Posted on Wed, Apr 25, 2012
We’ve all seen the devastation caused by tornadoes, hurricanes and floods: schools, post offices and other public buildings left unusable for months or longer. Worst of all: People displaced from their homes.
When natural – or man-made – disaster strikes, recovery is fraught with challenges: rescues, accounting for loved ones, emergency medical treatment, and more. One aspect that may be overlooked is accessibility to public buildings. Even under adverse circumstances, public buildings must be ADA-complaint.
The Federal Emergency Administration Agency (FEMA) has declared 11 major disasters eligible for federal aid so far in 2012, in states ranging from Massachusetts to Alaska and Alabama.
2011 was a record year for disasters across the United States and 2012 could be worse. The Dallas-Fort Worth area was battered by dozens of tornadoes recently, and tornado season is not yet in full swing.
A government contractor for Disaster Recovery Purchasing, Amramp has experience with federal disaster relief efforts. That’s especially helpful to local officials who may not have dealt with disaster relief situations previously.
Amramp – the national chain that rents and sells wheelchair ramps and accessibility solutions – can respond quickly to recovery needs following a disaster, whether it’s for a public building or a private home.
When a tornado struck the Louisville, KY, area early in March, Amramp’s Bob Fowler installed ramps to put West Liberty back in business: at the city hall, a temporary bank, and other buildings.
According to the Courier-Journal newspaper, “Officials estimate that the West Liberty twister qualified as an EF4, carving a 60-mile path of devastation and spanning up to 5 miles wide in places.”
Amramp can respond, usually within 48 hours, with a ramp for short- or long-term rental or for purchase. Amramp is best-known for its modular steel wheelchair ramps that can be installed in any style building. But Amramp also has ramps that are ideal for temporary housing situations.
Amramp can also provide ramps for trailers used for temporary housing or offices. And in cases where a home may be left standing but with stairs collapsed or ripped away, Amramp ramps may be the perfect solution.
When disaster strikes, Amramp answers
Call Amramp today to schedule a free on-site estimate
Please contact Amramp’s National Call Center 888-715-7598
Posted on Tue, Apr 24, 2012
Amramp franchise partner Michael Meyer serving Washington, DC, recently played a key part in a major international conference hosted by the Organization of American States. The topic of the conference was disability rights – an issue that is close to Amramp’s heart.
When event planners at the Organization of American States planned a recent international conference in Washington, DC, they realized they had an urgent need for a wheelchair ramp for the Vice President of Ecuador, Lenin Moreno.
Moreno was scheduled to participate in a panel discussion about disability rights within the OAS members' various countries, entitled “Disability Rights and Public Responsibilities: The Role of Public Policy in Fostering an Inclusive Society, The Ecuadorian Experience.”
To secure the necessary ramp for Moreno, the event planners located Amramp’s Washington DC local web page and called immediately to schedule a ramp setup for the conference. Amramp’s Michael Meyer, based in Haymarket, Va., responded quickly and set up the ideal ramp in no time. Even for routine installations, Amramp prides itself on a typical 24- to 48-hour turnaround. The OAS event planners were very pleased with the results.
Disability rights issues are an important topic currently being discussed not just in the Americas but in countries all around the world, with Russia being a recent example as they seek to ratify a UN convention defending the interests and rights of the disabled. Amramp is proud to offer mobility solutions that help make even the most difficult spaces accessible to all.
The Organization of American States is the oldest regional organization in the world; it held its First International Conference of American States in Washington, D.C., in 1889-1890. The organization's charter states that its purpose is to create among the member states “an order of peace and justice, to promote their solidarity, to strengthen their collaboration, and to defend their sovereignty, their territorial integrity, and their independence. ... The organization uses a four-pronged approach to effectively implement its essential purposes, based on its main pillars: democracy, human rights, security, and development.”
Events accessible to all are easier to plan with Amramp
Call Amramp today to schedule a free on-site estimate
Please contact Amramp’s National Call Center 888-715-7598
Posted on Fri, Mar 23, 2012
Amramp installs longest wheelchair ramp at Langley Air Force Base during military hospital renovation in Hampton, Virginia
When the hospital at Langley Air Force Base in Hampton, Virginia needed extensive renovations, general contractors initially estimated a 29-foot ramp would be required to allow staff and visitors to pass from one part of the hospital to another. They later realized that the job in fact called for a 110-foot ramp – it was then that they contacted Amramp of Virginia.
