Category: News

As people get older, they sometimes believe they should stay at home and limit the amount of traveling they do. This is especially a common thought for elderly people with disabilities. If you have an aging parent who likes to travel, but might not feel completely safe doing so, there are several things you can do to make them feel more confident. According to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics, roughly 23% of people with disabilities require a mobility device to travel. The good news is those devices are more readily available than ever before. Here are some tips to help you travel easily with an aging parent.

Pack All Medication In A Separate Bag

If your aging parent takes medication regularly, be sure to pack everything in separate containers with labels and put them all in a separate bag. It’s easy for medication to get mixed up when you’re away from the routine of being at home. Depending on where you’re traveling, it could also be valuable to have your parent’s doctor list out the medications they take, along with the associated conditions or medical problems they have. This could make the process of going through customs easier and lead to a better overall travel experience.

Request Special Services If Required

Plan ahead and see what special services are available at every step of your travel. If you’re traveling by airplane, this may mean requesting wheelchair service throughout your flight. Of course, if you’re driving yourself, then investing in an auto lift to carry a wheelchair or mobility scooter is a necessity. Think about the hotel you’re staying at, the activities you plan to do, the restaurants you will eat at and other parts of your trip to ensure the places offer special services your aging parent needs.

Allow For Extra Time

It’s important to allow for some extra time no matter what you’re doing on your trip. Things can happen to slow down the process, and your aging parent may not be able to make up time like you can. Getting to the airport an hour earlier than you normally would might mean you have to wait longer for your flight, but it could also make the experience less stressful. The idea is to make traveling with an aging parent as simple as possible, and giving yourself extra time for each activity is a good way to achieve this.

Plan Activities Designed For Accessibility

Make sure every activity you participate in on your trip is accessible for people with disabilities or mobility limitations. Activities will be much more enjoyable for your loved one if they can ride their mobility scooter instead of walking. Plus, you may be able to see and do more things since riding a mobility scooter is less exhausting than walking everywhere. Planning your activities accordingly can make a big difference in your overall travel experience.

Next Day Access is here to open up your options when it comes to traveling with an aging parent. Whether you need an auto lift, a mobility scooter, a wheelchair or any other mobility device, we have multiple options to choose from. Don’t let a mobility limitation force you to cancel your travel plans. Instead, give us a call and see what solutions we have available to help.

Whether you’re a caregiver caring for a loved one or you’re a senior striving for independent living, maintaining good eye health is important. It’s a common thought among seniors that their eye health will naturally deteriorate as they get older, so they don’t do much to protect them as a result. The good news is you don’t have to go out of your way too much to maintain your eyes if they are already healthy. Switching to some healthy habits may be the biggest adjustment, but here are some tips to consider.

Limit The Use Of Eye Drops

If you have any problems with your eyes and use over-the-counter eye drops as a solution, consider limiting them. The immediate relief from the pain you’re experiencing could just be covering up the underlying issue and may lead to bigger problems later. Consider using eye drops prescribed by your ophthalmologist instead of over-the-counter brands so you know exactly what you’re putting into your eyes and can feel confident you aren’t damaging them any further.

Consider Taking Multivitamins

Vitamins and supplements can be crucial to good eye health. Many people don’t get all of the nutrients they need as part of a regular diet, but it’s also not ideal for most people to take dozens of pills every day. Part of your healthy habits routine can be to find a good multivitamin with plenty of Vitamin A, B, C, D and E. These vitamins are known for maintaining good eye health and also preventing glaucoma. Omega-3 fatty acids also have proven to prevent glaucoma, so taking fish oil every day can be a valuable part of your routine. Just be sure to check with your doctor so you can take the proper doses of multivitamins and supplements to boost your eye health.

Load Up On Fruits And Vegetables

While multivitamins are great and beneficial, there’s no substitute for eating natural fruits and vegetables. Vegetables like tomatoes, sweet potatoes, green leafy vegetables, broccoli and bell peppers are high in Vitamin A. Fruits like strawberries, lemons, grapefruit, oranges and other berries are high in Vitamin C. And if you want to incorporate sources of fatty acids as well, add some walnuts, almonds, sunflower seeds, chia seeds or flax seeds to your diet. Developing healthy habits don’t have to be boring or hard to swallow. Get creative with meal planning and incorporate a good mix of these ingredients to keep meals exciting and healthy at the same time.

