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Accessible Systems / Lifeway Mobility Denver Hosts Ohana Fall Resource Fair

Ohana Resource Fair design

  September 18th, 2023 Accessible Systems, a Lifeway Mobility Company Hosts Ohana Fall Resource FairEnglewood, CO - Accessible Systems, a Lifeway Mobility Company is hosting a one of a kind Ohana Fall Resource Fair on Friday, September 29th from 11am-2pm at Colorado’s largest adaptive showhome at 3025 W. Jefferson Ave, Englewood CO 80110. This free event provides fall prevention awareness by educating the community about community resources that can help prevent falls. In addition, this free event offers health information to persons with long term disabilities, long term diseases, their families and caregivers. Register for Ohana Event Immerse yourself in a fun gathering where you can engage with informational speakers, discover community resources, and much more. Resources available include adaptive vehicles, home health and home care services, acute rehabilitation providers, physical and occupational therapy, senior placement agencies, custom seating and power wheelchairs, mobility equipment repair and rental, hospice and palliative care providers, Medicaid agencies and local non-profit organizations. The event will also include bingo, gift bags, freebies and goodies throughout the day. Refreshments will be provided. To register to attend, please use the following link or call 720-358-8011. Register for Ohana Event

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by Eric Rubel  | 

5 Ways to Make Organizing In Your Home More Accessible

5 Ways to Make Organizing In Your Home More Accessible

Independent living can be difficult to achieve if your home isn’t ready for it. A newfound lack of mobility may prevent you from doing everyday tasks as you used to. Creating systems for different parts of your home can help you remain self-sufficient. Whether it be living with a disability or aging in place, there are many ways to achieve an independent living situation. Extending your independence and being able to continue living in your home alone allows you to have freedom of choice in your life. While this may seem costly, there are options for the financial burden this could place. There are government assistance programs that allow you to use the money for additions to your home for accommodation purposes. Additionally, if you’ve lived in your home for some time you’ve likely built up a good amount of equity that can beleveraged in a home equity loan. This can be especially helpful for accessing funds immediately in one lump-sum payment. Giving your space any necessary updates gives you more ability to stay in your own home. Take a look at these tips to ensure each room of your home is up-to-date for your lifestyle. 1. Continue your kitchen use Your kitchen shouldn’t turn into a place to avoid because of lack of access. To ensure safety in the kitchen, you don’t want to have things stored too high up, especially heavy items. Having everything at eye level or at an arm’s reach will cut down on the chance of dropping things. Look to add pull down cabinets and pull out drawers so you can still grab things with less mobility. A lazy suzan cabinet or pantry could also keep everything at the same level and makeit easier to search for the items you are looking for. For heavier items, especially ones you would normally keep at a lower level, creating a raising system takes away the need to bend down and lift up heavy appliances. Simple changes can help you to continue using your kitchen as your abilities change. 