Stay Independent with Mobility Equipment

You are listening to Boomers Today with your host Frank Sampson. Well, welcome to Boomers Today. I’m your host, Frank Samson. Of course, each week we bring you very.
Important and very useful information for yourself, for your family members, and great information on issues facing baby boomers, parents, etca. So we have another great show for you today. Of course, as I do on every single show, I thank all of you, and I thank all of you because so many of you are taking our entire show and individual podcasts and sharing them with family and friends. So our listeners are growing each and every day.

Many of you listen on either Apple Podcast, Spotify, iHeartRadio, Audible. Some of you just go to alex and Siri or Siri and ask them to take you to Boomers Today. Of course, you could always go to boomerstdayradio dot com and listen to listen to our shows there, So thank you for doing that. But I do know why you do share the shows with friends and families, because we have just wonderful guests and share great information.

I’m not going to disappoint you today because we have with us Lauren More. Lauren works in her family’s mobility business for you Mobility Solutions. They sell install and service equipment ranging from scooters and lift chairs to stairlifts and elevators. She says her favorite part of the job is finding the solution that helps the customer realize they can still live and enjoy life, however that may work for them.

So, Lauren, thank you so much for joining us on Boomers today. I really appreciate it. Thank you very much. Frank.

Yeah, So, like you said, it’s my family’s business. So my mom and dad started for you mobility, and I’m the oldest of four girls. So I go on out and I do the home evaluations and assessments, and I get to see people in you know, everything from town homes to big old ranches and everything. But we get to to kind of see where people are at and what they would choose to do if they were able and help them make that transition through equipment.

So to me, that is the fun part of the job. And that’s great having a family business like that. You’re in the Pittsburgh area. Right, I am, Yes, sir, we’re just north of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Great. Well, we’ll talk a little later about the people. Certainly if they’re in Pittsburgh, great, But if there are in other parts of the country, how they could you learn more about me? These suppliers you deal with and some recommendations you may have. So the term mobility, what does that mean to you? Beyond just the products like scooters and stairlifts? What does that term mean to you? So, mobility equipment.

If you just ask on the street what mobility equipment is, most people are going to think transport vans, you know, moving people back and forth from their house to a doctor’s meeting or different things like that. For me, whenever, it’s mobility equipment, it is how do you maneuver from one spot to another? Is that a stairlift? Is that an elevator? Is that a scooter or a lift chair? Anything that helps you stay mobile. Probably one of the most unique things would be like a track chair where you can go out into the deep woods and different stuff like that. But anything that helps you be able to individually maneuver or train in sport is mobility equipment in our world? Got it so well? You know, walk us through you know some of the range of products and services you offer.

I know you have stare lists, elevators. I guess eight Ada installations. Maybe you could explain that as well and talk about those options. And and I also like you to address I’m sure we have people listening right now going well, my parents or other loved one.

They don’t know anything now, all right, but we want to keep them listening to this, to this podcast because education is really important so they’re not in crisis situation when something is needed. Absolutely yeah, So maybe you could address both just preparing and let’s talk about some of the products that you market. Absolutely so. For us, it is our family business, so we want it to be something we can put our name behind and be proud of that we’re selling.

So we try and keep everything made in North America. If it is a stairlift, a stairlift is a rail that goes along your stairs with a seat attached to it. It can pivot at the top of the stairs if you’ve got a doorway. A lot of people have basement stairs or garage stairs leading up to their house, so there’s a way to do that.

That way, you can still keep your door at the top. So a stairlift, you would want it to be Severia or harm Our brand. Both of those are still made in the US. If you’re looking at a scooter Golden or Pride Mobility Golden Technologies, those are Pennsylvania brands.

They are the most reputable brands for scooters and lift chairs in the US. My dad has told my mom that when our fancy chairs at the house die, he is getting lift chairs because he likes how these ones feel better. So my mom is unnotice that her Sheealy’s furniture is going out in the lift chairs are coming and next time. If you are looking at grab bars, grab bars are pretty generic.

