Last month we touched briefly on the subject of stairlifts. Specifically, we discussed how they can improve safety for the mobility-challenged when transiting stairs. We got a lot of questions regarding our stairlifts. There seems to be both a lot of interest, and a lot of questions, about stairlifts and how the work. It ma be time for a more detailed discussion of stairlifts and how the work. With that in mind, this month our blog will be doing an FAQ on stairlifts.

• What is a stairlift? How does it work? How can a stairlift improve my mobility and safety?

  A stairlift is a solution to the problem of getting simply and easily up and down stairs, a problem which often confounds the mobility challenged. A stairlift is typically installed along stairs which are too long for a ramp. A stairlift consists of a powered chair or trolley which rides up and down a track attached to the side of the staircase.

• My stairs are curved/bend at a right angle. Can you still install a stairlift?

  In short, yes, we can. We install Bruno stairlifts. Bruno, a world leader in mobility products, offers both straight and curved stairlifts. Bruno’s custom curved stairlifts also offer the lowest available inside curve radius.

• Will others still be able to use the stairs without riding the lift?

  Yes. In most cases a the rail for a stairlift installs within 6 inches of the wall or banister along the side of the stairs. This allows the large part of the tread to remain clear, and since the rails install fairly low, the stairs remain clear for things to be easily carried up and down them.

• Can a Bruno stairlift be installed on stairs outside?

  Yes. Bruno offers outdoor models that come with a cover so that they can even be utilized in areas that are exposed to the elements.

• What if the power goes out?

  The models we sell offer battery backup, which means a safe, reliable and uninterpretable supply of power is delivered, so in the case of an outage you can still depend on your stairlift to operate and never need fear being trapped on the stairs.

• Is the installation complicated?

  No. In many cases, installation can be started and completed in the same day.

• Who does the installation?

  Pacific Mobility Center is a California state-licensed contractor. Our California contractor’s license number is 744414. Our factory-trained installers will install your genuine Bruno stairlift with satisfaction guaranteed.

Bruno stairlifts make a great Mother’s Day present for those with elderly or otherwise mobility-challenged moms. That’s why, during May, purchase any Bruno stairlift with installation and receive $200 off. Show her you care by giving her her mobility back. Pacific Mobility Center has the lowest prices anywhere in San Diego, guaranteed. Contact us today for a quote. Already have a quote? Give us a chance to beat it! Come in today and see what a difference being a family-owned company makes.

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We talk a lot about safety on this blog. We do this for two reasons. Safety is the most important consideration for the mobility-challenged. Here at Pacific Mobility Center, its importance to you, our clients, also means it’s our rasion d’etre. This time we are going to revisit an issue that, while we have covered before, bears repeating: falls.

According to the CDC, falls are the number one cause of injuries to seniors. In fact, one out of three seniors falls every year. In 2010, this resulted in over 2.3 million injuries that were treated in the emergency room, resulting in over 662,000 admissions. Some more sobering facts from the CDC:

(1)Twenty to thirty percent of people who fall suffer moderate to severe injuries such as lacerations, hip fractures, or head traumas. These injuries can make it hard to get around or live independently, and increase the risk of early death.

(2)Falls are the most common cause of traumatic brain injuries (TBI).In 2000, TBI accounted for 46% of fatal falls among older adults.

(3)Most fractures among older adults are caused by falls.The most common are fractures of the spine, hip, forearm, leg, ankle, pelvis, upper arm, and hand.

(4)Many people who fall, even if they are not injured, develop a fear of falling. This fear may cause them to limit their activities, which leads to reduced mobility and loss of physical fitness, and in turn increases their actual risk of falling.

(5)The death rates from falls among older men and women have risen sharply over the past decade.

(6)In 2009, about 20,400 older adults died from unintentional fall injuries.

Clearly, avoiding falls is a very important thing for anyone with mobility issues. One way to help with this is to be aware of problem areas of the home. Two of the most common problem areas are the bathroom and stairways. Luckily, at Pacific Mobility Solutions we offer great products to improve safety in both of these areas.