The construction firm found Amramp’s website on the Internet and called to help find a temporary solution to their transport needs during renovation. It was the longest ramp Amramp of Hampton Roads had ever been asked to install, but the business’ locally owned and operated team set up an evaluation the very next day.
“We would have done it the same day, but we had to submit information to be approved for a pass to get on base,” said Jane Rostov, owner of Amramp Hampton Roads.
The ramp that Amramp assembled created the perfect pathway to provide staff and visitor thoroughfare between hospital areas while part of an older building was being demolished. The mostly flat ramp provided the only route to safely move from one spot to another while construction was underway.
It was a unique job for the local Amramp franchise partner: clearances were required to pass through tight security. There was an additional challenge in the hustle of an active military base serving Air Force personnel worldwide. To be as efficient as possible, Amramp made sure to apply for a base pass ahead of time, and had a representative from the project meet them at the pass office the first time, which seemed to expedite the process.
The job did take one unexpected turn: “When they called us to schedule the ramp removal, we set it up for the following day,” said Rostov. “Just as our crew was about to load the last of the 110-foot ramp into the truck and leave, the foreman came running up, very flustered, and said that they had made a mistake – could we put it back up? We were back the next morning and re-installed all 110 feet of it.”
Amramp is proud to have provided an efficient and easy mobility solution for an unusual job at one of the nation’s most important military hospitals. Amramp is your go-to company for any and all ramp and mobility concerns – Amramp wheelchair ramps are made-in-the-USA. Like the expert installers in Hampton Roads, all 44 locations across the U.S. are staffed with professionals who can easily adapt to last-minute changes and difficult structural challenges.
Your home should be welcoming you, not worrying you
Call Amramp today to schedule a free on-site estimate
Please contact Amramp’s National Call Center 888-715-7598
Posted on Tue, Mar 20, 2012
Older Americans can make their homes safer while aging in place and waiting for the real estate rebound with wheelchair ramps, portable showers, and more.
The collapse of the housing market has been especially devastating for elders who had planned to move to a setting where their needs would be met as they got older. That plan probably depended on selling their current home. But home sales are stagnant, and property values have dropped drastically.
For most elders, their homes are their most valuable assets. Older people cannot wait for the home sales market to rebound; it’s too far off, as the latest reports show: Nationwide, February home sales hit their lowest level since 2002. www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-03-21/u-s-february-existing-home-sales-fall-to-4-88-million-rate.html
Fortunately, more products and services are available to modify an older home in ways that will make it safe and comfortable for elders as their needs change.
One example is a ramp that makes it easy for seniors to access their homes in the event of a medical procedure or long-term issue that affects their mobility. Amramp rents and sells steel ramps that can be installed at any type of home on short notice.
If your plan to move has been thrown off course, you first need to survey your home to determine what’s needed to make it safer.
- Grab bars are a must and easy to install.
- A walk-in tub can be installed in an existing bathroom.
- A portable shower can be rented from Amramp.
- Scatter rugs should be removed, to avoid falls.
- Lighting should be improved.
- Books, magazines, and other items that can be tripped over should be put out of the way.
As the population ages, the number of services designed to help elders has grown. The cost can be affordable, and the amount of service offered can be flexible.
Housekeeping services abound; check local media or the web for local companies and national franchises.
- Housekeeping services abound; check local media or the web for local companies and national franchises.
- Homemaker services can help with medication and hygiene.
- Meals on Wheels for those unable to prepare a hot meal.
- Supermarket delivery services, some are free of charge.
Access outside and within the home is the most important factor for those who are “aging in place.” Amramp’s wheelchair ramps – and wide range of aging in place products – are ideal for people in wheelchairs and those who use walkers or canes. They can be rented for a day, a week, or longer or purchased.
Amramp also offers a wide range of aging-in-place products for sale, including:
- Portable showers
- Stair lifts
- Automatic door openers
- Vertical platform lifts
- Pool lifts
- Threshold ramps
- Grab bars
- Overhead patient lifts
Amramp’s patented steel-mesh platform does not collect moisture, allowing rain and snow to fall through. And because the ramps are modular, they are suited for all types of homes, including historic ones. They are far less expensive and obtrusive than permanent ramps, which can detract from a home’s appeal, for when the real estate market does come back.
Posted on Tue, Mar 13, 2012
Amramp provides wheelchair ramp rental tips and details to consider for making your graduation ceremony safe, easy, and ADA-compliant
Putting together a fully ADA-compliant graduation ceremony is no easy task! Brett McKee of Amramp Southern California shared all of the necessary components you will need to consider to ensure that the big day is wheelchair-accessible:
Before you book a site for an event, consider your guests’ and speakers’ needs:
- Are attendees older and using canes, walkers, or wheelchairs?