Sometimes genetics or other factors can make your eye health deteriorate no matter what you try. At the very least, incorporating these healthy habits can prevent any eye damage from getting worse or slow down the development of poor eye health. Next Day Access can also help people who may have poor eyesight by providing accessibility solutions throughout the home. Strategic placement of grab bars can prevent falls and help people with limited vision walk around easier and safer. If you have any questions about how we can help make your home more accessible, contact us at any time.

Dealing with knee pain can significantly decrease a person’s quality of life. When you can only walk for a limited distance before needing to sit down a take a break, it can make you feel like all you want to do is stay home and lay on the couch. At a certain point, you may be thinking about knee replacement surgery. It’s a common procedure that usually has positive outcomes, so it’s well worth pursuing for most people. However, it’s important to know you’ll need to relax as much as possible for several weeks following the surgery, so get your temporary wheelchair ramp and other accessibility solutions taken care of now. Here’s a quick guide on how to help you have a successful knee replacement recovery.

Prepare Your Home Before The Surgery

The first few weeks following your surgery may be difficult, so prepare your home accordingly to make moving around easier. This can include installing a temporary wheelchair ramp so you don’t have to use stairs to get in your home. Many people also say grab bars are essential to help with balance and stability. And if you don’t believe you’ll be able to stay inside all the time, consider looking into scooter rental so you can ride around the block to get some fresh air.

Move Slowly And Carefully For The First Few Weeks

Following your surgery, the goals for the first few weeks are to slowly increase your activity and movements, reduce your pain and avoid falling. Your doctor will give you some exercises to achieve the first two goals, but you may need some help with the third goal of avoiding falls at first. The placement of grab bars in common areas where you move around can be critical to help you out. And remember to ask a family member, friend or neighbor to help you out if you need it. The last thing you want to happen is to fall and experience a significant setback in your recovery efforts.

Build Strength And Maintain A Healthy Diet

After about six weeks you should be feeling a little stronger and have more stability when standing and walking. When you feel like you can increase the intensity of your exercises, your doctor will give you specific exercises for strength-building. This is a vital step in your recovery to feeling back to normal. Just be sure to not overexert yourself to the point where you suffer an injury and set back your recovery as a result. Combining strength exercises with a healthy diet can help you feel better quickly and safely.

Next Day Access is here to help patients have a smooth and successful recovery. One of our most popular products is grab bars since they provide a reliable aid for people with limited mobility following knee replacement surgery. We can also quickly install a temporary wheelchair ramp while you recover and remove it when you’re back to normal. If you’re getting prepared for knee replacement surgery, contact us today to schedule a consultation and see how we can help make your recovery experience as simple as possible.

Summertime brings more opportunities for attending outdoor events and participating in outdoor activities. However, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, people over the age of 65 are more prone to heat-related illnesses, injuries and other health problems. Whether you’re a caregiver choosing outdoor activities for elderly people or if you are a senior looking for things to do this summer, be sure and consider these tips to prevent injuries this summer.

Stay Hydrated

Hydration is critical for people of all ages, but especially seniors. Don’t wait until you’re thirsty to get a drink on a hot day. When you know you’ll be spending time outdoors, start drinking water as early as possible to give your body a head start on hydration. Being dehydrated is one of the main reasons why people suffer heat-related illnesses, and it’s completely preventable. Hydration can also prevent muscular injuries and cramping as you do outdoor activities.

Warm-Up Before Doing Activities

Whether you’re going for a walk, gardening, mowing grass or anything else, do some stretches to loosen up your muscles beforehand. Even outdoor activities for elderly people that aren’t usually strenuous can be stressful when you factor in the heat and humidity. Getting your muscles warm and loose can help prevent injuries that could put you in a difficult position if you are unable to get back in your home easily.

Wear Supportive Footwear

If you have a hard time walking in general, then you may consider investing in a mobility scooter to get places more quickly and with less effort. But if you will be walking a lot for any summer activity, then choose proper footwear that provides adequate support. Without this support, you may feel some pain in your ankles, knees and sometimes even through your back and shoulders. Wearing shoes without good support can make you more prone to injuring yourself by making you favor one side while walking, which can throw your body off balance.

Use Proper Tools When Working Outdoors

Any time you’re working on an outdoor project, be sure to use the proper tools available to make the job easier. This even includes using a porch lift to get to your backyard rather than walking down the stairs. If you’ll be gardening, consider using tools with long handles so you won’t have to bend over as much. Too much bending, squatting and kneeling can be painful on your joints and might increase the risk of injuring yourself.

