National Seating & Mobility Monthly Minute
The Essential Home Accessibility Checklist to a Safe & Accessible Home
Did you know that according to the World Health Organization, each year over 37 million severe falls result in medical attention, and of those 37 million severe falls, 60 percent occur in and around the home? Especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, having your patients at home is the best place for them to be to guarantee their safety. However, the home can sometimes present dangerous difficulties that your patient did not foresee. Luckily as part of NSM's 360-degree Complete Mobility Solution, we can help eliminate these dangers by partnering with you and your patient to create a safer home environment. 
With that in mind, we have created an Essential Home Accessibility Checklist below to identify potential trouble spots in your patients' homes before they become an issue and help them prepare accordingly.
Essential Home Accessibility Checklist
1. Does your patient's home have stairs to the second floor?
This is the biggest obstacle most people face within their homes, but it doesn't have to be. NSM provides stair lifts that can be fitted to any existing staircase so your patients can move up and down their stairs with ease. Each of our indoor and outdoor stair lifts are compact, ergonomically designed and made to last. 
Even if your patient is just going to need a stair lift for a little while, we offer temporary stair lift rentals as well as installation and repair.
2. Does your patient's home have stairs at any of their home entrances?
Most homes have two to three entrances: front door, back door and maybe a garage or side door. If your patient has stairs at their entrances, then they may be able to use a ramp to easily enter and exit their home should navigating stairs not be an option. 
Ramps are the accessibility feature people are most familiar with because we see them at virtually every business we go to, thanks to accessibility regulations. However, you might not realize that there is actually a lot of variety available when it comes time to assist your patient in selecting a ramp for their home. Wheelchair ramps can be customized to any length your patient needs and can be made of wood, aluminum and even steel. Does your patient have an entryway with a small step up? We offer miniature threshold ramps too.
3. Does your patient have a tub?
We know day-to-day tasks like bathing can be cumbersome for your patients with mobility challenges, but we believe it shouldn’t have to be. That is why NSM offers everything from smaller bathroom modifications like shower handrails and bath lifts for extra support to larger bathroom modifications like a curbless barrier-free shower to make your patient's bathroom safer.
4. Can your patient reach all of their cabinets comfortably?
Many people have more dishes, utensils and cooking appliances than they use on a daily basis. One thing they can do to save themself the stress of constantly bending down or stretching high is to put the things they use most often within a comfortable reaching distance. This will reduce strain on their back and decrease their risk of having an accidental fall.
5. Does your patient have a favorite recliner?
Many people have that one favorite go-to recliner in their living room. These overstuffed chairs are so comfortable because you can just lean back and sink into them. Unfortunately, the same thing that makes these seats so comfy is also what can make them difficult to get out of.
But, did you know there are motorized recliners that can actually lift your patient up and out of them? With the push of a button, these chairs will lift them up and tilt forward, making getting out a breeze.
Want to learn more?
Whether your patient's mobility needs are straightforward or complex, NSM is here to provide them with 360-degree complete Mobility Solutions. That may mean customizing a power wheelchair to maximize their comfort and independence,
installing a chair lift to access the second floor of their home, or simply repairing their existing equipment to keep them moving.
No matter what your patients needs, we have innovative products and a reliable team of experts to keep your patients moving so they can enjoy life to the fullest – wherever it takes them. If you have any questions at all, we’d be happy to answer them. Contact your local NSM branch or representative to learn more.
Do Your Part to Stop Cuts to CRT Manual Wheelchair Accessories
On July 1, Medicare will cut funding for CRT manual wheelchair accessories. This is the most pressing issue CRT users are currently facing. For those who have been following the issue over the past few years, the industry permanently fixed the CRT power wheelchair accessory cuts in July 2017. But because of a technicality, the same protection was not given to manual users. Congress enacted a temporary fix in December 2019 through the year-end government funding bill, but that protection ends on July 1. With this deadline fast approaching, we must ensure Congress acts before it’s too late.
Take Action
Users and advocates can be very effective in bringing this issue to the forefront of those on Capitol Hill. We must stress to these decision-makers that these cuts are looming, and we need their help once again. To do so we need to reach out to Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to fix the cuts permanently as they did for power accessories.
If CMS is not willing to act, then we need Congress to enact another legislative fix. Contact your senators and representatives by visiting www.congress.gov. On each Senator’s and Congress member’s site, you’ll find several options for contacting each of them. Request they express their support by calling CMS to request they extend the same protections to CRT manual wheelchairs that were previously granted to CRT power wheelchairs. 
Monthly Products Showcase
Although bariatric wheelchairs serve the same purpose as standard wheelchairs, the frames on bariatric wheelchairs are built to carry more weight and provide more seating room that adjusts to the user’s center of gravity.
As bariatric products become more prevalent in the CRT industry, NSM is ready to partner with you on all of your patients’ bariatric needs. Below you will find just a few of our bariatric offerings. 
The Quantum J4HD & Edge HDw/iLevel features Q4 seating, Mid-Wheel 6® Drive Design and ATX Suspension, and is engineered for tight-quarter maneuverability.
The J4 HD has a weight capacity of 400 lbs. and delivers rehab capability and performance at an excellent value. The Q4 power tilt features standard single post height adjustable removable arms and up to 25 inch back canes. Additionally, it is compatible with a power articulating foot platform. 
Contact your local NSM branch or representative to learn more about this product. 
The Quickie® M6® bariatric wheelchair features a high strength, modular frame with a 650 lbs. weight capacity that is tailor-made to your specifications. It is configured with heavy duty strength and modeled using ultra lightweight, heavy duty wheelchair design components. 

