Vern Martell

Etac/Molift Ceiling Lifts North Carolina

Safe Living Solutions, LLC and Etac/Molift: A Strong Partnership Since 2020 At Safe Living Solutions, LLC, our mission is to make homes safer, more accessible, and enjoyable for everyone. Since 2020, we’ve been proud partners with Etac/Molift, a leading provider of ergonomic lifts, slings, and transfer assistive devices. Together, we’re transforming the lives of individuals with impaired mobility. Why Choose Etac/Molift? Innovative Ceiling Lift Solutions: Etac/Molift offers a wide range of ceiling lift solutions that assist caregivers in patient lifting and transfer. These integrated systems play a crucial role in care environments across various settings, ensuring safe and comfortable transfers for both caregivers and users1. Mobile Lifts for Flexibility: Etac/Molift’s easy-to-use mobile lifts provide flexibility in patient handling. Whether it’s transferring someone from a bed to a wheelchair or assisting with standing, these lifts enhance mobility and independence. Slings and Stretchers: Etac/Molift’s flexible range of slings and stretchers caters to various needs, users, and situations. From sit-to-stand aids to full transfers, their ergonomic designs prioritize safety and comfort. Safe Living Solutions’ Commitment Expert Installation: Our experienced team ensures that every Etac/Molift product is installed correctly. We take pride in our work, knowing that it contributes to the safety and well-being of our clients. Quality and Reliability: Safe Living Solutions, LLC stands by the quality and reliability of Etac/Molift products. We believe that everyone deserves the best, and that’s what we deliver. Personalized Solutions: We understand that each individual’s needs are unique. Our partnership with Etac/Molift allows us to offer personalized solutions tailored to our clients’ requirements. Whether it’s a ceiling lift, a mobile transfer, or a sit-to-stand aid, Safe Living Solutions, LLC and Etac/Molift are committed to enhancing accessibility and promoting safe living. If you have any questions or need assistance, feel free to reach out to us!

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Aging in Place Remodeling: The Real Cost of Waiting Too Late

Aging in place remodeling is something that people are finally starting to realize is a really good idea. Mainly, because it makes so much financial sense. In reality, most people still don’t want to talk about growing older. I get that: who does, really? But, there is a growing trend of folks who are not only willing to think about it, but take action to make sure their home is prepared, by getting help from someone experienced with aging in place remodeling. One of the first steps people take is in the form of aging in place remodeling to their home. Meaning, they remodel their homes to make them easier to live in now, while helping them be that much more prepared for later in life. It’s a win-win proposition. The main reason that is true, is because there is a lot more riding on your home than you realize. What you’re up against isn’t aging Actually, it is the effects of aging. Specifically, the various changes that happen in pretty much everyone’s mind, body and abilities as they grow older. Statistically, your life, health, and even personal freedoms rest on your ability to navigate these changes later in life. What I’d like to show you in this article, is the number one thing people don’t think about when they think about planning for their future. To do that, I want to focus on two topics: – What the most realistic danger is to your physical, mental and financial health – What it statistically will mean if you don’t take action to prevent it. The looming danger Statistically, the biggest danger to your lifestyle and life that most people are unprepared for (and fail to prevent) is falling. Yes, fall protection should be one of your top priorities, since your chances of falling are far greater than your chances of getting a debilitating disease or even getting Alzheimer’s (or other dementia). Dementia affects one in 14 people over 65 (7.1%) and one in six over 80. Contrast that with more than 25% of people over age 65 will fall. That equals a 17.9% greater chance of falling than developing some kind of dementia. The CDC agrees that for people over 65, there is no greater risk for injury or death from injury, than falling. And falls are the #1 cause of fatal and nonfatal injuries in older adults. According to the CDC, what that amounts to is: 29 million falls in a year 3 million emergency department visits 800,000 hospitalizations 28,000 deaths. As the Baby Boomers continue to grow older, this is going to become a very real and extremely expensive issue. Whatever you do, make sure you are not one of those people who think that you or your spouse (or anyone for that matter) are not going to be one of the statistics. According to the National Safety Council (NSC). there is irrefutable evidence that adults 65 years and older are at risk of falling and the CDC says the same thing : One out of every four people age 65 and over falls each year. One out of five of those falls leads to a serious injury such as a head injury, a traumatic brain injury or broken bones. Almost 3 million older people go to emergency rooms each year for fall-related injuries. Of those, 800,000 are hospitalized. That isn’t a pretty picture, but it is a realistic one. Now that you know the danger, let’s talk about the affect it can have. Physical effects When a person falls, there are so many things that can happen to them as a result. However, there are a few things that are seen routinely in older adults, such as: You overall health can be damaged. This can reduce your quality of life and cause you to die earlier. You can suffer permanent damage to your body, which could mean you have to be in a wheelchair the rest of your life. Once you fall, your risk of falling doubles. You could physically be left unable to take care your yourself, which means you’d have to leave your home. Financial effects The fact of the matter is that once your health has been damaged by a fall, your medical costs will continue to rise every year for the rest of your life. And, if you are one of the people who happen to fall again, you risk further damage to your body. After that, the chances increase substantially that you will not be able to remain at home alone, not matter how old you are. You could end up paying $4,000.00 to $11,000.00 per month for assisted living or nursing home care, if that were to happen to you. Genworth – Cost of Care – Baltimore You can check these numbers yourself by going to the latest GenWorth Cost of Care Study. (Look for the Baltimore, MD area.) This is why aging in place remodeling makes so much more sense. Aging in place remodeling can help protect you The most important thing you need to know is that the earlier you start, the greater chance you’ll have at success. One of the first places most people start is preparing their home. Specifically, aging in place remodeling. If you will start taking action now, you most likely will end up saving yourself a lot of pain and money in the future. How to get started Call me at 410-812-1916 and I will tell you more about what to expect and answer your questions. Then, we’ll schedule a time for me to come out and meet you, so I can see your home and assess any needs you might have. After that, we’ll discuss specific changes you should make to your home and how to get those done for you. What you can experience By now you realize that accidents in your home (specifically, falls) can severely impede your ability to keep living life on your terms. Not to mention, affect