Next Day Access wants to help seniors have a safe summer experience. We offer a wide range of mobility products and home accessibility solutions to fit your specific needs. Anything from a porch lift to a mobility scooter or even a simple wheelchair ramp can make your life at home easier, more accessible and safer. Enjoy a safe and relaxing summer this year full of activities and contact us at any time if an accessibility solution could provide you with a better experience.

As a business owner, one of the most appreciated things you can provide to your employees is a welcoming workplace. This could mean having an open concept with areas to relax while working, always having your door open for conversations and much more. But for a person with disabilities, a welcoming workplace may mean something different. They may appreciate a wheelchair ramp or a stair lift more than anything else, so those are things you should take into consideration when creating a welcoming environment. Here are some other ideas to help you create a great place to work, even if you have one or more people with a physical disability.

Install A Wheelchair Ramp Or Stair Lift

A wheelchair ramp installed at an entrance can make a huge difference for a person with disabilities. Even a step a few inches high can be challenging since lifting their feet that much could make them lose balance or be painful. A stair lift is also a great addition to your workspace if stairs are required to navigate the building throughout the day. These are quick and simple additions that don’t require major renovations, and anyone with a physical disability would appreciate them greatly.

Encourage Open Conversation

Many people with a physical disability have a hard time talking about their needs for various reasons. They may not want to be treated any differently than others or they simply don’t like asking for assistance. As a business owner, being approachable and helping employees feel comfortable talking to you is very valuable. If you have an employee with a physical disability, take a proactive step and encourage them to have an open conversation with you about what could make your workspace easier for them to navigate. By showing you care about them, they may appreciate the workspace even more and be more prideful in the work they do.

Be Proactive With Accessibility

Even if you have a conversation with a person with disabilities about their needs, they may not express everything that could make their life easier. You could take proactive steps and identify some of their actions and recognize what you need to do to help them. Installing a stair lift could be a simple and effective addition. And if you’re considering renovating your office space in the future, start thinking about how to make the space more accessible so you can take care of some of the upgrades at the same time. Don’t discuss the changes openly, as a person with disabilities may not want the attention. Just know in your heart and theirs that the changes you make are very much appreciated.

Next Day Access is here to help business owners create the most welcoming workspace possible. People with a physical disability often don’t speak up because they don’t want to seem like a burden. If you’re unsure about whether you have a welcoming and inclusive office space for everyone, contact us today and we would be happy to provide you with a free assessment.

Building accessibility is a widespread problem for various reasons. Some business owners think it’s too expensive for what it’s worth to make their building more accessible, and they often don’t worry about meeting accessibility standards since they are enforced so lightly. In many situations, it requires a voice from a person with disabilities or an organization advocating on behalf of people with disabilities to prompt change. Whether it’s a single business or multiple businesses in your city that don’t see accessibility as a priority, here are some things you can consider doing to prompt changes to be made.

Bring Up Accessibility Concerns With Business Owners

Sometimes business owners have legitimate reasons for not having an accessible building. For one, they may not understand accessibility standards completely. They may also think they have to renovate their entire building, which can ruin their budget. Simply talking in a sophisticated manner with a business owner may bring to light some of the accessibility concerns with their establishment. If they know installing a wheelchair ramp can make a world of difference for a person with disabilities, they may be more inclined to do it if it means they won’t have to renovate the entire building. 

Discuss Enforcement Of Accessibility Issues With Code Officers

Not all business owners will look at accessibility reasonably when you approach them about it. If you aren’t comfortable going public with actions that need to be taken with certain businesses, then consider speaking with organizations that will advocate on your behalf. You could also have a confidential discussion with local code officers to alert them about specific businesses that don’t follow accessibility standards. Since accessibility is not widely enforced, it takes a voice to be heard to prompt changes to be made in some situations.

Businesses Can Take Proactive Steps For Accessibility

Business owners themselves can take proactive steps to make their space more accessible. Often being more educated on the topic is all it takes to get started and understanding what possible renovations will entail. There’s even an ADA guide business owners can use to help them learn the laws, regulations, what to prioritize and much more. No one wants a business to struggle financially as a result of making their business more accessible. But people do appreciate the effort in creating a more accessible environment, even if it means just installing a wheelchair ramp at an entrance.