Contact your local NSM branch or representative to learn more about this product. 
The Merits Vision Ultra HD has a weight capacity of 450 lbs and has a mid-wheel drive design which provides outstanding maneuverability. The caster arm suspension allows for superior climbing capabilities and an adjustable seat width of 20" - 24" and a seat depth of 16" - 20" gives you a custom fit. With a Dual in-line motor, the Merits Vision Ultra HD is enhanced for optimal efficiency, torque, range, and performance.
Contact your local NSM branch or representative to learn more about this product.
The PDG Stellar HD Manual Tilt-in-Space has a weight capacity of 600 lbs and is designed for individuals that require optimal pressure relief and positioning. The Stellar is one of the only manual tilt-in-space wheelchairs in the market that offers up to 45° of tilt while maintaining a low knee rise. Its unique and durable architecture allows the chair to be maneuvered under tables while tilted, letting users participate in normal dining and a wide variety of social activities.
Contact your local NSM branch or representative to learn more about this product.
The Amylior Alltrack HD3 Mid-Wheel-Drive is a versatile, fully capable, very heavy-duty (VHD) power wheelchair with a standard weight capacity of up to 550 lb (250 kg). Purpose built to address the unique needs of larger users, the HD3 offers uncompromising performance and capability. Superior indoor maneuverability is possible due to the compact, mid-wheel drive footprint and excellent comfort and stability thanks to patented dual-action suspension.
Contact your local NSM branch or representative to learn more about this product.
NSM Client Spotlight
Navigating life in the bustling city of the Bronx, native New Yorker Diana Holmes doesn’t often meet a stranger. Her joy is infectious, and she loves to make people smile.

Diana’s deep-rooted love for the Bronx has been present since childhood. She grew up surrounded by her family, with grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins all living in the same building. It was a close community where neighbors of varying nationalities knew each other well and became extensions of family.

“It was a beautiful neighborhood,” Diana recalled. “I call it the United Nations of the Bronx because there were all different nationalities, and everyone got along. It was a beautiful time in my life.”

Growing up, Diana loved sports, especially paddleball, and regularly visited the local park to play with friends. During one game, she sustained an injury that ultimately required reparative surgery.

“I had a torn ligament in my knee,” said Diana. “When I went to have surgery, there was a surgical error and an artery was severed. It wouldn’t heal, and I was very sick. I wound up having to have my leg amputated below the knee.”

Despite having to relearn to walk, navigate life with a prosthesis and ultimately transition full-time to a power wheelchair, Diana refused to let her spirits fade.

“My chair saved my life,” said Diana. “My power chair takes me to different stores and different places. I don’t have to depend on anyone. I can’t get around as easily as I used to, but I still get there.”
One of those places is Arthur Avenue, a street where Italian families have owned authentic restaurants and shops for generations. As she navigates the historic bakeries, meat markets and delis, she is met with a warm embrace from the owners and patrons who have become family.

Diana also enjoys attending concerts, shopping, and visiting City Island for seafood with her daughter and granddaughter. Although she misses the building she grew up in, she loves to watch the boats pass by from her apartment terrace.

Diana radiates light throughout her community, and when possible, offers support for fellow amputee patients.

“I used to sit with groups of other amputee patients. I would tell them they have to keep going because tomorrow is not promised,” said Diana. “I get where I want to go. I still have my sense of humor. I’m alive and loving life.”
Click here to read more NSM Client Stories. 
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