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Does Medicare Pay for a Stair Lift in North Carolina?

Medicare’s Policy on Stair Lifts Does Medicare cover the cost of stair lifts? It is logical to begin here, as it is a common question relevant to most American seniors. The short, uncomplicated answer is, for all practical purposes, original Medicare does not pay for stair lifts. But Medicare Advantage plans may cover the cost. There is one possible exception to this rule in regards to original Medicare. Original Medicare might pay for a small portion of the cost if the stair lift has an elevating seat, which helps the rider to sit down and get up from the chair safely. However, such a feature would only be available in a high-end stair chair, which would cost considerably more than the amount original Medicare would reimburse the purchaser. In other words, the amount of financial assistance would be less than the extra cost for a stair lift that has that feature. Medicare supplemental insurance policies also do not cover stair lifts. These policies are intended to help with co-payments and deductibles for goods and services covered by original Medicare. Since original Medicare does not help, neither would a Supplemental or Medigap policy. However, as of 2019, Medicare Advantage (MA) plans can offer supplemental healthcare benefits in addition to the already available supplemental benefits, such as vision, dental, and hearing. Previous to this new ruling, services and items that were intended for “daily maintenance” were not allowable benefits. That said, while CMS does not clearly define the term “healthcare benefits,” items and / or services must be medically necessary for the senior in question and advised by a licensed healthcare professional. An item that assists with a functional need due to an injury or health issue, or reduces probable need for emergency care, may fit the bill for an allowable supplemental healthcare benefit. In April of 2019, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) brought more good news with the announcement that Medicare Advantage plans in 2020 will be able to offer supplemental benefits for persons with chronic illnesses. These supplemental benefits, which may be tailored to the specific needs of the chronically ill MA recipient, do not necessarily have to be health related. They only need to provide “a reasonable expectation of improving or maintaining the health or overall function” of that individual. Therefore, it is our interpretation that some 2019 Medicare Advantage plans will pay for stair lifts. And that even more MA plans will cover stair lifts in 2020. More clarity will be gained as the new MA plans roll out. Call Safe Living Solutions (888) 306 7137 for more information.