Next Day Access works with business owners all the time to help improve their accessibility. Whether you want to renovate your entire establishment to make it completely ADA compliant or if you want to do a little at a time, we have the solutions to help. A person with disabilities wants to live their life as normally as possible, but they often need assistance from others to do so. If your building could use some upgrades to be more accessible for everyone, contact us today to see how we can help.

The disability community isn’t necessarily easy to lump together into one group. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, roughly 61 million Americans live with some sort of disability that impacts their daily life. However, the people that make up this number could be any age, race, gender and more. Considering a person with disabilities to automatically be put into a category of simply being a disabled person isn’t fair because the disabled community is incredibly diverse. Here’s some insight on how to understand the diversity of the disability community a little better.

How Experiences And Identities Shape People With Disabilities

A person with a physical disability may approach their circumstance differently than others depending on their past experiences and how they identify themselves. In many ways, having a physical disability is just one component of how a person identifies themselves. Other factors could be their race, gender, sexuality, economic class, social class or religious beliefs. So an experience one person has by having a physical disability could be vastly different than the experience of another person, and many times this experience is based on their chosen identity.

Understanding The Types Of Disabilities People Have

A physical disability is much more different than a cognitive disability. You can then break down the specific disability even further by labeling it with a specific diagnosis. A person with a physical disability may view their place in society much differently than a person with a cognitive disability. Every disability is unique and even two people with the same disability may not have the same beliefs or views as each other. When you gain a better understanding of the differences in the disabilities and how they shape people as individuals, you can see why it’s very difficult to consider a person with disabilities to be like every other disabled person.

Every Person Has A Different Philosophy On Disabilities

People handle their disabilities differently. Some people fight to rise above the disability to make a difference in the world and provide inspiration to others. While other people choose to continue living their life as normally as possible and simply accept their disability as a new way of living. There’s no right or wrong way to live your life when you have a disability, but it can sometimes be difficult for other people to understand this. Unique philosophies and perspectives are what shape diversity within the disability community and offer many different views for the world around us.

Next Day Access works within the disability community every day and sees first-hand the diversity among the community. We strive to be inclusive of everyone by offering unique and customizable solutions for accessibility regardless of your physical disability. Everyone in the disability community is unique to us and we take great pride in treating our customers as individuals rather than being part of an overarching group. If you have any specific accessibility needs or desires, contact us today to schedule a free assessment and we would be happy to talk to you.

Disability culture has always been alive and well, but with the technology available today, it’s more widespread than ever before. It comes in many shapes and forms and could simply be a forum where a person with disabilities can talk about their struggles and solutions, or they may not discuss their disability at all. Sometimes being included in a group with other disabled people and talking about other things you enjoy doing provides a sense of inclusivity. Here are some of the most common ways a person with disabilities can participate in the disability culture online.

Explore Podcasts

Podcasts are entertaining, informative and can be listened to any time and anywhere. You can find a podcast that talks about disability issues in our society if you want to be educated in that area, or you may choose a more inspirational podcast. A great podcast that incorporates a good mixture of different discussions is The Accessible Stall. You can also search for many different others depending on your interests.

Subscribe To Blogs

Subscribing to a blog or multiple blogs can help you stay up-to-date with what’s happening in the disabled world. This could include information about disability services you can take advantage of, how accessibility standards are changing or even some light-hearted reading about activities a person with disabilities can participate in. Find a blogger you can relate to and subscribe to their blog, and feel free to comment on their posts to spark some intuitive conversations with other like-minded people.

View TED Talks

If you need some inspiration regarding your physical disability, there are plenty of sources to find it. TED Talks are very popular for the disability culture and they discuss virtually every challenge you could face while being disabled. Sometimes it can boost your spirits just being constantly reminded that other people are fighting similar fights as you and you aren’t alone as a person with disabilities struggling at times. 

Participate In Online Forums

Online forums are a major component of the disability culture. Having conversations with other people with disabilities can be great since you already have something in common to talk about. You may learn new things about disability services other people are taking advantage of or simply talk about the challenges and solutions you’ve experienced. Online forums can build a great sense of community and provide a welcoming environment for people with disabilities. And you may even make some new friends from your own city, across the state, the country or even the world.

At Next Day Access, we take great pride in offering innovative accessibility products and solutions for a person with disabilities. When participating in the disability culture online, you may come across specific devices other people are using to improve their mobility and accessibility in their homes. If you believe you could benefit from having some of these products, don’t hesitate to contact us at any time and we would be happy to provide you with a free assessment.