The Shower Buddy is a great and economical way to improve safety and help prevent falls while in the shower. Because it fits into most existing tubs and shower, it allows the user to avoid a lengthy and costly bathroom remodel. Designed in New Zealand, the Shower Buddy reduces the number of transfers a user must endure, allowing the user to toilet and shower at the same time. It also allows a patient to preserve their privacy and dignity while helping to reduce or eliminate the danger of slips and falls.

Stairlifts are a great way to reclaim those areas of your house that have been difficult, dangerous, or even impossible for you to access. Stairlifts consist of a folding chair that travels on a track that runs along the edge of your stairs, safely transporting you up and down the stairs while not blocking the use of the stairs for those not needing assistance. Pacific Mobility Center is a licensed installer of custom Bruno stairlifts. Our models can even go around corners and curves!

But what if you do fall? While the hazards of falling can be attenuated, they can never be eliminated. Ask yourself this question: if you were to fall and were injured and unable to get up, how would you summon help? That’s where a Guardian Alert 911 device comes in. The device can be worn on your person, allowing you to quickly and easily summon help with the push of a button in the case of a slip or fall. With a Guardian Alert device, help is never far away, allowing for greater self-reliance and greater peace of mind for your loved ones.

This month, we are offering a special deal. Purchase any Shower Buddy or Bruno stairlift and receive a free Guardian Alert 911 device! Now you can protect yourself, enhance your independence, and insure the peace of mind of your loved ones all at the same time. Pacific Mobility Center is San Diego’s family-owned and -operated choice for all your mobility and accessibility needs. Contact us today or come on in and see what we can do for you!

For the mobility-challenged, the scope of life and activities can slowly begin to shrink. As mobility decreases, so does one’s ability to go places and do things because no matter how hard we try, some places are difficult or impossible to make easily accessible. There is no better feeling in the world than getting that new powerchair or scooter and suddenly seeing your horizon zoom back out. Going places and doing things suddenly becomes possible again, and life resumes its status as a participation sport. Until, that is, you need to take that powerchair or scooter somewhere farther than it can be reasonably or easily driven on its own. That’s where vehicle accessibility and safety comes in.

Vehicle lifts make getting into and out of your vehicle a cinch. Vehicle lifts also vastly increase safety by reducing the risk of falls, or even worse, spills involving your scooter or powerchair. In fact, according to this 2012 study in the American Journal of Public Health, falls and transportation are the two leading causes of injury to disabled people. Clearly, both the ability to enter and exit your vehicle safely and the ability to also operate it safely are both important and a vital part of reclaiming your life.

The first step to getting a vehicle lift is identifying what type of vehicle lift and valet seating are right for you. What’s the difference between valet seating and vehicle lifts? Easy! Valet seating is designed to get you safely into and out of your vehicle, while vehicle lifts are designed to do the same for your scooter or powerchair. While valet seating is pretty straightforward, the types and actions of vehicle lifts can range widely, but mostly involve variants on a few basic types. Valet Seats are car seats that replace your existing car seats and generally work by turning, then extending out and lowering you safely. Bruno Valet Seats do not require structural modification to your vehicle and can be removed and reinstalled in your next vehicle, which will save you money and will not affect your vehicle’s resale value. Vehicle Lifts are designed to lift and lower your wheelchair safely into and out of your vehicle. Some vehicle lifts can be operated with you in your chair, while others require the chair to be empty. At Pacific Mobility, we offer over 20 different types of Bruno Vehicle Lifts that range from simple modular winching systems to fully lifting platforms. With a range of products like this, we are sure to have the right vehicle lift for you.

Here at Pacific Mobility, we consider the safety and comfort of our customers a top priority. That’s why this month, March 2013, we are offering our customers a special deal: Purchase any Bruno vehicle lift or valet seating with installation and receive $150 off labor! That’s right, our factory-trained and certified installation techs will safely and quickly install your new Bruno vehicle lift or valet seating and you will receive $150 off their labor. This offer is only good through March 31^st, so be sure to call or come in today so our friendly and knowledgeable sales staff can help you select the Bruno vehicle lift or valet seating that’s right for you, your vehicle, and your scooter and powerchair. Come in today and see the difference that being locally- and family-owned and operated can make for you and your buying experience.

