While it’s a pretty funny shirt, it’s a fact of life that we all grow old one day, and many of us will rely on our children to take care of us.

It’s always been this way, but with people living longer, it will be ever more important in the coming decades.

Some question whether Social Security will carry on, or how long retirement funds will last before they dry up.

If money becomes a serious issue, it will be imperative that many seniors live with their children.

Aging-in-Place is a great option, but if we’re going to be living past 100 years old, at some point we’ll need to find a place to live where somebody is around to take care of us.

The best thing is to start planning early and discuss every option with friends and family. So many people are afraid to discuss aging and how they will live when they’re in their 80s and beyond. This isn’t something that can wait until the last minute. Don’t be afraid to talk about the future. Do it now while you can.

And be nice to your children. Because you never what the future holds.

On September 15, 2010, the law regarding ADA Pool Accessibility requirements changed. Under the new legislation, public and commercial swimming pools are now required to be accessible to people with disabilities on, or before March 15, 2012. This access can be in the form of Pool Lifts that can be operated by the person with the disability or a sloped entries.

Swimming pools with more than 300 linear feet of wall must provide two means of entry, with the primary means being either a pool lift or sloped entry. The secondary means of entry can be a pool lift, sloped entry, transfer wall, transfer system, or pool stairs.

Swimming pools with less than 300 feet of wall only need to provide one means of entry – either a pool lift or sloped entry.

Of course there are plenty of other requirements and it’s best to check for compliance way in advance to ensure there won’t be any problems with your pool.

Some of the exceptions include wave pools, spas, and wading pools.

The U.S. Department of Justice has more information on their website regarding the Americans with Disabilities Act at: www.ada.gov.

There are a variety of pool lift options available. Some are stationary, while others are mobile and can be wheeled in and out of storage either daily or at the end of the season. And you don’t have to have a public or commercial swimming pool to take advantage of the accessibility features of pool lifts. They work great for family pools too.

We have several examples of pool lifts on our website at: www.AccessibleConstruction.com/services/ramps/ada-pool-lifts.html

Give us a call at (866) 902-9800 if you have a public or commercial pool and you need a pool lift for compliance before March 15, 2012.

The Long-Term Services and Supports Scorecard website offers state-by-state data about Long-Term Services and Supports for seniors, caregivers, and people with disabilities.

Below is the map that shows data by state. To find additional information, ranking data and other downloads, click on the map or visit the website at: www.LongTermScorecard.org

The State Long-Term Services and Supports (LTSS) Scorecard allows seniors and people with disabilities a way to discover performance by each state across a variety of indicators including:

1. Affordability and access
2. Choice of setting and provider
3. Quality of life and quality of care
4. Support for family caregivers

The LTSS website not only helps seniors, caregivers and families easily find much needed information, it also helps states and policymakers track efficiencies and needs.

The first state LTSS scorecard was developed by AARP‘s Public Policy Institute, The Commonwealth Fund, and The SCAN Foundation.

Some disabilities progress over time. This means that installing a stair lift may be fine for now, but in a few years it may be difficult to use. Choosing a home elevator might be a better option, and installing a Telecab Elevator can minimize construction time and cost.

A Telecab Elevator is a two-stop residential elevator for home use with a 500 lb. weight capacity that is equipped with windows and interior lighting. A Telecab is sometimes called a “vanishing elevator” or “shaftless elevator” because it does not require an elevator shaft for installation. Because there is no shaft, it decreases the time to install and reduces the cost.

Telecab Elevator parked downstairs during installation

The unique design of a Telecab allows it to disappear from sight when it’s on another floor. It can be installed virtually in any room in the home that allows enough space for the cab above and below.

Telecab traveling upstairs into the ceiling and out of the way downstairs

If the unit is parked upstairs, simply choose the down button from the main floor to call it downstairs. When it arrives, walk, or roll in with a wheelchair and take it up to the top floor. It recesses into the ceiling where it is out of sight downstairs.

Telecab Elevator view from the upstairs bathroom recessed into the floor to create more space upstairs while the cab is parked downstairs

If you’re upstairs and need the space, the Telecab can be parked downstairs. Simply call it at the touch of a button when needed to transport you downstairs.

Telecab parked upstairs in the bathroom

Telecab Elevators are a safe and convenient way to live independently in your own home. They eliminate the need for stairs, or stair lifts, and provide comfort for the user and caregiver. By reducing the stress and strain associated with wheelchair transfers to and from a stairlift, it increases the quality of life for the user and caregiver.

Telecabs come with a variety of configuration options including cab and window panel colors, cab interior size, or a second door to enter and exit a different location on another floor.