- How far will they need to travel at the venue?
- Are there multiple flights of stairs?
- Can people with mobility needs be driven close to the entrance?
Respect and consideration should be shown for the feelings of those with mobility needs. Having a special entrance for certain speakers does not create a sense of equality; make the primary entrance accessible for all.
ADA ramp requirements:
- One foot of sloped ramping for one inch of height (rise).
- At the top and bottom of the ramp, you need a 5 x 5 foot level landing so people can easily and safely turn onto or off of the ramp.
- For example: an 18-inch stage will require 18 feet of ramp plus 5 feet for the level landing, totaling 23 feet of clear space. Ramps are generally 36-48 inches wide as an inside measurement, with the outside handrails adding an additional 3.5 inches to the total width.
- If the height of the stage is more than 30 inches (requiring 30+ feet of ramp), the requirement is that every 30 feet, there needs to be a 5-foot long ramp as a level resting area.
Taking “flow” into account: Having graduates enter from one end of the stage and exit another is often the most efficient way to address the flow of people as they receive their diplomas.
Ramp aesthetics: Even though wheelchair rumps are practical and functional, you can use planters with flowers, bushes, or ficus trees alongside them to soften their appearance.
Action steps:
- Start early! This will give you more time to anticipate issues, problem-solve, and ensure that the proper equipment is in place for the big day.
- Involve your local Amramp franchisee from the beginning. One of our evaluators will come to the site, measure, and will help you in the planning process.
- If a facility is being used or a stage is being rented as a temporary piece of equipment, you should obtain height, length, and width measurements to share with Amramp. Providing digital photos of door entrances, stairs, and the surrounding terrain will also assist in budget planning.
Amramp makes ADA-compliance easy for graduation and more!
Call Amramp today to schedule a free on-site estimate
Please contact Amramp’s National Call Center 888-715-7598
Posted on Fri, Mar 02, 2012
Lorne Wensel is our first Canadian Franchise Partner in Edmonton/Alberta Canada.
Amramp, an American Franchise, has officially crossed the border. Lorne Wensel, a long time Edmontonian, has become a partner in the successful Franchise, making him the first to bring our service and products into Canada.
Initially, Amramp installed accessibility ramps throughout the US at businesses, residences, schools and institutions. For many years, Amramp has been the leading company in the United States specializing in modular steel wheelchair ramps, offering sturdy, customizable ramps for disability access that enable the aging and disabled population to remain in their homes with independence and mobility. Now Amramp can say they are North America’s leading ramp. Amramp is a strong competitor in the market, having ramps that can be installed temporarily for short or long term needs. Homeowners looking to purchase a ramp do not have to worry with Amramp products, as they are installed without damaging the housing structure as they are not a permanent modification to the home. Ramps are available for sale or rental with no minimum time frame and no ramp size restrictions. The best part is that Amramp guarantees that their products will be installed in DAYS and not weeks, as materials are stocked in local warehouses and do not need to be shipped.
Amramp also installs Vertical Platform Lifts which are used where the length of a ramp might be impractical. Portable wheelchair showers are used when a client cannot utilize the shower or tub facility and does not want to remodel the bathroom. Amramp’s interior stair lifts, offer clients a solution for tight spaces with in the home, with model sizes ranging from four to fourteen feet. Vertical Platform Lifts can also be utilized with in the business environment with both residential and commercial models being available. Amramp offers accessibility solutions for all your unique needs.
Amramp is excited to be bringing their service to Edmonton, Stony Plain, St. Albert, Spruce Grove, Edson, Hinton, Jasper, and Banff or further.
For more information go to http://www.amramp.com/edmonton-ab or http://www.amramp.com/edmonton-ab-pictures
Posted on Mon, Feb 27, 2012
(Westchester, CA)---Two Amramp Systems were used on NBC Universal’s Parks and Recreation episode, “Campaign Shakeup” which is airing on March 1, 2012. The scene was shot at the Westchester Community Center on Lincoln Boulevard on January 13. An 18 foot Amramp System and a shorter, 10 foot system were used to highlight the difficulties of accessibility for disabled citizens.
Amamp installs accessibility ramps throughout California at businesses, residences, schools and institutions. Amramp wheelchair ramps have been used by the Screen Actors Guild and recently with Fox’s new television show, “The Finder”.