2. Allow For Accessible Bathroom Storage Accessible bathrooms commonly include handrails and barrier free showers. You will want to ensure the showers in your household are walk/roll-in showers. They should be 30 inches wide by 60 inches deep with a 60 inch wide entry to allow for wheelchair entry according to ADA standards. Another aspect to take into consideration is shower storage. The height of your shower items needs to be attainable for your mobility. Putting in your own storage containers allows you to choose the height. You may want to use soap dispensers so you can easily access your products. Outside of the shower, you may want to take into consideration the sink as well. Make sure your sink is ADA compliant, at least 34 inches above the floor. There also needs to be 60 inches of clear floor space to accommodate wheelchair users. Having one row of drawers in your bathroom design keeps everything at a reachable distance and also allows more space below if you need to make it wheelchair accessible. Removing the barriers in the bathroom and keeping it neat can give you independence and privacy in a place where you want it most. 3. Create Space in Your Bedroom The bedroom is another place where you would want privacy and discretion. Keeping it functional and spacious allows you to move around easier. Make sure you choose a dresser that suits your ideal level of comfort when it comes to storing things. You may want to look into ones that have deeper drawers so you don’t have to look through multiple sections for just a few things. Putting organizers and spacers within the drawer can help keep things separated so everything doesn’t look like a cluttered mess and it’s easier to look through. If you have a lot of electronics, especially those with cords, it may be time to look into getting automation systems set up. This can keep the floor free of cords that could be a fall-hazard and allow you to operate your electronics using your phone or your voice. Smart screens and plugs allow you to control lights and electronics with your voice rather than having to get up and flip a switch. You can also schedule actions so you don’t have to worry about forgetting to turn the living room lights off at night. These systems can also connect throughout your home, so you can control the whole house from one room. 4. Clear Up Your Closet Being able to continue using closet spaces even when your mobility is lacking is important in being able to maintain your independence. A big part of being able to use the closets is making sure it’s accessible. Implementing door widening and an automatic door opener increases the accessibility of your closet which can help if you are in a wheelchair. It can also provide you with more functionality in your closet and make it easier to move around. Shelving and hanging rods should be adjusted to suit your needs. Make sure the rods are at a height that can accommodate your reach. Pull down rods may be a good option as well to keep everything organized while still allowing access to what you need. Shelves also need to be at a height that suits you, both for reaching and potentially for a wheelchair as well. You don’t want to install shelves so low that it impedes a wheelchair’s ability to move throughout a room. 5. Accommodate for Service Animals Service animals, while helpful and necessary, are still an addition to your house. They will need their own food, leashes and harnesses, a crate, and more that you might need space for. Making sure they have their own designated area in your home can keep it from getting cluttered with things and keep it out of your way. Having bins or small cabinets for their items frees up floor space so it doesn’t become a hazard to you. Making sure everything is labeled can also help you to remember where things are stored. A doggy door may be something to think about adding as well. A trained service dog will be more independent than your average animal, so allowing it to go outside when needed without you having to open the door for them makes it easier for the both of you. Organizing your home can not only make it look nicer, but make your life easier. It allows you to live like you have been, just with more access. When it comes down to your future, you can call the shots with just a few adjustments, and make sure your house fits your current and potential needs.

