Bath time can be a fun time for children - most love to splash and play in the water. Although Autiyana Hester loves water and baths, for Pat Watters, Autiyana’s grandmother, caregiver and recent Habitat for Humanity of Greater Chattanooga Area homeowner, fun was not part of the equation. Autiyana, 12, was born with cerebral palsy, has seizures and is partially deaf. Pat has cared for Autiyana since birth. As Autiyana grew, bath time became more and more challenging. Their former house had one bathroom and Pat had to carry Autiyanna from a changing area in the dining room and lift her onto a chair placed in the bathtub. This was backbreaking for Pat and dangerous for Autiyana, but there was no other choice.
Much of that changed once Pat and Autiyana moved into their new Habitat home – a home designed to make care giving easier for Pat. A 0-level entry means Pat can roll Autiyana straight in from the driveway to the kitchen. Hardwood floors relieve the problem Pat had of moving Autiyana’s heavy wheelchair over carpet. But Pat is quick to tell you that the tiled shower that accommodates a shower gurney has been the biggest blessing.
This week, customization of Pat’s home was completed, when the installation of a lift system with overhead ceiling track was installed to transport Autiyana from her bed into the shower without Pat having to do any lifting!
The lift was built by Barton Manufacturing. This is the only lift equipment certified by Medicare and covered by insurance for those who qualify. Most other insurance carriers follow Medicare’s lead and only cover Medicare approved equipment. Fortunately Autiyana did qualify, and the process began for obtaining the equipment that this house was designed around.
“This is the second house in this area Habitat has built to accommodate this type equipment. Pat was able to visit the other family, see how the equipment worked and determine if it would make caring for Autiyana easier,” said Dennis Neal, Director of Construction with Habitat for Humanity of Greater Chattanooga Area. “Pat came back to Habitat ecstatic and said she wanted a house just like that. We worked with Pat’s insurance company and their installer to secure the lift system and customized the home to accommodate it. We are increasingly serving families who need fully accessible homes,” says Neal. “Being able to help these families purchase affordable homes that ease the challenges they have faced in day-to-day life is immensely rewarding, and something that all of us at Habitat are incredibly proud of!”
Besides blessing Autiyana and Pat, installation of the lift provided a training opportunity for staff of Apple Independence Mobility LLC, located in Cookeville, Tn., who had not yet worked with Barton Manufacturing’s products. Barton Manufacturing recommended United Rehab Specialists to install and train Apple’s crew. Andrew Solis with URS flew in from Waco, Texas and met up with Apple’s staff members Randy Bullock, Location Manager/Home Modification Division, Chad Wiggins, Lead Service Tech and Steve Clevenger, Service Tech to install the lift and be trained and learn the system. Training was also given to Pat on the features and use of the system.
Pat, the crew from Apple and URS’s specialist experienced the lift’s benefits when they put Autiyana in the transport sling and moved her from the bathroom to the shower and onto the gurney. Autiyana was thrilled! She did not want to get out of the sling. Now bath time can be a fun time for both Autiyana and Pat!