Bathrooms are the site of the most falls by senior citizens. Slippery surfaces and activities that involve bending, sitting, and standing conspire to make bathrooms extremely dangerous areas of the home for those who have mobility issues. It’s all too easy to slip in the shower or fall while trying to stand after using the bathroom and hit heavily on the abundance of hard surfaces or the hard floor. This also makes a fall in the bathroom even more dangerous since a fall in the bathroom can more easily result in a serious injury. And due to the nature of what bathrooms are commonly used for, a fall and injury may also add embarrassment to that injury when calling for help. No one wants to have call for help and be found in a mortifying situation.

Consequently, for the mobility-impaired bathroom safety must be a top priority. However, not everyone has the money or the ability to remodel their bathrooms and add walk-in tubs or lifts. This does not preclude the need for safety. Therefore, we are going to discuss a more economical and easier solution for those with budgetary restrictions, those who rent, or those who simply do not want to go through the time and trouble of remodeling.

Installing grab rails in a bathroom is an easy and economical way to add safety in a troublesome area of the home.

What is that solution? Grab rails. Grab rails are easily grasped handles that can be affixed to the wall in a bathroom or other trouble areas of the home in order to give seniors and others with mobility issues something to hold on in order to more easily lift themselves or to improve safety during times when they might easily slip and fall. Grab rails are simple and easy to install with a minimum of damage to the walls to which they are attached. Grab rails are also more economical than lifts or walk-in tubs. For these reasons, if you rent your home or are otherwise unable to or not thrilled by the prospect of remodeling your bathrooms, grab rails may be just the perfect solution for you.

Pacific Mobility Solutions is your go-to company for sales of grab rails in San Diego. Locally owned, Pacific Mobility Solutions is a family operated business that understands the unique needs and issues of the mobility challenged in the San Diego area. And right now, we are having a special sale. Buy any three grab bars at the regular price of $125 each, and we’ll give you a fourth for free. This sale is only good during the month of February, so make sure to hurry in and pick up your grab bars today! Please contact us with any questions regarding this or any other issue, and see what a difference experience and family ownership makes when choosing and purchasing mobility assistance products. From grab bars, lifts, and vehicle controls to scooters, power chairs, and walking aids, our friendly and knowledgeable sales staff has the experience to help you make the right choice for your budget and your lifestyle. We offer installation of some products, too! Come on in today and see us to reclaim your freedom and reclaim your life. We make mobility easy. We are Pacific Mobility Solutions.

There are many different varieties of canes. They come in many different shapes and styles, are made of different materials, and can range widely in price. While some choices when it comes to cane style are merely a matter of personal preference, some options can affect your health and safety. Knowing how to choose the right cane, and knowing how to use that cane correctly, are very important matters for those who need some mobility assistance. A cane works by widening your base of support and decreasing the amount of weight and stress on the lower joints. The right cane for you, when used correctly, can improve your balance and ease pain in the lower joints while lowering your risk of falling. So how do you know which cane is the right cane, and how do you use it correctly? Some style options when it comes to choosing a cane are solely a matter of personal taste. Color is purely cosmetic. The handle style should be chosen according to the personal comfort of the user. Materials should be chosen according to weight and price, as some materials weigh more than others or are more or less expensive. Some canes also fold, making them easier to carry. These are decisions that make little difference to the health and safety or the user. Some options, however, can have a large impact on the health of the user and the safety of using the cane. The style of the cane and the size of the cane are of tantamount importance when it comes to choosing the correct cane and being able to use it correctly. Canes mostly come in two styles.

Single point canes, as the name implies, have only a single point of contact with the ground.

Multi-point canes have multiple points of contact and usually come in three or four point varieties.

Different users will have different needs when it comes to choosing between these two styles. Single point canes are usually all someone with arthritis needs, but users with neurological impairments tend to put more weight on the cane and thus multi-point canes are recommended for those users.