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Posted 9/15/2023

Zero Step Entry Universal Design - 7 Tips to Make Your Ramp Fantastic

aluminum wheelchair ramp with stairs option

Zero step entry or wheelchair ramps can make your home or building accessible and be a beautiful addition. However, there are many common mistakes and costly errors that you can prevent by continuing to read this resource.  Universal Design states that the entrance should work for everyone, however what modifications are needed to include everyone.  Here are the top 7 tips: 1. Who are the Users? Are They Using Any Assistive Devices to Enter the House?  The difference between a wheelchair, scooter, walker, stroller, rolling luggage is subtle. They all have wheels, but the mobility needs of the user can widely vary. While ADA suggests a maximum slope of 1 inch of rise for every foot of ramp, this is the steepest recommended and would not be suitable for someone using a walker with limited strength. The ADA specifically states, “The least possible slope shall be used for any wheelchair ramp.” Most people automatically focus on standards like this and seek to meet the minimum standard. But, users may need a wheelchair ramp to exceed the standards and be easier to go up or down. Surprisingly, more falls happen on the way down the ramp, because momentum and gravity are stronger forces. And because of the increased speed of a fall, there is more force for an injury. Know your users, and exceed their need for your best ramp design. This is why Lifeway Mobility's experts always take the time to understand the needs of the customer any others living at the home before taking measurements and recommending a ramp layout. 2. Make the Pathway Fit the House In every design, we start with the door usually in the garage or in the front of the house, and end with where the user wants to enter the ramp. This is usually where we get out of a vehicle/transportation, like a driveway, garage, parking lot.  The best tip to make your ramp fit the house is to identify where the ramp should start and stop that has the least amount of vertical height difference. Also, you need to look at the house and design along the house vs. out away from the house. This will gain you a visual benefit, ramps looks better if they blend into the structure of the building, but also a design benefit.  Wheelchair ramps are easier to use when they follow the design of the home.  However, watch for the home with short walls and multiple corners. Because a ramp should have a 5 foot level platform at the top of the ramp and every time you turn, a ramp will get longer with more turns and should be designed to be a straight as possible and fit the home. Also, you want to use a type of ramp and materials to fit the home, as you will compliment the look of your ramp instead of stand out. 3. What Type of Wheelchair Ramp Is Needed?  Is the Need Temporary, Portable or Permanent?  There are 3 major types of wheelchair ramps and ramp materials: Aluminum Concrete Wood They each have their advantages, but you first must know how long the ramp is needed. We have seen a wood ramp only used for a year because the owner moved homes and unfortunately, the wood ramp was worthless for the new home. Aluminum wheelchair ramps have several advantages because there are portable options, as well as modular ones that can be customized and even reconfigured to be moved or reused, and it doesn’t require any maintenance like concrete/brick and wood. Wood also requires much more maintenance than concrete.       4. What is the Best Surface for Your Ramp?  The biggest mistake that we see here is to focus on what it look like vs a surface that prevents slips and falls with a good grip. While trex or composite wood is more attractive and offers less maintenance, it can be the most slippery surface, especially if you run your board down the ramp like a bowling alley. Concrete gives a good surface and grip, but ice and snow can build up and be dangerous.  Again, the aluminum ramps can excel here as they offer either a black friction surface like sand paper, or a extruded edges every quarter inch that looks like grooves in the surface. This will be a much better surface in rain and snow. We cannot forget that the ramp should look beautiful and blend into the home, so many of the aluminum ramps now come in colors for the discerning home owner.   5. Little Things Matter  The Threshold of your ramp at the bottom is crucial for ease of use and safety.  Also, where the ramp meets the threshold of the door into the house is just as important. The two pictures below show 1-2 inch bumps as you enter and exit the ramps in these two areas. These can be avoided by working with a home accessibility expert.   A 3/4 in bump is all the is need to bring a walker or wheelchair to a complete stop, like slamming on your brakes in your vehicle. The difference is that when you slam on your brakes, you know you will violently stop. Using a ramp and hitting a small bump can cause you to fall down or out of your chair, you can hit the door frame as you enter or exit the house, or possible you cannot get over the bump and cannot use the ramp at all. The WORST possibility is that you have to ask for help and lose the independence that a ramps is SUPPOSED to PROVIDE.   6. Type of Handrails The Handrail of a ramp is the most intimate part of the ramp because it is what you touch or glide your hand along. A safe smooth surface for your hand is just as important for your feet or mobility device. ADA requires a smooth, uninterrupted handrail that you can wrap your fingers around 7. Maintenance When choosing a wheelchair ramp for your home, it's importance to consider maintenance and how that might impact the long-term cost of the ramp.  Unfortunately, the least expensive ramps are wood and many people choose plywood, but it will deteriorate within 2-3 years. Wood wheelchair ramps require the most maintenance because sun, rain, snow, heat, and cold all cause the wood to expand and contract. Staining or painting is required every 2-3 years.    Concrete or brick ramps require sealing to avoid cracking, and because they are so heavy, they can sink or shift, causing the ramp to be unusable.  Steel Handrails may require painting. This can add 10-25% of costs to the price of a ramp if you include the needed future maintenance.  Aluminum wheelchair ramps may be a bit more expensive up front, but no maintenance is required, making it the most cost-advantageous of the three material types over the long haul. Contact us to learn more about universal design when it comes to wheelchair ramps, or to schedule your FREE ramp consultation!