You really don’t need a name brand for a grab bar. If you’re looking at an elevator or a vertical platform lift, which is kind of it’s like a Dutch Store elevator. And in our area, Western PA, there are hills everywhere, so we actually have one of the hilliest areas that people live in and build their homes, so we sell the most stare lifts in the US. If you’re going ahead and you’re trying to build in a place like that, sometimes people will do ramping and it doesn’t quite fit.

So you can do a Dutch Store elevator to get up and down, and that is a cheaper way to do it. Those Dutch door elevators. You can look at max Lift out in California, or you can look at Harmar down in Florida. There’s a lot of different options out there.

There’s also flex steps which just came out. They’re being sold in Florida. It is a set of stairs that converts into an elevator whenever you’re going up and down. There’s a lot of new mobility equipment coming out right now, and it’s really cool what’s being created.

Yeah, talk to me about elevators. I mean, I think there’s probably a perception and maybe it’s true. Maybe it’s not that way. That’s way too expensive, you know, an elevator versus maybe a stairlift.

Talk to us about that. Absolutely. So an elevator is always going to cost more than a stairlift. It has to, just because of how it’s made and how you have to retrofit it into a building.

But over the last six months we have seen a huge uptick in people being interested in elevators. Today, we are doing an evaluation for three separate elevators. Two a residential, one is commercial. We’re installing two commercial elevators right now about fifteen minutes from our office and we’ve got a couple other ones that we’re waiting on acceptance of the quotes.

There is a huge amount of people that are transitioning from stairlifts to elevators right now. Part of the reason of that is just appearance. So there is a stigma that people have in their minds that if I sit on a stairlift, I am admitting that I need help, and right or wrong, that that mindset is in people’s heads, and to do that in a public space especially, people are very leery of. But when you look at an elevator, everybody will use an elevator.

Also, an elevator is completely customizable. You can do an all classic seior. You can do you can do like a sliding aluminum door or a bronze door, just like you’d see in a standard commercial building. You can also do a power locked door.

So I’ve got this wood here behind me, you can actually match it to the wood in your house and it will look like any other door that’s in your house. It’s considered a power lock, and you just you put that into your home and you would never know it’s an elevator unless if you hit the button and it swings open and you’re looking at an elevator cab inside, so look is definitely one thing return of investment a stair lift across the board, you’re going to be right around fifty five hundred for a stairlift that’s a new one installed. It’s going to vary based on how long your stairs are, what your weight is now, the design of your stairs, if you’ve got a doorway at the top, or if you need a folding rail at the bottom. There’s a couple things that will affect that price, but for the most part, you’re going to be writing that fifty five hundred dollars range for a new one installed.

An elevator is going to start more at the forty five grand range and go from there. Gotcha. Yeah, So it’s a much much bigger budget. For an elevator, much bigger budget.

But a stairlift will last on average about twelve years. We are working on elevators that have been installed for forty to sixty years and they’re still running, so they’re going to last decades longer. They’re also it is a complete tax right off, and you can go ahead and increase your home value. These are not my numbers.

You can look on any real estate website across the US, you’ll increase your home value by ten to twenty five percent. Wow with an elevator. Wow? Wow? Well what about you know, again, everybody knows what an elevator is. People pretty much know what a stair lift is is CD commercials on TV and you know, articles and things like that.

What about some of the lesser known mobility solutions you offer that maybe people overlook we talk about some of those. Absolutely, Frank, do you know the number one place for people to fall in their home? I would think the bathroom, you know, yeah, that’s right, it is. Yeah, So the stairs are the third most commonplace to fall. The toilet is the number one place for people over sixty five to fall.

Right during COVID that our ramping company is easy Access. They’re a national brand, and easy Access was looking at how many people were still having to leave their homes. They’re like, this doesn’t make any sense. So they created, you know, a lift chair that lifts you just straight up and down.