When being fitted for a cane, wear your normal walking shoes. Stand tall and keep your arms at your sides. This ensures the cane will be sized correctly and will avoid the need for stooping to use a cane that is too short or suffering a lack of support from a cane that is too tall. The curve of a properly fitted cane should reach to the crease of your wrist. Remember, if you are slumping to use the cane, it is too short, and if you are not able to put your weight on it properly it is too tall. Don’t be afraid to keep trying canes until you find one that is sized just right. Once you have found the right cane, it is time to learn to use it correctly. Canes are used on your strong side, not your weak side as most people think, but are moved in time with your weak side. Advance the cane a few inches in front of you in time with your weak side, and let the cane take some of the weight as you move forward slowly. This way the cane shares the load of the weak side, but is handled by the strong side to avoid putting undue stress on your weak side. When climbing stairs with a cane, start with your strong side leg first and then follow with your weak side and cane together. When descending stairs, start with the weak side alone first and then follow with the strong side and cane simultaneously. Just remember, “Up with the good and down with the bad.” This may take some practice, but once you get the hang of it, you will be climbing up and down staircases in no time! We offer a wide range of canes at Pacific Mobility Solutions and our knowledgeable salespeople are able to assist you with selecting the right cane style and size. Contact us or come in today and see what a difference being locally and family owned and operated makes for you in your buying experience!

The holidays are a time of family, giving and thanksgiving. My family has a tradition: every year at Thanksgiving, before we eat, we circle up and everyone goes around and says a few things they are grateful for. As I reflected this year on what I was going to say, one thing was very easy for me. I am very thankful for the wonderful opportunity I have to serve you, my customers, doing what I love and doing it surrounded by my family and friends. Many years ago when this business was started, I had a vision to build a successful business giving people their lives back and doing it by being friendly, helpful, neighborly, and by having the lowest prices around. Now, years later, that has really paid off. As a family owned and operated business, I get to work every day with my family and close friends, and I get to serve my customers, many of whom are my neighbors, by giving them the best prices and best service around. It has been a very rewarding experience for me, and I have finally learned the truth behind that old adage that if you do something you love, you never work a day in your life.

With the holidays upon us, family becomes the focus and spending time with family is the whole point of the season. Please do not let limited mobility hold you back from that. Come in and see us today and experience the difference that a family owned and operated local business can make on your buying experience. We love what we do and it shows in everything that we do!

Pacific Mobility Solutions is a family owned and operated business. As such, we understand the importance of family and what it means to be able to enjoy the holidays with our families. Many of our clients are parents or grandparents struggling with mobility issues. We are here to help.

As Halloween approaches, we look back at the great times we had taking our children out to do trick-or-treating. The cute costumes, the joy in their eyes, the occasional fright, the reassurance they felt knowing we were right there with them, the feeling of safety we had escorting them…it was a treasured time of family and fun. But many people with mobility issues think these days are over forever for them. After all, it’s hard to take someone out to trick-or-treat when one struggles with mobility.

At Pacific Mobility Solutions, we understand and care. We also have a myriad of solutions available for our customers to help get them back out enjoying quality family time again! We offer a wide range of scooters to help the mobility-challenged take back their lives and start enjoying that quality family time again.

Consider the Victory 10. It is designed for outdoor stability and handling while still being able to handle indoors politely with it’s 10-inch, non-scuffing wheels, LED headlight, backlit battery gauge, and crushproof basket. It is also designed for comfort with special foam inserts and a 350 pound weight capacity. The best part is that it is also designed for ease on your wallet, too, and Pacific Mobility Solutions offers the lowest prices in San Diego, guaranteed!

The Victory 10 is just one of our wide range of scooters we offer for sale, but if you aren’t quite ready to buy, would like to try out a model before you purchase, or generally do okay but need a little extra help for things like family activities or vacations (or if you are traveling to beautiful San Diego on vacation!), we also offer models for rent with terrific prices.

Come on in, or contact us today to reclaim your life and make family time your time again today!

One of the misconceptions the mobility-challenged may have is that they will no longer be able to enjoy their pools or spas. At Pacific Mobility Solutions, we challenge this with our complete line of Pool Lifts. Swimming has many health and relaxation benefits, and we feel very strongly that our customers should not miss out on these important activities.

While pool lifts come in a number of configurations and styles to fit many different budgets and needs, and have varying designs, all are designed to perform the same basic task. They lift the user off the ground, rotate him or her over the water, and then lower him or her into the water. They then lift the user out of the water, rotate until over the ground, and then gently lower the user to the ground Since they are designed with the mobility-challenged in mind, the need of some users to easily transfer from a wheel chair has been accommodated. Pool lifts vary in two main ways: the manner in which they are powered, and whether or not their rotation is powered.

