Daily Living Blog

N-95 Respiratory Masks & Resource Information

We are aware that there is a lot of information in the press regarding the H1N1 (Swine Flu). As always, we want to direct people to the most up-to-date information available from reliable sources. Below we are providing several links for your information.

Center for Disease Control
H1N1/Swine Flu Map – with updated occurrences throughout the globe
How Does H1N1 Spread?
CDC Recommendations for Facemasks

Further, we began receiving numerous calls at the start of this regarding N-95 Respiratory Masks. As you know, we try to assist our customers in directing them to where they can get the best products at the most affordable rates. We did direct several customers to area medical supply companies that carry these types of supplies. Unfortunately, they then notified us that many of these local medical supply companies were out of respiratory masks. (Update: We realized that most of these companies have now had time to order sufficient supply – we again encourage you to check with them and possibly purchase a back-up supply should you need them).

Upon doing a search on the internet, we saw that nationwide many companies were out of stock on respiratory masks or that the products were on back-order. Further, we did see some price hiking occurring on these supplies. When a local customer called to inquire if we could obtain these supplies for her, we got to work on seeing what we could find out.

We located a reputable manufacturer that makes and distributes the N-95 masks. We inquired about their production schedule and if they expected to run out of their supply or be behind on production. They assured us that they’d had enough experience through the years as well as with SARS and they are prepared.

We are now a dealer for this company and have some N-95 Respiratory Masks in stock. Should you have inquiries please feel free to contact us.

The masks come in a box of 35 and are not prepackaged, if you are outside the Kansas City area, we do want to let you know that there will an additional cost for shipping to your area. So we strongly urge you to locate a local medical supply store.

The PFL® N-95 Particulate Respirator mask meets WHO and CDC recommended protection levels. Additionally, there is a disclaimer on the product that states that “this product does not eliminate the risk of contracting any disease or infection. Change immediately if the respirator comes in contact with blood or fluids, including body fluids. OSHA has not set a permissible exposure level for airborne biohazards.” The CDC and WHO have both encouraged use of respiratory masks, however, they are not endorsing them as resolving the risk of the H1N1 disease or virus.

Homecare Suppliers, LLC hopes to be informative for you – in all situations. If we can be of any help to you, please call us at 888-252-2205.

*We do not warrant any information on the links provided. We have attempted to connect you with reputable resources for educational purposes.

Connecting To National Organizations

Homecare Suppliers, LLC is working on a platform to connect our customers with other organizations that further our desire and mission to aid in educating on mobility and accessibility.

For quite some time we have had a resource list on our website that addresses both disability and seniors’ issues and provides contacts and websites. It is at http://www.buyastairlift.com/stair_lifts/disability-resources.html

To expand this, we are also connecting through social networking sites. Our goal is to be able to direct our customers to all available resources, articles and organizations that can aid all of us as we travel towards Living Unlimited.

We are now also on Twitter. Our username is HomecareSupply. We have connected with some great organizations and individuals through Twitter. Our intention is to assist you in easily finding our postings and getting you connected with helpful articles. Thus, in order to not direct you all over the internet, but keep things easier for you to access, we will also be keeping our Blog up-to-date with resources and information that can aid you. What we post on Twitter, we will run a synopsis on our blog.

If you find that you need some research on a specific disability or mobility issue, please feel free to email us or post a comment below. We will see how best we can assist you.

Best Regards!

Limitless Living!
Homecare Suppliers, LLC
888-252-2205

Understanding Stair Lifts

A stair lift is a large investment. With any large purchase, you want to be as informed as possible. There are many brands and models on the market today. It can be a bit overwhelming, especially if it is an immediate necessity.

Important things to consider before purchasing a stair lift include your reasons for the stair lift, your stair layout, and of course cost. We usually ask first about the user of the lift. What type of limited mobility do they have? Are they in a wheelchair and will they need a transfer board to get from the lift to the wheelchair? This is important because not all models have movable armrests and some units swivel only at the top and not at the bottom of the stairs. When speaking with a dealer, you will want to make them aware of physical limitations.

Once, you are sure that your loved-one can use the lift; you will want to consider the layout of the stairs. If the staircase is curved, you will need a specially made curved unit. There are several quality providers for curved units. These units run from $9000 to $20,000 and up in price. They are so expensive because the measurements and manufacturing of the units are very precise, and they are 100% customized to that individual staircase.

If you have a straight set of stairs or stairs separated by a landing, a standard stair lift will mostly likely work. These stair lifts generally start at about $1500 unit price for an uninstalled unit, but price depends upon model/brand. Some dealers will sell the unit with free shipping, however, in many cases they charge for shipping as an add-on. Additionally, price may or may not include the cost of shipping.

* Width of your staircase: Most stair lifts require at least 30″ on width of staircase.
* Angle of staircase: Based upon the rise and tread of the stairs there may be restrictions based upon the model. For example, on certain models the angle can be no less than 30 degrees and not greater than 45 degrees.
* Length of your staircase: Some models have length restrictions. Most stair lifts will travel up to 20 feet. To understand more fully how to measure your stairs – here is an instructional video.
* Obstruction: Do you have an obstruction anywhere along the stairs? This includes doors, door jambs or various other protrusions. It is important to site these obstructions when you are discussing the lift with a professional.
* Mounting: Most stair lifts mount to the stairs, not the wall. Additionally, it is important what kind of stairs you have; whether your stairs are wood, concrete or another material and whether they are inside or outside.

Understanding key features is also important.

