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           The BENEFIT OF TECHNOLOGY

 

Rosalie demonstrates her platform lift for her Services Coordinator, Avis.

Rosalie Buck Returns Home
from Nursing Home, Hospital

Enrichment Foundation, Part 1

Five years ago ATP recommended the installation of half steps for Freda Jones of Omaha. The accessible entrance has provided Freda a pain free and safe way to get in and out of her mobile home.
Today at the age of 83, Freda is only able to bend one knee making it very difficult to get up and down from a chair. Peg Hansen, ATP Technology Specialist knew immediately a lift chair recliner would be a good solution. Peg describes, “It is important to recommend a chair that fits the owners size and frame. Because Freda is petite, I recommended the smaller version of the chair. The chair also has several safety features, including a back up battery in case of a power failure.”
The Enrichment Foundation provided the funding to make the purchase of a lift chair possible. Thanks to their support they are helping Freda to continue to live in her home. Cathy Hayes, Funding Coordinator describes, “Funding for lift chairs is a long process and only the motor may be covered by Medicare/Medicaid. Thanks to the Enrichment Foundation we were able to respond quickly and arrange for Freda to obtain the chair she needed to keep her independent in her home.”

During 2006, the $115,000 Enrichment Foundation grant combined with $133,000 of funding leveraged from other resources assisted 49 individuals for a total of $248,000.

 

Parkinson’s disease, arthritis, and diabetes have not stopped 72-year-old Rosalie Buck of David City from living independently in her mobile home. A platform lift installed four years ago made it possible for her to return home from the hospital and a nursing home. The lift eventually began to squeak and shake due to mechanical problems. Rosalie, describes, “The lift makes it possible for me to get in and out my home safely. I wear a brace to stabilize my hip and I am afraid of falling if I try to walk up and down the steps if the lift is not working.”
ATP Technology Specialist David Altman contacted the manufacturer about the problems with Rosalie’s lift. The manufacturer shipped parts at no cost for David to install, however, he determined, “The lift was a lemon. I contacted the manufacturer again and explained the situation. The company agreed to ship an updated model with a redesigned roller system from California and pay for the return shipping if I would make the arrangements. The Aged and Disabled Medicaid Waiver

paid for installation of the replacement lift saving the five thousand dollar cost of purchasing a new lift for Rosalie.”
Avis Blase, Rosalie’s Services Coordinator from the Area Agency on Aging describes, “I work with each consumer to develop a Plan of Services and Support. Safety is one of the most important goals. If the health or mobility of a consumer changes and I see a need, I make a referral to ATP. Thanks to our collaboration, we are able to support successful, independent living in rural Nebraska communities.”
Rosalie’s carpet inside her trailer was uneven and the tacking strips were loose. She tripped and fell many times narrowly escaping injury. David, Rosalie, and Avis discussed installing low nap carpeting to create an accessible path for her to the front door and down the hallway to her bathroom and bedroom. David says, “Injury from a fall that might jeopardize Rosalie’s ability to live at home has been prevented for less than $2,500. The cost of one month in a nursing home would exceed that amount.”
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