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by Eric Rubel  | 

What To Do with Used Medical Equipment

Bruno Elan at bottom landing of staircase

We get several inquiries from people asking what they should do with their used medical equipment when they no longer need it. In this post, we will share some suggestions and options on what to do with your used medical equipment. If you have an accessibility solution, such as a stair lift or aluminum wheelchair ramp that you'd like to ret rid of, one of our locations at Lifeway Mobility may be interested in purchasing it, depending on the year and condition of the equipment.   If you are looking to purchase used stair lift or used wheelchair ramp, please contact us to learn more or set up a free consultation. Option 1: Donate Your Used Medical Equipment to a Charitable Organization Donating your gently used medical equipment is a great option. With a donation, you won’t receive any money back for your device, but you will get a receipt that can be used for tax deductions. Donations allow you to collect a receipt for the current value of the equipment, which can often times be more than you would get by doing a private sale. And, perhaps the most rewarding part of donating your equipment is that it will go to help another family in need. Many of the organizations below have “equipment closets” that they loan from to help other families for both short and long-term assistance. For example, someone with ALS will have ongoing and changing needs. They might use a manual wheelchair at first, but eventually need a power wheelchair; once they reach the end-stages of the disease, they will not need a wheelchair at all.  ALS Foundation Assistance League (Hospital Lending Equipment) Good Health Will Home Builder’s Foundation Kids Mobility Network Local Lending Closets MS Society Project Cure Vietnam Veterans of America Option 2: Resell Your Used Medical Equipment If you bought your equipment from elsewhere or have other types of durable medical equipment, your best bet at recouping some of the expenses is to sell it online. Most companies similar buy back policies on this type of equipment as there can be a high level of liability with re-selling used medical equipment due to the health and safety risks involved. For this reason, you are encouraged to give careful consideration when buying certain types of used medical equipment, especially from a private seller. Craigslist Facebook Marketplace NextDoor

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by Eric Rubel  | 

Local Stair Lift Showroom in Colorado Springs, CO

Lifeway Accessible Systems Coloardo Springs showroom

Lifeway Mobility CO Springs, a Bruno Diamond Stair Lift Dealer, has a showroom in Colorado Springs, CO, with fully operational stair lifts on display.  Stair lifts provide an easy way to navigate the stairs for those with limited mobility. For many, it's a life-changing solution as it can provide renewed independence at home.

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by Eric Rubel  | 

Local Stair Lift Showroom in Northern CO

Showroom/N CO Showroom/stairlifts in Lifeway Mobility showroom in Greely CO

Lifeway Northern CO, a Bruno Diamond Stair Lift Dealer, has a showroom in Loveland, CO, with fully operational stair lifts on display.  Stair lifts provide an easy way to navigate the stairs for those with limited mobility. For many, it's a life-changing solution as it can provide renewed independence at home.

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by Eric Rubel  | 

Choosing a Home Elevator: Hoistway vs. Through Floor

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If you are one of the millions of Americans with mobility issues and you live in a multi-story home, you may have considered having a residential elevator installed. When considering a home elevator, there are two distinct elevator classifications that homeowners should consider.

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by Eric Rubel  | 

Lifeway Mobility Opens New Location in Cleveland, OH

Lifeway Mobility consultant showing stairlift brochure to customers in their home

Cleveland, OH – Lifeway Mobility, a leading provider of accessibility solutions, is pleased to announce the opening of a new location in the Cleveland metropolitan area. Lifeway will offer stair lifts, wheelchair ramps & lifts, home elevators and a variety of transfer aid & bath safety solutions to those living in greater Cleveland and surrounding areas in Ohio, including Akron, Canton, & Youngstown.

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by Eric Rubel  | 

Bruno Stairlift Dealer - Lifeway Mobility is a Bruno Diamond Dealer

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Lifeway Mobility is humbled and honored to be recognized as a Bruno Diamond Stairlift Dealer for the 8th consecutive year in 2024! The Bruno Diamond Dealer Award, which originated in 2016, is an award that is given to Bruno dealers that finish in the top 3% of Bruno’s sales throughout North America. Prior to 2016, Bruno's top dealers throughout North America had been referred to as “Bruno preferred dealers.” The “Diamond” Dealer award is recognized as a more prestigious award.

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by Eric Rubel  | 

Travel Through the Floor with a Through-Floor Home Elevator

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Savaria through-the-floor elevator Conveniently access two levels of your home "through-the-floor" with a through-floor elevator from Lifeway Mobility! Through-the-floor elevators are innovative and unique and make it easy and safe to travel between two levels (up to 14') in a home. These types of home elevators mesh practicality and can be installed almost anywhere, without the need for a shaft or an electrical room.  For anyone struggling with going up and down stairs, a through-the-floor elevator could be the quickest and best solution to help improve one’s lifestyle, and could be a more attractive alternative to a stair lift.