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Ramp Make Over

One of our customers needed a ramp from their house to the parking lot. Our team at Safe Living Solution put our heads together and came up with a great solution! See for yourself. Before After Call Safe Living Solutions Today (888) 306 7137 for your Ramp Solutions! https://youtu.be/7elcComP5Vg

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Small Walk In Shower and ADA Toilet Install – High Point, NC

Small walk in shower and ADA toilet install – High Point, NC This bathroom remodeling project was for an older adult woman in High Point. Our client uses a walker daily and was unable to get into the bathroom due to the width of the walker. Also, if she could have gotten into the bathroom with the walker, she would not able to get into and use the existing bathtub safely. As a side note, if you notice the low profile of the shower pan. These pans make excellent showers for small bathrooms. In order to help ensure her safety in the bathroom, we removed her existing bathtub and replaced it with a small walk in shower. This alone made it so she could more safely enter the shower area to care for herself. Two of the products we installed included, grab bars and a pull-down shower seat in the small walk in shower. As well as, upgraded her to an ADA approved toilet, which is just a little bit taller (making it easier to use). Believe it or not, simply adding a small walk in shower and a few other things changed a person’s life. It allows her to better care for herself and helps prepare her home for later in life when she may need more help. Existing bathroom photos Small walk in shower photos

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Enhance Quality of Life for Elderly in North Carolina

Over the years, we’ve helped hundreds of older adults and families create the best possible homes for living. During that time we’ve learned a few things that can most likely help you get more out of your life. What we’ve seen over the years are older adults who focused their retirement planning on money. Essentially, doing doing everything possible to ensure there was enough to live comfortably after they retired. That’s an important part of later life, for sure. But, it isn’t the only thing people need to plan for. The truth is that no matter your age, if you want the best life possible you need to understand what you’ll likely face. As well as, be able to incorporate doing the things that make you happy. The same is true for older adults planning for their next phase of life. Here are 4 areas of focus that I believe can help you create a better life for yourself later on. 4 ways older adults can make life even better Finances and legal Most all of us have heard that money doesn’t bring happiness. While that is true, money can give you options. And, those options can allow you to do the things that will make you happy. By getting the help of a professional financial planner, you can make the best use of your money later in life. Hand-in-hand with financial planning is legal preparation. An attorney experienced with the legal planning for older adults can help you navigate some of the challenges you’ll likely face. Home When your home works for you, you’ll be happier and healthier. Making changes in your home so it is easier to live in is will not only help you now, but also keep you safe and comfortable later. Main floor living, accessibility, home safety and other key concepts should be focused on when preparing your home. Community and local services It may not seem like a big deal now, but later on you’ll probably need to have some things come to you. (Instead of you having to go get them yourself.) Knowing what services are available in your community is important. Initially, people might think of services like lawn care or in-home care. However, there are many others you may need, such as grocery delivery, home maintenance, in-home doctor visits, social opportunities, shopping and more. You’ll need to make sure your community is going to be able to support you when you need it. Mind and body Too often, people overlook how important their mental and physical health are. By taking care of yourself, you’ll enjoy your life more. This includes exercise and good food for your mind and body. As well as, socializing, reading, hobbies and other activities that contribute to a more well-rounded and active lifestyle. How are you getting ready? That old saying about not, “planning to fail, but failing to plan” rings true. What are you doing to get ready for your future? How are you planning, so you can get the absolute best life possible? There are plenty of professionals in the High Point are that can help you identify and reach your goals for later life. As Certified Aging in Place Specialists and as a professional Home Remodeler focused on accessibility, Safe Living Solutions can help you create the home you need now and later in life. We can introduce you to many of the other ones you’ll need. If you work with us, you’ll get the benefit of our extensive experience working with older adults, their adult children and extended family to help ensure people have the home they need.  

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Certified Aging in Place Specialist (CAPS)

The Certified Aging in Place Specialist program is designed to teach professionals, such as home builders and remodelers, how to best serve customers over the age of 50 in their communities. The training includes modules on customer service, business management and specific home remodeling and modifications for older adults. These skills help us create homes for older people that will help keep them healthy and happy later in life. The Certified Aging in Place Specialist (CAPS) designation is from the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) Remodelors™ Council. Certified Aging in Place Specialist program Participants in the program learn the basics of customer service skills for older adults. As well as, the technical and business training on how best serve them. CAPS : Get the results you want The NAHB trains people how to best serve the needs of older adults. They are one of the few organizations that do. When you work with  CAPS professional, you’re working with someone who sought specific training to help them serve you better. The Certified Aging in Place Specialist (CAPS) designation shows that a person has been trained by the NAHB to help older adults live in their homes safely as they age. CAPS professionals use Universal Design principles to design a home that will suit your lifestyle now and later. CAPS professionals have been taught the most common home remodeling and modifications to create homes that are more accessible and easier to live in. Safe Living Solutions has two CAPS certified staff on our team to help you get the exact home you need.

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