Amramp is the leading company in the United States specializing in modular steel wheelchair ramps, offering sturdy, customizable ramps for disability access that enable the aging and disabled population to remain in their homes with independence and mobility. Ramps can be installed temporarily for short or long term needs without damaging the housing structure as they are not a permanent modification to the home. Amramp products comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and are available for sale or rental with no minimum time frame and no ramp size restrictions.
Amramp also installs Vertical Platform Lifts which are used where the length of a ramp might be impractical. Portable roll-in wheelchair showers are used when a wheelchair user cannot utilize the shower or tub facility and does not want to remodel the bathroom.
Amramp has been providing accessibility ramps, vertical platform lifts, stair chairs and wheelchair showers and swimming pool lifts in Southern and Northern California since May, 2007 and has six employees. Warehouse facilities are located in Gardena and Santa Cruz, CA. See www.amramp.com/LAOC and www.amramp.com/NorCal.
Amramp Service areas include Los Angeles, Burbank, Glendale, Altadena, Pasadena, Cerritos, Chatsworth, Covina, West Covina, Culver City, Diamond Bar, Downey, El Monte, Encino, Gardena, Glendora, Granada Hills, Hacienda Heights, Hawthorne, Inglewood, Huntington Park, Hermosa Beach, La Puente, Lakewood, Lawndale, Lomita, Long Beach, Manhattan Beach, Redondo Beach, Hollywood, North Hollywood, West Hollywood, Northridge, Pacific Palisades, Palos Verdes, Pomona, Rancho Palos Verdes, San Dimas, San Fernando, San Pedro, Torrance, Valencia, Santa Clarita, Van Nuys, Valley Village, West Hills and Woodland Hills, Aliso Viejo, Anaheim, Buena Park, Brea, Corona Del Mar, Irvine, Dana Point, Fullerton, Fountain Valley, Garden Grove, Huntington Beach, Laguna Beach, Laguna Niguel, Lake Forest, Newport Beach, Orange, Placentia, San Clemente, San Juan Capistrano, Westminster, Tustin, Yorba Linda, Riverside,, Corona, Moreno Valley, San Bernardino, Redlands, Rancho Cucamonga, Ontario, Camarillo, Moorpark, Oxnard, Santa Paula, Simi Valley, Thousand Oaks, Ventura and Westlake Village, San Jose, Santa Clara, Campbell, Saratoga, Los Gatos, Cupertino, Gilroy, Los Altos, Milpitas, Morgan Hill, Mountain View, Almaden, Palo Alto, Stanford, Sunnyvale, Belmont, Burlingame, Daly City, Half Moon Bay, Loma Mar, Menlo Park, Milbrae, Moss Beach, Pacifica, Portola Valley, Redwood City, San Bruno, San Carlos, South San Francisco, San Mateo, Aptos, Capitola, Felton, Santa Cruz, Scotts Valley, Soquel, Watsonville, Freedom, Contra Costa, San Ramon, Walnut Creek, Pleasant Hill, Concord, Dan Ville, Castro Valley, San Leandro, Hayward, Alameda, Oakland, Berkeley, Union City, San Leandro, San Rafael and El Cerrito.
Posted on Mon, Jan 30, 2012
It’s been nearly a half-century since Elisabeth Kubler-Ross wrote the landmark book “On Death and Dying.” Her five stages of grief – denial, anger, bargaining, depression, acceptance – remain fundamental in society still today.
A cancer diagnosis in 2012, however, has a far different outlook than in 1970. Psychologists Barbara Okun, Ph.D., and Joseph Nowinski, Ph.D., update Kubler-Ross’s work and help families and the terminally ill in their new book “Saying Goodbye: How Families Can Find Renewal Through Loss.”
Advances in treatment and diagnosis have dramatically changed the outlook on death, as Professor Nowinski shares: “Modern medicine has created a unique situation — one in which the patient and his/her family are drawn into a protracted process that only begins with a diagnosis. This process, which typically goes on for years, not weeks or months, can include a complex treatment process, potential remission, and potential relapse.”
The co-authors learned from families and patients alike that they feel “cast into the black hole of the modern high-tech but fragmented medical system,” which further triggered anxiety, depression, and confusion.
Responding to the lack of advice and resources, other than “the doctor of the day,” the authors offer a roadmap to help explore what to expect.