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by Eric Rubel  | 

7 Stair Lift Myths Debunked

woman standing up from Bruno Elite curved stairlift installed by Lifeway Mobility

As a trusted stair lift provider for 30+ years, we have heard several stair lift "beliefs" that in reality are not true. In this blog post, we debunk the 7 common myths that people have about stair lifts so that you can know the real facts.

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by Eric Rubel  | 

Webinar Recording: Modifications for Home Accessibility

Watch the Webinar: Modifications for Home Accessibility The Accessible Systems - Lifeway Team presented the 1st of our Hospital to Home webinars January 25th 2023 Watch a recording of the webinar here  This webinar covers a wide variety of accessibility solutions with live demos from the Accessible Systems showhome on Denver. It is for Discharge planners, Case and Care managers, Social workers, Nurses, OTs, PTs, Home care providers or Anyone interested in post discharge planning for those with limited mobility  

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by Amy Finke  | 

Happy Holidays (2022) & New Year from Lifeway Mobility

Blog Preview/Happy Holidays 2022 Video Preview

Watch Lifeway Mobility's 2022 "Happy Holidays" Video: On behalf of our entire Team at Lifeway Mobility, we wish you and yours a safe and happy holiday season, and wonderful new year! Thank you to our referral sources and partners for your trust and support. It's an honor to work together to provide accessibility solutions that help families remain safe and independent at home. We look forward to another great year in 2023, as we continue to expand our footprint across the country!

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by Eric Rubel  | 

Local Stair Lift Showroom in Denver Area

Showroom/Denver showroom/Accessible Systems Lifeway Denver Stairlift Showroom

Lifeway Mobility Denver, a Bruno Diamond Stair Lift Dealer, has a showroom in Englewood, CO, with fully operational stair lifts on display.  A stair lift provides an easy way to navigate the stairs for those with limited mobility. For many, it's a life-changing solution as it can provide renewed independence at home.

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by Eric Rubel  | 

Stair Lift Options

woman standing up from Bruno Elite curved stairlift installed by Lifeway Mobility

Depending on the mobility of the individual that will be using the stair lift, there may be one or more options that may need to be added to provide extra comfort, convenience, and safety. The stair lift options listed below are the ones that are most commonly recommended to meet customers' specific needs.

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by Eric Rubel  | 

Lifeway Mobility Opens New Location in San Diego, CA

Lifeway consultant sitting with customers at table in home in San Diego CA

San Diego, CA– Lifeway Mobility, a team of trusted home access professionals, is pleased to announce it is expanding its coverage area in southern CA into San Diego. Lifeway will now offer stair lifts, wheelchair ramps, and a variety of basic transfer aid solutions to those living in San Diego County.

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by Eric Rubel  | 

Webinar Recording: Safety at Home for Individuals Living with Dementia

lifeway alz Assoc logos

Watch the October 27th Webinar   Date / TimeThursday, October 27th1pm-2pm Eastern Time Julie McMurray of the Alzheimer's Association and Amy Finke of Lifeway Mobility will explain how dementia affects a person's safety awareness, explore home modifications to support independence, and provide helpful resources.

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by Amy Finke  | 

Lifeway Mobility Acquires Kansas City based Health & Comfort Equipment

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Kansas City, MO - Lifeway Mobility (“Lifeway”) is pleased to announce it has acquired Health & Comfort Equipment Service, LLC in Kansas City, MO.  Health & Comfort has over 30 years of experience in the home accessibility industry in the KC Metro Area and greater Topeka, KS, providing stair lifts, wheelchair ramps, and other accessibility solutions. This new partnership allows Lifeway Mobility to further expand its service offerings throughout Kansas and provide services in the state of Missouri.