* Electric versus battery. There are very few manufacturers that sell an electric stair lift. However, most manufacturers sell battery run units. To clarify – battery units are not a battery back-up unit but a battery-run unit. Simply stated, a battery run unit is a unit that utilizes a battery to run and gets its recharge from an electrical outlet. These units are plugged into an outlet so that the unit is constantly receiving a trickle of electricity which keeps the battery charged. When the unit is in use, it is drawing its current from the battery, not the outlet. Should a power outage occur the unit can be used for duration of 24 – 78 hours depending upon the brand of unit purchased.
* Worm-Drive versus Gear Driven versus Cable Driven. Each has their benefits. However one is not necessarily better than the other. Unfortunately, there is a lot of hype about one over the other, which is mostly manufacturer driven and has nothing to do with functionality or durability. They are all pretty comparable when technically compared for function, safety and durability.
* Aesthetics – Bells and Whistles. Price is often defined by the bells and whistles of the unit. Beauty, leather and upgraded features affect the price of the unit. Understand your price parameter and work from there to ensure that you are getting the best product for your particular situation.
* Warranty. Warranties are pretty consistent in the industry with slight variables. Most units have 5 year warranty on the motor and between 1-3 years on parts and components. This is pretty standard. However, something to note is that most manufacturers do not offer a labor warranty. As a result, most dealers do not offer a labor warranty for the stair lift. To equate this to an everyday situation – if the heating element were to go out in your oven – even if it is under warranty – you still have to pay for someone to come out and diagnose the problem and do the work. The manufacturer will provide the new part, but the labor to do the repair is paid by the homeowner.
* Self-Installation. Some manufacturers will not sell their unit uninstalled while others have designed a unit that is less complicated and can be installed by a handy individual. These manufacturers typically provide technical support via telephone to assist with trouble-shooting. A consumer can request installation manuals prior to purchase in order to ensure that they are capable of completing the installation. It is very important to find out what support is available to the consumer regarding self-installation and trouble-shooting, prior to purchasing. Further, it is important to take into consideration that some of these calls are not toll-free or within the United States.
* Installation – Local Dealers – To find a local dealer that can both provide installation as well as sales, it is best to look in your local yellow pages book under medical supply or stair lifts. Although, purchasing local may not be the most competitive price, you often get a free consultation prior to purchase as well as a 90 day installation warranty if they install the unit for you.
* Installation – Internet Dealers – Many internet dealers can provide the unit as well as assist with installation, however, the installation is a separate cost and may be coordinated through another company.
* Financial Assistance – Medicare and Medicaid as well as most private insurances do not reimburse for stair lifts. A stair lift is a non-reimbursable item and is not even coded by the insurance industry. Beware of dealers who state that they can get you reimbursed. Contact directly your insurance provider for verification.

Whether you purchase through an internet dealer or locally, it is important to make a list of essential features that you will require with your stair lift. Make sure the brand you pick meets your individual needs and is a match for your particular staircase.

6 Easy Steps To Measure For Your Stair Lift

6 Step Measuring Instructions

Follow our easy six step process outlined below to easily measure your stairs for a conventional straight stair lift. It should only take about 10 – 15 minutes to measure your stairs.

Measuring for a Stair Lift in 6 Easy Steps

Measurement #1 – Nose to Floor:
Since most stair lifts are custom cut to your stair’s specifications; this measurement is the most important. The lift’s rail will be cut to this specification.

What to do:

* Stand at the top of your stairs, extend your tape measure until it lays across all stair treads, and the tip of the tape-measure touches the landing at the bottom of the steps.

Measurement #2 – Nose to Nose:
Measure the nose of the top stair to the nose of the first step.

What to do:

* Stand at the top of the stairs, extend your tape-measure until it lies across all stair treads and rests on the top edge of the first stair.

Measurement #3 – Obstruction:
To ensure that the lift will not hit an obstruction such as a door or wall, you will need to measure the distance from the bottom and top stair to the obstruction.

What to do:

* Measure the bottom rise to any obstructions (wall, door, frame, permanent piece of furniture, etc…)

* Measure the nose of the top stair to any obstructions (wall, door, frame, permanent piece of furniture, etc…)

Measurement #4 – Tread:
This measurement assists in determining the angle of the track and lift. The tread is the flat horizontal section of the stair. The area that you step on when going up the stairs.

What to do:

* Measure the depth of the flat horizontal section of the stair.

Measurement #5 – Rise:
This measurement also assists in determining the angle of the track and lift. The rise is the flat vertical section of the stair. This is the height of your stairs.

What to do:

* Measure the height of the flat vertical section of the stair.

Measurement #6 – Stairs Layout:
It is important for both you and the stair lift dealer to understand the layout of your stairs. Certain brands and models of stair lifts have restrictive use based upon the staircase. Thus this is a two-fold measurement process.

What to do:

* Measure the width of your stairs. You want to make sure to measure at the most narrow part of your stair case, not the widest.
* Count how many stairs you have, noting if any one stair has a variation in height or depth (tread or rise). It is important to share this information with the dealer, especially if you are purchasing the lift online.

With your measurements completed, you are now ready to talk with a stair lift dealer. There are many qualified dealers with quality products on the market. Take your time and review all the models and brands to find the lift that works best for you.

If you have a curved unit, you will need to have a licensed dealer do a site visit to measure your staircase. These units are markedly more in price and take precise measuring and manufacturing to custom build a curved lift for your stairs.

Homecare Suppliers, LLC is a licensed dealer for many quality stair lift manufacturers. They have detailed this measuring guide online at http://www.buyastairlift.com/stair_lifts/measuring.htm. Additionally, there is an online video that allows you to view an installer measuring a stair case.