By Mimi Santry
Interview with Bob Moore of Collins Accessibility Solutions
There is often a turning point for older people when they recognize that their home is no longer working for them. Accessibility and safety are often key factors. It might be a steep driveway that is now a barrier to taking walks in the neighborhood or getting the mail. The deep bathtub that was once a place of relaxation now looks like a death trap. Doorways and hallways may feel too narrow, especially if the individual is using a wheelchair or rollator. That grand staircase that made the house look stately is now insurmountable. The list goes on.
I have many clients that want to stay in their beloved home, but safety ultimately becomes the deal breaker.
Wouldn’t it be great if there was a solution? I reached out to Bob J. Moore, VP of Collins Medical Solutions, an industry expert who I know is a trusted resource for many eldercare advisors and hospital discharge planners.
Collins Accessibility Solutions is a division of Collins Medical Equipment located in Bridgeport. Family owned and operated; the company has been in business 94 years. Originally a soda fountain and drug store, the business has changed considerable and now focusses almost entirely on providing home medical equipment and serving as an “Age in Place Specialist”. Bob and his team act as consultants and contractors for families who want to make changes that will increase safety and maintain independence in the home.
Prevention – When I asked Bob what steps families can take to stay in their homes longer, I shouldn’t have been surprised by his answer—-it wasn’t renovate—it was prevention. Bob started his career as a physical therapist— he is very focused on holistic solutions. “Prevention is the first thing. I stress to my clients that the best way to avoid a crisis is by maintaining their strength, flexibility and overall health. Seniors need to be very mindful to stay active, stretch regularly, and see their physician religiously. They need to be disciplined about taking their meds, getting their blood checked every 3-6 months to make sure their body is tolerating the meds, and asking for a comprehensive med review annually. It is common for physicians to add prescriptions —-but often the care team doesn’t suggest stopping a prescription. Many seniors would benefit from a careful review of all their meds and supplements”
Other factors that keep seniors healthy are proper hydration, nutrition and regular socialization. Isolation has been cited by the U.S. Surgeon General as having a health effect equivalent to smoking a pack of cigarettes a day. Prevention also includes removing clutter and tripping hazards such as small rugs and cords.
Home Modifications – Physical alterations to the home are the next line of defense. Bob says his team will do a complimentary evaluation of the home, often by video, and suggest modifications. “Eighty percent of falls occur in the bathroom, and the next highest incidence is on the stairs. Those are two major areas where we focus our attention.” Using the Collins in-house team of contractors, homeowners can add grab bars, widen doorways, and create walk-in showers. They can modify bathtubs so that access is easy for those who are mobility-challenged. Kitchens can be modified to accommodate a wheelchair. Collins is certified to install electronic stair lifts (they now match your décor) and they regularly work with a licensed elevator specialist, if that’s the preferred solution. They can install ramps so that folks using wheelchairs or those unable to manage stairs can still enter their homes.
Technology – Adding technology to the home care also enhance safety —-particularly for individuals living alone. Adding fall and motion detection sensors can improve oversight of patients and shorten the response time to a crisis. Enhancing lighting and having it triggered by motion is also helpful in fall prevention. Creating an emergency card to be displayed on the refrigerator can also be a life saver. There are several options. Vial of Life is an emergency template that you fill out that “speaks for you when you can’t speak or don’t feel well”. Another option is a digital App by a company called tendercare (full disclosure – I consult with their team on matters of senior care). Personal information is uploaded to a secure digital vault, and this info is used to create an emergency ready file. With a quick scan of a QR code, EMTs can see information on the patient including health conditions, implants, allergies, blood types, current list of medicines, and important contacts. This radically improves the first responder’s ability to provide the correct intervention.
In summary, aging is inevitable but needing to move out of one’s home is not. Families can prolong their independence and stay in their homes longer if they take certain concrete steps including staying healthy, decluttering, modifying the home to be more accessible and adding smart technology. We are grateful to Bob Moore and Collins Accessibility Solutions for his wisdom on this topic.
Mimi Santry is an eldercare and senior living advisor and owner of Assisted Living Locators.
