been hospitalized for some fairly significant injuries. Something needed to be done to prevent this from happening again.

When Glen and Deanna arrived that day to discuss mobility options, the homeowner, his wife, and his son were all there to discuss options and share their concerns. The homeowner and his wife both wanted to remain in the home and maintain their independence and mobility. While the son’s main concern was ensuring their safety.

With just three small steps between them and their safety, Glen and Deanna knew a solution was at hand. The problem was the poorly constructed steps had variations in rise. The first step was positioned with a 10” rise, the second with a 7” rise, and the third at an 8” rise. The variations in rise were making it incredibly easy for the homeowners to misjudge their footing, causing them to fall.

The solution was for 101 Mobility to remove the old steps and install a deck or platform at the same height as the garage door leading from the house. The next step was to install a new set of stairs with a uniform rise height making it easier to climb the stairs to the platform. Additionally, a vertical platform lift was installed so that the homeowners did not need to use the stairs at all if they did not want to.

This solution provided two easily accessible ways for the homeowner to enter the home from the garage. With these solutions in place the homeowner is now able to maintain their independence and mobility and continue to “age in place.”

The final result of this solution from 101 Mobility Houston was a very happy homeowner and a son who was “ecstatic” that his parents could now enter and exit their home safely.

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.