• Referrals come from a variety of sources - therapists and other health care professionals, discharge planners, social workers and physicians. In many cases there is a great advantage to having a home evaluation by an occupational or physical therapist who can determine how best to help the person compensate for loss of mobility or strength. If indicated the therapist should sketch or note, in detail, information for the installer. The Continuum can provide these evaluations; professionals from other agencies may provide the evaluation as well and then direct the information to us; in all cases we want to ensure that the information being communicated is complete and well understood. Each person and their needs are unique, there are solutions, or sets of solutions, which may also be unique.



• Safety: It may be that a safety evaluation is all that is required - we can review many aspects of the home and make recommendations regarding safety. Among others this may be a valuable service to a long distance caregiver.

What We Do and How We Do It

• We install safety bars into studs at 16" on centers usually, into tile and other hard surfaces, but rarely into fiberglass tubs - (which many apartments, and most senior apartments seem to have) unless we use grab bars designed for that use.
• We do a variety of types of railings, both indoors and outdoors.
• We provide ramps which can allow safe exiting and entry.
• We provide hand held shower units.
• We can assist with durable medical equipment (DME, see Appendix ).
• We can widen a doorway by up to 2" without modifying the frame or making structural changes and change a normal door knob into a lever handle without replacing the knob.
  
  There are virtually solutions for most every challenge - you might be surprised.
  
  About safety (grab) bars: Most bars are manufactured in these sizes - at 1 1/4" diameter: 18", 24", 36" beyond that 42" and 60" by special order. At 1" diameter: 9", 12", 16", 24" and 32". Standard, stocked and usually on hand are stainless steel for the 1 1/4" in 24" and 36" and chrome for the 1" in 16", 24" and 32". White and other finishes are special order and usually not on hand.
  
  Also available is a series of 4 special bars fabricated from 3/4" steel, threaded pipe and fittings, wrapped with a textured tape. Two of these are useful at fiberglass tubs, one as a transfer pole and one for steps at garage, to patio or similar locations. See About railings below.
  
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  About tub benches:
  Tub benches come with and without backs. Note that some bathtubs are very narrow inside and will not accommodate some benches.
  
  A transfer bench (pictured at right) allows the person to sit and swing their legs into the tub when that may provide a safer access. Transfer benches usually work better with two grab bars, one across the long dimension of the tub, sloped (36") or horizontal (32" and 36"), and one either horizontal in front, (left) or just inside or just outside of the tub. We have had requests for transfer benches when either the client or the payee would not agree to removing the sliding glass doors; most often that does not work.
  
  About hand held showers: When the client plans to sit to bathe the hand held shower is ideal. Some hoses are 5' (60"), some at 6' (72"). Also available are replacement hoses at 84" or 86" depending on where they are purchased. The longer hoses, 6', and 7' are useful with tub benches, replacement hoses add to the expense. Longer hoses and the clip-on bracket allow the user to have the hand held part close by.
  
  
  
  About ramps:
  Currently our ramp components are fabricated in advance and stored so we can respond with a finished ramp more quickly when necessary. They are built of 1 1/8" plywood in eight foot sections and have a textured surface, curbs, redwood hand rails and when required guardrails. Landings are provided for 90 degree and 180 degree turns. If you decide that your client needs a ramp it would be wise to consult the installer/contractor to determine the amount of space necessary to accommodate the needs as the criteria and the available space will vary greatly.
  
  About railings: Inside hand rails along hallways can be provided to aid in ambulation if it is the right thing for the client. These are usually 1" to 1 1/2" in diameter, usually of wood or pipe though pipe will be hot to the touch in the summer and cold or even dangerous (if your hands are wet) in the winter. The surface they are to be attached to should be mentioned in the order - it is not convenient to arrive at a home miles from a hardware store to attach to a surface and find it to be concrete or stone unless the installer is prepared for that. Fabricated railings can provide support where normal grab bars do not work well - at fiberglass tubs or showers and at steps between home and garage.

       

Equipment and installations available.
Ramps (residential only), most any length.
Specialty, fabricated safety bars

For the bath:
A Full line of safety (grab bars)
Hand held shower wands and hoses
Railings, wood, metal, inside and outside
Shower doors removed
Shower curtain rods, rings and curtains

Commode chairs (3 in 1)
Toilet safety frames
Tub seats, with and without backs
Transfer benches
Raised toilet seats, with and without arms
Transfer poles
Bed rails
Offset door hinges
Door knob lever adapters
Jar openers

General safety:
Smoke/heat detectors
Carbon Monoxide detectors
Fire extinguishers
Emergency lighting
Motion sensor lighting
Night lights
Specialty lighting

Training:
Caregiver training
Community referrals
Power wheelchair training
Brochures

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