If you’re considering a home elevator to avoid the hassle of a stairway, a Telecab Elevator might be a convenient and economical way to stay safe in your home.

Back in August we showed a Modular Ramp installation for a client that needed a wheelchair ramp to get up his stairs. In this instance, a straight ramp wouldn’t fit because we needed too much ramp length and there wasn’t enough space. So we installed a switchback Modular Ramp that traveled back and forth, providing enough length to decrease the slope angle.

What we didn’t show was that the other side of the house had an even smaller area, making it impossible to install any kind of ramp. No problem. For really tight spaces a vertical Platform Lift or Porch Lift is often better than a wheelchair ramp.

Porch Lift at the bottom position

Vertical Lifts are great because they require minimal effort on the part of the wheelchair user or caregiver. Simply open the gate at the bottom, roll in, close the gate behind you and push the button. The lift rises up to the next level and out you go at the top. They also promote independent living because there is no need for a caregiver to help push up a ramp. The user can do everything at the touch of a button located on the control panel.

Platform Lift at the top position

Platform Lifts are safe and reliable and can be installed both indoors and outside. They have a 750-pound weight capacity and come with a non-skid deck surface. They are recommended for commercial and residential applications and offer an ideal way for companies to come into compliance.

Vertical Lift view from the top landing

If safety is a concern, Platform Lifts can be safer than ramps depending on the physical condition of the user or the caregiver. They require little or no physical strength as the motor does all the work and problems going too fast down a ramp or falling backwards are eliminated.

When you don’t have enough space for a wheelchair ramp, consider going vertical with a Porch Lift or Vertical Platform Lift.

This year’s Medtrade Expo in Atlanta, Georgia will be held from October 25 to October 27, 2011.

Medtrade is the largest home medical equipment tradeshow in the US and provides an opportunity to review new products, network with industry manufacturers, and learn about the latest trends and practices that will help you better serve your patients.

One of the highlights of the show is The Medtrade Accessible Home in partnership with Accessible Home Improvement of America and Nationwide Homes. The Accessible Home features the newest, most advanced home healthcare products and showcases them just like patients would use them in their own home.

Shower Body Dryer

Accessible Construction is proud to be representing the Tornado Shower Body Dryer in this year’s Medtrade Accessible Home. The shower body dryer allows for hands-free drying which is ideal for people with balance problems, arthritis, need privacy from a caregiver or just like to have the latest gadget.

New for 2011 is the Retail Design Center which will display Homecare Products, and Home Modification Ideas, as well as Retail Design Ideas and Opportunities. The Retail Design Center offers solutions for your clients but also retail opportunities for new business.

Shower Dam and Weighted Shower Curtains

We will have a collapsible Shower Dam and Weighted Shower Curtains on display in the Retail Design Center, which provide the ideal solution for keeping water in the shower and off the bathroom floor.

Offset Hinges

We will also have residential and commercial Offset Hinges on display that allow you to widen doorways by up to two inches just by replacing door hinges. What used to take a half-day of construction can now be done easily at a fraction of the cost.

If you’ll be in Atlanta this year for Medtrade, make sure you spend some time at the Medtrade Accessible Home and the Retail Design Center.

Medtrade 2011
Georgia World Congress Center
285 Andrew Young International Blvd.
Building B, Halls 1-3
Atlanta, GA 30313
www.Medtrade.com

One common fear for seniors and people with disabilities is getting burned by water that is too hot while taking a shower or running water in the sink. This is especially true for people with dementia or that have lost the feeling in their hands.

These LED lighting shower and faucet lights just might help save somebody from water burns. While we don’t sell these, we’ve seen them before and think they’re a great idea. You can get these at ThinkGeek and the price is pretty good.

On the left is a lighted shower head and on the right is a lighted sink faucet. The lights are LEDs and change color depending on the temperature of the water. A blue light signifies the water is cold but if the water reaches a temperature of 89 degrees F (32 degrees C) the light changes to red.

Not only do these look great and add a touch of fun to taking a shower or doing the dishes, they’re fully functional and might keep a loved one from getting burned by hot water.

To find out more or purchase an LED lighted showerhead or faucet, visit ThinkGeek.

LED Showerhead Light

LED Sink Faucet Light

If you’re only concerned about water that is too hot and don’t need the colored lights for a visual aid, we have an anti-scald shower valve on our website.

The Remodeling Show will be held at Lakeside Center at McCormick Place in Chicago, Illinois from October 13 to October 15, 2011.

If you’ve never been, the Remodeling Show features the latest products and offers a chance for home builders and remodelers a chance to speak with manufacturers’ technical experts and other remodeling professionals. It is the only national event serving residential remodeling experts.