It looks like an easy chair in your living. Room, right right. They created a frame it’s called a tilt toilet seat, and it lifts and lowers you on and off of the toilet, and that can go in your own home, that can go in a personal care that can go in an independent care facility. It can’t go and skilled, but that can go anywhere, and it can help lift and lower a person on and off of the toilet, So that’s a pretty unique one.

A track chair is also very unique. Where we’re at is very rural and a lot of guys they have farms and they they like to go hunting and all sorts of different outdoor things, and a track chair it looks like a tank with a seat on top of it. You can go into nine inches of water, you can go on a twenty degree grade, It can handle snow salt, You can actually take it into the ocean and then spray the whole thing off. So something like that.

We’ve been doing a lot more for kids, actually, but we’ve also done several for adults. That way they can go out and into the fields, or they can go out and still go hunting. There’s a lot of very unique options there. Another another unique thing that people are doing is a ceiling track system.

So it actually comes around a person in a bedroom chair and it is attached to their ceiling and it will lift and carry them through the house and into the shower or over to a toilet, or to their chair or bed, and that one is very customized, but it gives it is a huge help to the caregiver as well as to the person that’s using the equipment because they’re not in a hoyer lift and hoping that the hoyer lift is going to not hit them into a wall. So there’s those would probably be the three most unique items right now. Very cool. That’s very cool.

So what do you think some of the most common, you know, misconceptions or misconceptions people have about mobility products. That by accepting them or using them, they are changing. Who they are. Yeah, so how do you how do you how do you get around that? You got to be a psychologists as well as selling mobility products.

Huh A little bit, Yeah, because you’re dealing with like you’re dealing with people, and sometimes that is to let go is probably one of the hardest things you’ll see whenever you’re going to people’s homes. The way I approach it, I went to school to be a teacher, and I tutored for years and I go in and I’m like, Frank, I know that you’re kind of struggling with this stair left here? Frank, do you have any grandchildren? And you say, oh, yes, I’ve got three beautiful grandkids. Wonderful. Do any of your grandkids have tutoring? Oh yeah, my niece or my granddaughter’s got private piano lessons, and Joey has reading tutoring every second Tuesday and also wonderful.

Frank, how much do you look down on your grandkids for having that tutoring help? And everybody gets so offended when I say that, because they’re like, how dare you say I would look down on my grandkids? That is giving them so many opportunities, that’s helping them keep up with their peers, it’s opening all new doors for them. Why would I look down on them for that? And I’ll say, that’s exactly right. This is no more than tutoring. This is just helping you be able to keep up and be able to continue doing what you want to do.

You don’t have to give it up. Great approach, Great approach. So let’s talk a little bit before we take a quick break here. But used equipment all right, I mean, you know, obviously you sell quality, quality equipment and service, et cetera.

But it might be beyond you know, people’s budgets, But what’s your feeling on use equipment? When should you if you’re on a strict budget, what type of mobility products should you consider used? And maybe certain mobility products you really shouldn’t consider used. Let’s talk about that a little bit. Great question. Yeah, a used vertical platform lift is almost always a goodbye.

They retain their value very well and they will work for decades. So if you’re in a hilly area and there is a used vertical platform lift, especially if it is a Max, Harmar or Bruno lift, those three are the best. I would get one of those any day of the week. If it is a used stairlift, it needs to be professionally uninstalled, and I would only take a look at it.

If it is a Harmer or Severia unit Acorn stairlifts, they are posted everywhere online. They do not hold up. But if it is a Harmor or Severia unit that was professionally uninstalled, I would take a look at that. There’s a lot of times it’s the kids, the grandkids, a handyman service that uninstalled it and they don’t know what they’re looking at.

So it needs to be needs to be uninstalled by someone who knows what they’re looking at. That way, you’ve got all the pieces and the wiring is intact. A used scooter is going to be typically a good purchase as long as it’s a Pride or Golden scooter and it has working batteries. If it doesn’t have working batteries, I would pass.

