This season, give the gift of safety and help a loved one live at home for a longer time
Families are really seeing the value in providing gifts that can really make a difference to someone’s health and safety this year.
Whether it’s video calling to replace family gatherings or leaving gifts outside the front door to ensure social distancing, this year the holiday season will look different. For many, that may also mean being away from family members who are struggling with accessibility and mobility in their homes. That’s where BuildAble comes in. The award-winning team of health care professionals and renovation experts is helping to give the gift of safety this holiday season — and beyond.
“If you’re safely visiting family, take a look or ask where they are struggling,” says Sean MacGinnis, BuildAble’s co-founder and president. “We can help with simple and affordable solutions that can be installed by Christmas with our RapidACCESS division. Tub cuts, grab bars and anti-slip solutions are all affordable and simple and provide a gift that really makes a difference for an aging parent, for example.”
Launched earlier this year, RapidACCESS is Ottawa’s first rapid mobility service. It concentrates on small, high-impact pieces that ensure quick transition from hospitals or respite care back into a personal residence, or delay entry into long-term care. The service has become especially relevant during the pandemic as elderly parents who were previously in retirement homes or long-term care move in with their kids. “If someone wants to ensure their home is safe and accessible when their parents come to live with them, this is a great solution because often these home modifications need to be made quickly,” says MacGinnis.
With an overstrained health care system, fall prevention and staying out of hospitals has become more prevalent, so has maint aining one’s independence for as long as possible. “We’ve had many requests in the last week for gift certificates for items such as designer and standard grab bars,” MacGinnis added. “This isn’t something we had ever done before, but I think families are really seeing the value in providing gifts that can really make a difference to someone’s health and safety this year.”
RapidACCESS solutions can be booked and installed in as quickly as 48 hours. BuildAble’s experts can discuss solutions over the phone, deliver a quote and complete the installations within just two to three hours once on-site. Flexibility is further built into the option as BuildAble’s experts arrive with a van full of supplies.
“It’s normal for people to realize they want to add something else as we work, so we come ready to accommodate that,” says MacGinnis. “We work with vulnerable populations so we follow strict COVID-19 procedures. Our team does self-assessments each morning, we put our masks on before we enter the home, we complete a thorough cleanup once we finish a day’s work, and we limit our travel in the home to reduce our interactions with the client.”
For custom projects, meanwhile, BuildAble is already booking into spring. This, says MacGinnis, means now is an ideal time to start planning for larger renovations. He says it isn’t uncommon for people to decide to renovate but underestimate the planning it will take to ensure proper design, working with allied health professionals, tweaking estimations, getting the appropriate permits and ordering materials and fixtures.
“Even a simple bathroom or kitchen renovation can take four to six weeks to plan and three to four weeks to complete,” says MacGinnis. “The most important thing is having the layout done properly and the materials to match the client’s taste. With COVID-19, the construction materials supply chain has been heavily affected, so that’s also something to consider.”
Custom renovations start with a client health survey that BuildAble’s registered nurse assesses to determine risk factors and disease progression. This information, says MacGinnis, is helpful in ensuring construction plans are perfectly tailored to a client’s needs. From there, BuildAble — which is Canada’s only nurse-led renovation company — meets a client on-site to discuss goals for the renovation, goes over the reno with the client’s necessary health care practitioners such as occupational therapists, creates a custom design, offers a quote and gets started.
“We also cross-train our technicians to understand what someone’s needs may look like a few years from now as a disease, such as MS or ALS, progresses,” says MacGinnis. “That information can ensure the renovations will continue to be useful as time goes on.
“With travel plans on hold and with everyone spending more time at home, it’s an incredible opportunity to plan out a beautiful space that truly works for someone’s mobility needs and personal taste,” says MacGinnis.
From the smaller items to large-scale accessibility projects, BuildAble can help you give the gift of safety and comfort. For more information, visit