Hydraulic Pool Lifts use the power of water to lift you in and out of your pool, and most models are powered by nothing more complicated than a garden hose. Simply attach your hose and let the power of water do the rest. These models are a nice combination of simplicity and economy for those users who can run a a garden hose to their lifts. Battery Powered models are powered by a rechargeable battery and use the power of electricity to lift and rotate. These models are ideal for those users who either cannot or do not want to run a garden hose to their lifts. Finally, Manual Pump Pool Lifts are powered by the user’s own pumping of the device. These lifts, while economical, may not be the best choice for individuals who struggle with strength issues. Some models require the user or their helper to rotate over the water and back over land, while some also provide power for this rotation as well as lifting and lowering.

At Pacific Mobility Solutions, we offer a variety of models to better serve our customers. We know needs as well as space requirements and budgets vary. We always do our best to work with customers, approaching each and every situation as unique and attempting to provide a solution that fits both the customers needs and their budget. Please contact us or come in and let one of friendly, knowledgeable, and factory-certified staff assist you in finding the right lift for you!

We’ll have you enjoying your pool or spa again in no time. As a locally- and family-owned business, we know the value of both repeat and word of mouth advertising and we strive to create an experience that our customers will want to brag about and experience again and again for all their mobility needs. Call or come in today and experience for yourself the benefits of dealing with the true professionals.

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New laws passed in many states requiring voters to present valid state or federal identification are bringing back to light a subject often overlooked in the modern American political landscape: disabled voter disenfranchisement. As many as 37 states have passed or are considering voted ID legislation, which could potentially affect, amongst other groups, disabled and elderly voters disproportionately. Disabled and elderly voters are less likely to have ID, and would be prevented from voting under the new or proposed laws. There are also other alarming trends.
A recent study by Rutgers University reveals disabled and elderly voters were disproportionately less likely to vote, a new article by NBC reports. According to the study, disabled and elderly voters were 7% less likely to vote than other groups of voters. The reason? In short, mobility. The study reports that despite court rulings, less than 33% of polling places were completely obstruction-free.
How is this possible in modern America? How can a federal court order be so blatantly flouted? One way state and local governments dodge the order is by allowing absentee ballots and curbside voting. Absentee ballots are ballots mailed in by the voter ahead of the election date. Curbside voting involves mobility-challenged voters staying in their cars while poll workers bring their ballot out to them and assist them in voting. Both of these methods, however, have drawbacks.
Many disabled voters feel that while these options are convenient, some feel they are poor substitutes for voters who want to vote traditionally. Absentee ballots must be mailed well ahead of election dates to ensure they are valid, and hence voters may miss the opportunity to change their planned vote at the last minute due to late breaking developments with a particular party or candidate. In addition, absentee ballots are often not counted unless the race is close. With approximately 11% of voters currently disabled and as many as 36% of voters of 65 disabled, this can lead to the disenfranchisement of a large segment of the population. Voters 65 and older alone comprise 17% of registered voters. Curbside voting is usually counted in the regular vote, but can sometimes lead voters to feel embarrassed or as if they are burdening overworked poll workers. This can lead many disabled voters to avoid using it where available, leading to a drop in the number of disabled people casting ballots.
“People with disabilities should have the same options as everyone else has,” Lisa Schur, a Rutgers University associate professor, said in the article. “Voting in a polling place is an important and symbolic ritual.” Do you feel the same, but are having trouble with your mobility or having trouble accessing your polling place? Pacific Mobility Solutions is here to help.

How Can Pacific Mobility Solutions Help You?

If you are disabled and/or suffering mobility difficulties, please come and see us or call us at (760) 471-8884 to schedule an appointment or drop on in to take a free test drive one of our powerchairs and to find out more about having your vehicle equipped. Many of our powerchairs are capable of negotiating many of the obstacles you may find in real-world situations such as polling places. We’d love to help you find the right one for you, and we can even help you with the Medicare paperwork. We also rent powerchairs and scooters. Come see us today!