You can get more information about the show on their website at: www.RemodelingShow.com

We’re very excited to be exhibiting at this year’s Remodeling Show. If you’re in Chicago, visit Accessible Construction in Booth #644.

We will have select accessible bathroom products on hand and discuss how a Collapsible Water Retainer for a shower threshold keeps water in the shower and off the bathroom floor.

We’ll have an example of Weighted Shower Curtains and you can see how they work with a water dam for keeping floors dry.

We’ll also have a Toilevator that raises an existing toilet 3.5 inches instead of buying a whole new toilet. Perfect for remodelers.

One of the most popular modifications for accessible home remodelers is widening doorways to create more entrance space or to accommodate wheelchairs.

An offset hinge is expandable and swings away giving an extra two inches to the width of the doorway.

There is also a commercial heavy-duty expandable hinge for garage doors or the front door of the home. We’ll have both types of expandable hinges on display.

If you’re at the show, stop by and introduce yourself. This is a great show to meet new people where we can all help each other learn about the latest products and ideas for our industry.

Recently we discussed creative accessible home modifications and the ADA Accessibility Guidelines for wheelchair ramp designs that should be followed for installing ramps. We found a wheelchair installation that illustrates how a Modular Switchback Ramp Configuration can work within a limited space and still provide safety and ease of use for the wheelchair user.

The client for this project lives in a mobile home in the desert, and while there was plenty of space in front of the home, there wasn’t enough space directly in front to install a ramp that ran straight up to the entrance door. Remember, for every 1-foot in height, the ramp needs to be a minimum of 12-feet in length. The solution was a modular ramp that took advantage of the full length of the home.

As you can see in the photos, the ramp runs back and forth in front of the home in a switchback configuration. The options were to build a concrete or wooden ramp, or a modular aluminum ramp. We chose a modular ramp because they are quick to build and easy to assemble, saving time and money.

The bottom entrance to the modular ramp was positioned directly in front of the doorway. With a gentle upward slope, it runs the full length of the house where it attaches to a level platform landing at the top. From there, the ramp turns and connects with a level landing that runs the full length back to the entrance door.

The ramp comes with raised edges running the entire length, but for added safety we decided to install the optional handrails. These eliminate the possibility of rolling or falling off the edge at every stage of the ramp. Handrails are also easier and safer for caregivers.

Modular ramps of all-aluminum construction work great for home and commercial use. While they can be setup as a permanent ramp system, they are not as permanent as concrete or wooden ramps. If needed, they can be disassembled and moved if the homeowner or business ever needs to relocate. They are weather-resistant and sturdy, providing a load capacity of 100 lbs per square foot.

Modular ramps can be used with wheelchairs, walkers, and scooters making them a favorite solution for businesses that need to be ADA compliant. They are also a great option for people who live in rental units or mobile homes and RVs. They offer an endless range of configurations for companies and individual homeowners. We frequently use a switchback configuration when space is too tight for the recommended slope angle.

For more information about installing a modular ramp in southern California, call us at (310) 215-3332.

The Challenge for this project was a 90-foot long driveway that was narrow and steep with no way to turn the car around. The Solution was to install a 76-foot Bruno Outdoor Stair Lift.

90-foot driveway leading up to the home

Our client was an 80-year old couple with a private summer home. As the picture shows, the driveway leading up to the house was very long and narrow making it difficult to back all the way out of the driveway, so they rarely used it to drive the full distance to the house.

With the mailbox at the entrance to the driveway 90 feet away from the house, it made it difficult to walk the length of the driveway to get the mail. It was also difficult to walk all the way to the home from the curb where the car was parked.

We contacted Bruno Independent Living Aids with the dimensions and they custom fabricated the 76-foot track for us. A Bruno Outdoor Stair Lift 2010E was attached to the track. It was the longest outdoor stair lift for them and for us. The track begins at the front of the driveway and travels all the way down the driveway to within fifteen feet of the house.

Stairway and landing pad during construction

Near the house, there was a dramatic change of slope where the stair lift track ended. A custom stairway, landing, and cement pad was fabricated so the landing was level with the sidewalk leading from the stair lift to the front door of the house.

View of the landing pad and sidewalk leading to the house during construction

The stair lift can now be used for getting mail and traveling back and forth to the car. Not only does this make it safer than walking the long driveway but it’s easier and safer to use the car because it doesn’t need to be backed up the 90-foot length of the driveway.

Many Thanks to Bruno for providing us with the custom track for another big stair lift installation. We recently worked with them on a curved stair lift in Los Angeles with 9-custom turns.