Technology Can Make Staying at Home Possible: An Interview

Sharing this season with loved ones is a blessing we hope that all of you are getting to enjoy this year.   Helping people stay at home and stay with family is the core of what we strive to do, when we provide technology and home modifications.  We believe that if you can make activities of everyday living easier and safer, people will have the time and energy to accomplish great things, whether that is writing a book or being able to spend time happily with family.

We are grateful to one of our clients who has so eloquently shared how technology has made it possible for him to have more time with his family than he was afraid he might have had otherwise.  He has used technology ranging from our lift systems to commercially available computer programs to live his life well.

We strongly encourage anyone who is afraid that this might be their last season with their loved ones before aging or a disability forces them to change where they live to take hope.  It is our goal and mission, year round, to use technology to help people stay as safe and independent as possible.  More than anything else, we want people to think about what they’re going to do with their friends and family instead of how they’re going to get in and out of bed, or to the bathroom.  Getting older or a disability can turn what were once simple tasks into impossible obstacles that get between someone and what is truly important in their life.  Our technology and a few simple changes can often turn these insurmountable obstacles back into manageable hurdles.

If you or a loved one feels that they are going to be unable to stay safe or independent, we strongly encourage you to look into what technology or home modifications are available.  It will not solve every problem, but you won't know if it will help you unless you investigate your options.  We’re always happy to answer questions and provide solutions.

So please share the news, and share the video.  Technology exists that can keep people where they belong for the holidays: At home with family, friends, and other loved ones.

Automatic Door Opener

Automatic door opener

Is a power door opener a luxury or a necessity? Frankly it depends upon how much effort it takes to open the door another way. I have plenty of friends and clients who use mobility equipment who might say they've gotten used to the extra steps they use to open and close doors compared to those of us who stand and walk. We don't have to think about our balance, backing up with our mobility equipment to get out of the way when we are moving the door, or having to turn our walker or wheelchair around and approach the door again in order to close it.

Lever handles and building in some space beside the door when possible, so a person can stand or sit to the side of the door while it swings open past them are two manual ways to make opening a door easier for some people. Of course sometimes it isn't practical to provide additional space beside the door.

Two manual approaches to closing the include tying a string to the door and catching it with your hand or  wheelchair as you pass through and adding an extra handle. These pictures from www.howtoadapt.com shows both. When I work with people who choose to add a handle whether it is screwed in, magnetic, or suction, I strongly suggest they take the extra time to turn around and reach forward to get hold of the handle in order to protect their shoulders, but that of course takes time.

Opening and closing a door with the push of a button seems like a really good idea to me. It could protect a person with poor balance, save a person time and aggravation, and frankly make it possible for some people to handle the task on their own. Total Home Access Solutions, installs Open Sesame Power Doors in private homes and residential communities.

This American company provides a reliable door opener that is flexible enough to work with in-swinging or out swinging, right hand or left hand doors, which allows my clients to re-use their opener if they move. We can provide a variety of switches which best meet a person's requirements.  These openers don't interfere with another person's manual use of the door and charge themselves so they are always available even if the power goes out. Give us a call if you want more details about how these doors work.

Is a power door opener a luxury or a necessity? If you can't open the door any other way; If the cost of remodeling to provide room around the door exceeds the cost of a power opener; if you run the risk of falling when you operate the door; or if you would like to get through the door and close it behind you with the same effort that most people expend, I think you'll be among the people who consider a power door opener a necessity for successful independent living.

Let us know what you think!  BPhillips@Totalrr.com