Published by Harvard Health Publications, the book covers the emotional toll on the patients, caregivers, and loved ones and provides suggestions such as forming support groups. The authors dive into details, such as how to be persistent in seeking second opinions and offering suggested questions for specialists.
While many cancer patients may be seeing surgeons and radiologists, there needs to be a “chain of command” of the medical teams along with a “family chain of command.” In this case, the authors say, an oncologist may be the best person to head the chain of command.
Another set of recommendations relates to patient discharges. Today’s patients are discharged, even after major surgery, in a less healed state, often requiring home health visits from nurses and other medical professionals. The authors strongly encourage families to accept as much support as their insurance will provide, warning of burnout and lack of skilled medical knowledge in the average family, not to mention the additional stress.
Between the practicalities, the authors share touching stories of those who are or have lived through this difficult time, including themselves.
Published in 2011, “Saying Goodbye: How Families Can Find Renewal Through Loss” offers answers where medicine and modern life have yet to advance.
Read the full article from our January Newsletter here.
Call Amramp today to schedule a free on-site estimate
Please contact Amramp’s National Call Center 888-715-7598
Posted on Wed, Jan 25, 2012
By Dr. Richard Senelick
There was a time in the 1980s when nursing homes just changed their signage and started to represent themselves as rehabilitation facilities. Almost overnight, the sign that said ABC Nursing Home was taken down and a new one proclaiming ABC Rehabilitation Center was erected. But, the mere changing of a sign does not change what takes place inside the building.
The impetus was purely financial and without any knowledge of whether nursing homes could do the work as well as long-standing rehabilitation hospitals.
As early as 1997, a major study in the Journal of the American Medical Association compared stroke patients who received their rehabilitation at a rehabilitation hospital versus a skilled nursing facility: Those receiving their rehabilitation at an IRF were three times more likely to be discharged home. That’s right: Three times more likely to sleep in their own bed, eat with their families and kiss their grandchildren goodnight! Knowing this, where would you want to go if you had a stroke?
Patients and families must become informed consumers. They need to know the difference between rehabilitation at a skilled nursing facility and an inpatient rehabilitation hospital. Too often they are not given a choice and must go where they are told.
There will be increasing pressure for people to sign up for Medicare Advantage programs that eliminate choice. Based on what they can afford, many people will be forced to sign up for these plans, but you still need to insist on a higher and better level of care.
If health care providers and consumers ignore this important issue, the disabled will not have a voice, and they will continue to be denied the services they need.
“Secondary to dying, nursing placement for an older person who was in the community is the worst possible outcome.” [PDF] – Kramer et al, “Stroke Rehabilitation in Nursing Homes”
Families must know: Case managers are frontline decision-makers who recommend where patients go for rehabilitation. The decision they make may decide whether a patient truly gets the best opportunity to reach their potential.
Most skilled nursing centers are constrained by fewer resources and do not have access to the latest technology that helps promote neural plasticity and repair than an inpatient rehab hospital. Continued improvement and success in rehabilitation is dependent on the hours of therapy: Skilled nursing facilities typically provide less than half the therapy hours provided at an inpatient rehabilitation hospital.
Read more from Dr. Senelick on evidence that shows rehabilitation hospitals bring a higher level of care.
Someone in the healthcare chain can easily make the false assumption that the patient will not improve and might as well go to a nursing home. Yet, patients surprise us all the time with progress we never could have predicted. Remember it is not too late for them to be what they can be if they get the proper care.
Medical Director of the Rehabilitation Institute of San Antonio, Editor in Chief of HealthSouth Press, and the author of more than 15 nonfiction books, Dr. Senelick is one of the leading experts on neurorehabilitation. Dr Senelick also contributes to the Huffington Post and WebMD’s stroke community.
Call Amramp today to schedule a free on-site estimate
Please contact Amramp’s National Call Center 888-715-7598
Posted on Tue, Jan 03, 2012
Relatively mild December weather allowed installers from Amramp – Chicago, NW IL & SW WI to install a new modular wheelchair ramp behind the historic Masonic Temple building at 916 Columbus St. in Ottawa.
Past Matron of Mary E Chapter of the Order of the Eastern Star, Colleen Hickman. (standing) said "money for the construction came from the Streator Mary E Chapter No. 270", which merged with the Ottawa chapter at the first of the year. Working with the drill on the ramp is franchise owner Bill Woods. Visit our Facebook page for photos!
Hickman said "the ramp meets all local, state and federal requirements. Now, the new ramp means more organizations and members of the community can use this great facility for more events than in the past".
Happy New Year!