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by Eric Rubel  | 

10 Tips for ALS Home Modifications and Adaptive Equipment

10 Tips for ALS Home Modifications and Adaptive Equipment

The early signs of ALS are when muscle cramps and twitching, weakness in hands, legs or ankles or difficulty speaking or swallowing begin. Loss of movement follows, and then moving around the home becomes progressively more difficult. The help of a caregiver, whether that person be a professional or a family member, is eventually needed. Home accessibility is better when you can plan ahead and enjoy the freedom to move around your home without big obstacles.   There are ALS home modifications and adaptive equipment for ALS patients that can help extend one’s independence, and keep mobility possible. The accessibility solution will depend on the rate of progression of the disease, the style of your home, personal finances and personal choice. Here are some home modifications and adaptive equipment tips to help you find your ideal solution: Understand your options and seek help from a contractor that genuinely cares about your situation, and that offers full service – ALS adaptive equipment, remodeling, exceptional customer service. All these factors matter. There are more options that most people know about so ask for more than one choice. Get a full home evaluation specific to your needs from a proven and certified professional. There may be a solution that you haven’t thought of. Your home is unique and you are unique, and a personal evaluation is the best way to understand what is best for you. Prioritize needs and budget. Make a list and weigh your options. There can be a difference between what is desired and what is realistic. Evaluate lift and transfer solutions to reduce the human aid element. A ceiling lift may work better than a mobile lift, for example. Enjoy your independence for as long as possible. Ceiling lifts can do the heavy lifting to your bed or bath/shower and take the weight off the family or caregivers. Contact your ALS Association Foundation to visit their learning lab, gain support from their care coordinators and learn what is available through their loan closet. Add bathroom grab bars, which are one of the most affordable and viable solutions available to help reduce falls. Widen doorways if you depend on a wheelchair or any other equipment on wheels that require a bit more space for safe passage. This extra room will be helpful to open up your home and avoid frustration with tight spaces. Consider a bathroom remodel with no threshold or barriers. Roll-in showers and walk-in tubs can greatly improve comfort and ease of bathing. Couple adaptive solutions based on a priority list. A barrier-free bathroom remodel OR a combination of an stairlift or home elevator and a TubBuddy System that works with your existing bathroom. Explore funding options that may be available for your family. Home modifications and adaptive equipment installation may be covered by a non-profit or a government-backed grant. Look for that free money. ALS Home Modifications and Adaptive Equipment for ALS Patients If you follow a plan for your situation and home, independence and safety are achievable. If you need help developing that plan, then seek out a local accessibility expert near you. Please note that home construction services like door widening and accessible bathroom remodels may not be available at all Lifeway Mobility locations. Find a local ALS Chapter near you.