So if you’re on Facebook Marketplace, most people will be able to find a scooter on Facebook Marketplace. A scooter has like a handle out in front of you. It doesn’t have a little joystick or toggle switch on the side. So if you’re looking at something that’s got that handle out in front of you for a scooter, I would just make sure it’s got working batteries.

Or you can put hundreds of dollars into a US scooter that does have operating batteries. Just a word of caution there, gotcha. So I have a question I just thought of. So as you know, I’m in the in the business of helping people find places to live and getting proper care.

I think you know that I’ve been into many assisted living and still nursing locations around the country, and I’m going to ask you something that’s always puzzled me when you see people go around with walkers and they have those they have those tennis balls attached to the front. I think to it makes sense. But tennis balls, I mean, is that common? Is Is there other type of technology out there to make it a little bit easier for people to use those walkers? Oh? Yes, so, I’ll be honest, we don’t even touch those ones. There’s such a trip hazard.

If you hit a wrinkle in the carpet, if you if you hit a lip on the floor, you have all of your weight out in front of you with your arms outstretched. You will fall face first. There is no alternative. You will fall face first.

So why why do I see so many walkers with those tennis balls. They’re covered by insurance, so it’s free, but it is such a horrible trip hazard. We honestly, we don’t touch them because it is terrifying to watch. One new thing that’s coming up right now.

It’s a Parkinson’s walker. So it’s called the upwalker and you put your forearm on it. They sell them from drive Medical as well drive Vive Medical. You can look them up online.

The upwalker is specifically for Parkinson’s but you put your forearm in it and you grip the brakes like this, and as soon as you let go, it automatically breaks. So you have to be holding firm to be able to move forward. But when you have your your forearm resting in it rather than your hands holding out in front of you, you if you fall, you fall to a sitting position. It also gives you a lot more stability because you’re holding yourself up from your elbows and you’re not bending your back over.

It helps your posture. So many people as they age, they crumple forward, and by giving them that option of an upright walker or an upright roll later you can find them online everywhere. Those upright walkers and roladers help to keep their posture upright and help them to walk correctly. That way, they’re not slouched forward and will fall forward.

I’m glad I asked Seth. Thank you for that explanation. So we’re going to take a quick break. I promise just to recognize our sponsor, and then Lauren, when we come back, I’m going to give you a moment here to think about this.

So maybe you could just bring up some examples customers that have had just great outcomes from services and I certainly don’t expect you to name names, but it’s always good to hear about good news stories, all right, So my question to all of you, do you know anyone who may be concerned about an older driver well? Senior Care Authorities Beyond Driving with Dignity program is a facilitated self assessment program for older drivers. This program has been designed to serve as a vital tool to facilitate older drivers and their families as they make appropriate decisions regarding the future of one safe driving career. If the individual is a safe driver, an advisor will provide him or her with strategies and how to remain a safe driver as they progress through the aging process. If driving retirement is the appropriate decision, then the individual and their family are offered possible alternatives, resources and a specific plan to ensure a smooth and successful transition from the driver’s seat to the passenger seat.

Pardon me, You could go to Seniorcare Authority dot com learn more about the services of Senior Care Authority to Beyond Driving with Dignity program and find an advisor in your area. We are back with Lauren Lauren Moore, who has a for you mobility Solutions. So before we get into the examples, Lauren, feel free to share with our listeners how they can learn more about your family’s company and also any suggestions you have for them if they like to learn more about uh, you know, products, if you know, if they’re not in the Pittsburgh area where you are. Yeah, sir, so again, my name is Lauren Moore.

I work for for you Mobility Solutions. You can reach us at seven two four three six eight eight thousand again seven two four three six eight eight thousand, or you can look us up online at www dot fou mobility dot com. If you are looking for different dealers in your area, there’s Harmer Severia dealers all through the US that you can look at for quote and customized products near you. Great.