Living with a disability can be challenging. However, many of the most influential people in our history had a disability of some sort. Having a mobility limitation doesn’t mean you have to limit the things you do in life. If you’re looking for some inspiration, here are some influential people who have changed the world despite having a physical disability.

Helen Keller

Helen Keller was diagnosed with meningitis when she was 19 months old, which eventually led her to becoming deaf and blind. Despite these serious limitations, she wrote several inspirational books, held many speaking engagements and was an outspoken political activist. She is a true example of making the most out of life despite any physical limitations and her legacy still impacts the lives of deaf and blind people to this day.

Stephen Hawking

Stephen Hawking is arguably one of the most influential people in the world. His expertise in quantum gravity and general relativity has led to advances in physics, math and science we couldn’t have imagined life without him. What some people may not know is he was diagnosed with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) and had severe physical limitations. He was confined to being in a wheelchair for the majority of his life, but he didn’t see having to use a wheelchair ramp or a threshold ramp as a limitation of any kind. 

Stevie Wonder

Stevie Wonder is a name any music fan should be familiar with. Despite being blind, he has written and sung hundreds of songs and has produced multiple albums during his career. He has revolutionized various genres of music to the point where some music fans even believe he has created his own genre. It would have been easy for Stevie Wonder to use his blindness as an excuse throughout his life, but he has chosen to continue inspiring people with music that connects people across the world.

Franklin D. Roosevelt

Franklin D. Roosevelt was the 32nd President of the United States and was hit with the Polio Virus that paralyzed him from the waist down before being elected. He was a strong president and did not want to show any weaknesses to anyone. When providing any speeches or being in public for an event, he would show great strength and determination by always standing after getting wheeled up the wheelchair ramp. His physical disability did not stop him from serving his country and making him one of the most influential presidents in United States history.

As you can see, some of the most influential people in the world not only dealt with a physical disability but thrived with it. Despite the limitations they had of having to use a wheelchair ramp or only going to places with wheelchair-accessible features, they still made a difference in the world because of motivation and determination. We hope these influential leaders provide some inspiration to you. If there’s anything you need to improve your accessibility despite a physical limitation you may have, contact Next Day Access at any time.

Unless you’ve lived with a physical disability yourself, it’s difficult to prepare a child for what obstacles they will have to overcome throughout their life. However, as a parent, you can use your life experience to walk with them every step of the way to make them feel more confident with embracing their disability and thriving with it. Your child needing a wheelchair ramp to enter a building doesn’t make them weak or incapable of doing great things. Here’s how you can help a child with disabilities overcome adversity and thrive in life.

Get Involved With A Disability Support Group

The feeling of being alone is very common with anyone who has a disability. This feeling could affect you as a parent too. However, when you realize there are many other families in a similar situation as you, it can make you embrace it easier and move forward with life. Reach out to various disability support groups and make friends with other kids and parents who may understand your situation a little more. 

Utilize The Resources Available To You

When your child has a physical disability, they may feel like they can’t do everything other kids can do. This is true to an extent, but there are plenty of solutions to help them thrive in different situations. Whether it’s sending them to a school designed for kids with special needs, giving them the proper equipment and devices to improve their mobility situation at home or providing physical therapy, using the resources available can help tremendously. Installing grab bars and a stair lift in your home are great options to give them confidence about navigating your home independently.

Understand What Your Child Is Going Through

Grasping the idea that your child has a disability is tough for any parent. The least you can do is gain a full understanding of what the disability is all about so you know what your child is going through and can help accordingly. Installing a wheelchair ramp at home is one thing, but understanding their mental state is another. Loss of confidence is a major factor for kids with disabilities, but when you can understand their situation as a parent, you may be able to provide inspiration and motivation to embrace their differences and continue moving forward in the world.

Celebrate Your Child’s Differences

Every child is unique. Instead of attempting to hide your child from the world because of their disabilities, celebrate them with others. Their disability may be a limitation, but it is not negative in any way. Celebrating those differences teaches your child and others around you to be inclusive and accepting of everyone no matter what their situation is. 

Next Day Access loves helping families who have children with disabilities. Seeing their faces light up when they get a new stair lift in their home to improve their mobility is exactly why we are in business. If you have a child with a disability or have a disability yourself, contact us at any time to see how we can help.