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by Eric Rubel  | 

Pool Lift Guide 2024 & Alternative Solution

pool lift guide and alternative solution

To escape the summer heat, nothing can be more relaxing than a dip in the pool. Or when it’s cool, a dip in the hot tub can be just as rewarding. For people with a disability, or anyone bound to a wheelchair, and even older adults that have lost some coordination, balance and overall mobility, taking a dip can become challenging and sometimes dangerous. The risks are falling and drowning. Pool lifts exist to help people that are struggling with mobility to get in and out of the water safely, and sometimes, independently. Types of Pool Lifts There are 3 types of pool lifts that exist: Battery powered pool lifts Manual hydraulic pool lifts Water powered poll lifts. The type of pool, whether it be residential or commercial, can affect the type of pool lift required. There are also ADA regulations when it comes to public pools that certified lift technicians must abide by. Pool lifts can also be fixed or mobile. Fixed pool lifts are typically bolted into a deck made of concrete or metal. Mobile pool lifts can be on wheels, allowing a caregiver to roll it into place, or they can also be inserted into a dedicated hole or opening on the deck next to the pool’s edge. The intent of this design is for them to remain out of the way, until they are needed. Regardless of the type of pool lift, the job it performs remains the same. It lifts and transfers a person that most often sits on a chair, from the deck or even a wheelchair into and out of a pool or hot tub. Let’s take a look at a battery powered pool lift installation. Powered Pool Lift Installation by Lifeway Mobility Steve bought a new home and the pool was an added touch. He had Lifeway Mobility install a powered pool lift to benefit a disabled family member who has young children of her own. The pool lift allows the family to get together without anyone feeling left out of the fun. Everyone, especially the kiddos, can enjoy the hot tub and pool alike with mom as a result of the pool lift installation. Mom can transfer herself from her wheelchair into the pool or hot tub, which are at different heights, in one lift and transfer. Steve in CO sits in new pool lift installed by Lifeway Mobility for all to enjoy family time in the summer. Aqua Creek Scout Pool Lift The type of pool lift installed for Steve's family was an Aqua Creek scout pool lift, which is self motorize and is ideal for raised pools and hot tubs.  A person can slide in and out of the pool lift chair from a wheelchair, and with the push of a few buttons on a pendant cord remote, he/she can transfer in and out of the pool or spa completely on their own. The lift is easy to use, is whisper quiet, and it rotates a full 360 degrees in either direction. It can lift and transfer up to 26 inches high. The particular model that Steve chose has a 350 lbs weight carry limit. Other pool lift models exist that can handle lifting and transferring more weight. Alternative Solution to Traditional Pool Lifts With some creativity and craftsmanship, other types of body lifts can be adapted to perform the same work as traditional pool lifts. One such piece of equipment is a ceiling lift that is typically installed inside of a home or business. Let’s look at a ceiling lift that has been customized to work over an exercise/therapy pool that sits above ground. These types of pools are becoming very popular. Ceiling Pool Lift Installation by Lifeway Mobility Lifeway Mobility helped Dawn Adapt a Ceiling Lift for her Pool to remain active. Dawn is paralyzed from the waist down, but that doesn’t get her down. She is a very independent and active woman. She wanted to retain her independence in her cabin and regular home, and enjoy moving about more freely to spend quality time with her husband. Ceiling lifts have allowed her to transfer from her wheelchair and back. Dawn's husband transfers himself safely into their exercise pool Having already bought a ceiling lift track system for her cabin, Dawn wanted to add one over the exercise pool in the backyard of her home. Since she was already familiar with how to operate the equipment, it seemed a natural solution. She loves to swim for fun and exercise in her swim spa. She escapes the heat during the summer months. The temperature of the water can also be warmed up so that she can use it during cooler months. She didn’t want to feel trapped, and the ceiling lift allowed her to appease her outdoorsy nature. Adapted Pool Lift: Surehands Freedom Bridge The actual type of ceiling lift that has been adapted to perform as a pool lift for Dawn and her family is the SureHands Freedom Bridge. It was customized by certified technicians to be taller so it can lift higher. The bridge is a two post system along with a powered motor glides on a track. The lift is able to reach from one side to the other side of the spa pool. The motor itself is not waterproof, and that was okay in this case. It can be removed and hooked on as needed. It is stored away when not in use to avoid weather damage. Because it does need to be hooked on before use, this pool lift solution does require a helping hand from a caregiver to operate. Dawn’s husband definitely has her back there. This goes to show that with a little ingenuity, alternatives to a pool lift do exist. Dawn is certainly enjoying staying more active. Pool Lifts - Where to Start? Get started by understanding the needs: Can the pool lift be operated independently or will assistance be needed? Look at the pool and determine if there is room along the edges or on the deck for a fixed pool lift or do you have a storage shed in which a mobile floor pool lift can be stored? Take into account the weight requirement as well because going with an inadequate lift can have serious health consequences if it can’t lift and transfer the weight required. The cost of a pool lift varies, and it’s important to find a solution that will work for you, and at a price you can afford. Looking online can be overwhelming, so don’t get discouraged. You can contact us directly to set up a free consultation and one of our certified pool lift specialists will be happy to help and provide a free quote!

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by Eric Rubel  | 

Lifeway Mobility Expands Coverage in North Carolina

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Raleigh, NC– Lifeway Mobility, a team of trusted home access professionals, is pleased to announce it is expanding its coverage area in the state of North Carolina. Lifeway will now offer stair lifts, wheelchair ramps, and a variety of basic transfer aid solutions to those living in Greensboro, Raleigh, Durham, Fayetteville, Wilmington, and the surrounding areas in eastern North Carolina

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by Eric Rubel  | 

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