Great, And if they didn’t write that down they were in their car and listening to this podcast, they could they could reach out to you and you could let them know those those companies right. Absolutely, if they give us a call at that seven two four three six eight eight thousand number, we’ll be able to help them out from there. Great. Thank you so much for that.

So let’s talk. You’ve got to have a lot of great positive stories. Of families and people that you’ve helped are what are a couple of few that come to mind. I had told you earlier that I do the outside sales right, and so I’m not a large woman.

I’m like one hundred and twenty pounds five to two, so I’m not overly large or intimidating. And over the summers, I will go ahead and I will fly your local homes, local businesses with elevators and stairlift brochures. And one house was pretty far back off the beaten track. It was a log cabin, and I am walking up to the door and it’s I was kind of questioning whether I should be there or not.

It’s one of those feelings like do I even come here? And so I put that flyer on the door, and I hear this huffing and puffing behind the door, and who is at my doorstep? You wait right there for me? And I’m like, oh no, Like this is how Lauren dies. This right here is what’s going to happen. So I am hearing cursing, I am hearing everything. I’m like, oh no, this is not going to be good.

And this gentleman comes up to the door. He’s like, what in the world are you doing back here? Look sir, I’m so sorry. I was just putting this paper on your door. That’s all the more I was trying to do.

It’s about stair lifts and elevators. He goes, well, do you really think I would need that? I’m like, I’ll be honest or I don’t know, but I’m trying to get our information out through the area. He goes, well, I’ve got stairs everywhere. What can you do for me? So I came in.

I was able to give him a quote. He ended up moving forward with three stair lifts. Wow. Wow.

And the reason that he was so angry whenever I was first coming up to his door was he had to park down in his lower level garage and his legs were so weak he couldn’t make it up the stairs without sitting down to rest. So he would throw his grocery bags up to a landing and then he would sit down or crawl up the stairs, and then he would throw his bags of groceries up to the next landing where the house was, and he’d unload them there. And I got a call back two weeks later, after we had done the insult and he goes Lauren and I don’t know who this guy is. I don’t know why he has my cell phone number.

He goes Hey, tells me his name. He’s like, I’m that dude with the three stair lifts. I say, yes, sir, I remember you now. He goes Lauren.

My eggs made it the whole way to the top of the stairs. I didn’t break a single one, So that was a good story. Scooters. I’ve had people that they didn’t think they’d be able to go to their grandkids outdoor graduation ceremonies and they’ll call us afterwards and they’re like, I was able to see them walk, or I was able to see them graduate.

Probably one of the most unique ones was it was for a kid, and it was he got very badly injured and he had to He went into the hospital as a healthy young man and ended up leaving and he wasn’t the same whenever he left, So for years he would watch his younger siblings go out to the beach without him. Because he had so much equipment that had to go with him, he couldn’t do it. So we were able to get him a track chair and get him to go on the beach in the water and everything, and I got a video of him doing that, and that was probably one of the coolest ones, showing them that they still can. That’s great, that’s great, those are those are all great stories.

That great. So any words of wisdom you’d like to leave for our listeners. That may be things that you wanted to touch upon that we didn’t that I didn’t ask you. If you’re considering getting equipment, equipment does not change who you are.

It does not. It can help you remain where you are. It can be one of the most beneficial things you’ll do for yourself financially as well as for independence. If you’re thinking about getting a quote, look for something that is American made.

Find the quote before you fall, not after. Everybody will call when they’ve just fallen and they need help. It’s a lot harder to come back from a fall than it is to prevent a fall. Totally agree with that.

Well, God, thank you so much. So that’s lord More. Check her out. Check the company out at forumobility dot com.

Thank you for joining us, Lareen, thank you, yeah, thank you. Everybody. Please be safe and we’ll talk to everybody next week. You’ve been listening to Boomers Today with Frank Sampson.

To learn more about today’s show, visit Boomerstoday radio dot com and join us next time for another edition of Boomers Today.