We had quite an exciting 2 shows in Palm Coast and The Villages! The responses we got from seniors when we talked to them about aging-in-place and fall prevention was VERY interesting!  The #1 response was “I’m not there yet…” and “Maybe I’ll be there in about 10 years….”. BUT, the seniors who actually listened to what I had to say about “not getting THERE” and planning for aging-in-place thought the idea was a good one. There were several people who stated “I wish I knew about your services before my mother fell and broke her hip and shortened her life.” It was sad to hear these stories.

So, why do people resist making changes in their home?  Well, first is cost, then denial.  Which is what most of us would probably guess. But there are two other reasons that came to be true, as I was taught recently in my IDeA course thru the University at Buffalo.  “Most people adapt their behavior to their environment rather than adapt their environment to their needs as they age – many people remain passive and learn to live with their circumstances instead of taking an active role in making changes.”  Second is “lack of consumer awareness – most people don’t know what is available to them or where to find information.”

On another note, we attended the International Home Builders Show in Orlando last week.  The show was huge with lots to see.  I was able to meet Louis Tenebaum, the guru of aging-in-place, and discuss my ideas.  I also met with Healthcraft / Invisia and Linido to talk to them about their Universal Design products.  It’s exciting stuff!  One of my recent finds is Kohler’s retractable wall tub.  Stay tuned to our upcoming events in April and May.  Follow LOTTUS Designs on Facebook for more pics and news.  Facebook.com/Lottus-Designs

Filed under: General by Cindi Petito, OTR/L, ATP, CAPS Wednesday, February 15th, 2012
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LOTTUS Designs and Make My Home Fit will be starting out the new year with our presence at upcoming shows!

January 28th and 29th, 2012

Come join us for our first two show events this year.  We will have a booth at the Flagler Home & LifeStyles Show in Palm Coast January 28th and 29th.  Together with Make My Home Fit, we’ll be there to show and educate seniors on home safety and aging-in-place.  Visit us at Booth 253.  www.flaglerhomeshow.com

February 4th and 5th, 2012

Home & Garden Show at The Villiages
15^th Annual Firefight at The Villages, Florida Polo Fields

10:00 am – 5:00 pm

Chili Cookoff Saturday

The Villages is an active retirement community located in sunny central Florida. Every year, The Villages Rotary Club has their annual Chili Cookoff event that has grown over the years.  If you can make it to this historical town, it would be worth visiting.   We’ re excited about being able to have a booth and meeting all the wonderful seniors who live here!

Lastly, seniors who are interested in having a Make My Home Fit (MMHF) self-assessment, can receive a promotional discount by contacting us.  On LOTTUS Designs web page is a direct link to the MMHF site where they would enter our promotional code prior to completing their self-assessment.

Filed under: General by Cindi Petito, OTR/L, ATP, CAPS Saturday, January 14th, 2012
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The December 2011 Directions magazine gives some insight into our NRRTS webinar on April 19th, 2012.  We are pleased that this short article became the cover story for this month’s magazine.  The impact we make on our patients as wheelchair & seating specialists is something very special and rewarding.  Giving individuals the independence and the means to being mobile again is priceless.  But, what about the environment?  We give them the mobility, but the environmental barriers still remain.  How the environment looks (and perceived) is just as important as its ability to be functional and accessible.  In my journey through learning home modifications and design, I now look at home environments differently.

I can say, it’s a fun project to be a part of!

View this months Directions magazine, go to  www.nrrts.org/directions

Check out NRRTS webinars

Filed under: Home Mods & Universal Design, Publications by Cindi Petito, OTR/L, ATP, CAPS Thursday, December 15th, 2011
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LOTTUS Designs allows customers to remain at home

By Elizabeth Deprey, Associate Editor

ORANGE PARK, Fla. – Cindi Petito has seen demand for home modifications grow during the past decade.

Filed under: Home Mods & Universal Design, Publications by Cindi Petito, OTR/L, ATP, CAPS Tuesday, November 29th, 2011
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A Word From Don Clayback, Executive Director N.C.A.R.T.

Work to secure a Separate Benefit Category for Complex Rehab Technology within the Medicare program has been continuing throughout the year.  In order to be sure stakeholders and other interested parties are fully informed, the Steering Committee will be proving an update via conference call.  The update will consist of a review of where we are and what lies ahead.  Time will also be provided for questions and discussion.

The webinar will be held at two different times to allow for the broadest participation.  Below are the two times along with related dial-in information.  You may just dial in or you can also go to the website link and view the related PowerPoint presentation.
1.)    Monday November 28th at 11:30 AM Eastern Time-
Dial 1-773-897-3003
Access Code: 852-144-530
Audio PIN: Shown after joining the meeting
Meeting ID: 852-144-530
https://www2.gotomeeting.com/join/852144530

2.)    Tuesday November 29th at 5:00 PM Eastern Time-
Dial 1-215-383-1013
Access Code: 956-146-482
Audio PIN: Shown after joining the meeting
Meeting ID: 956-146-482
https://www2.gotomeeting.com/join/956146482

Please help spread the word and we look forward to having you on one of the calls.  Thanks!

Don

Filed under: General by Cindi Petito, OTR/L, ATP, CAPS Wednesday, November 16th, 2011
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Seating Solutions website has a new look!

Please browse our new website and tell us what you think!

Seating Solutions and LOTTUS Designs will continue to grow into year 2012!  We now offer more services within the community, including home safety assessments and recommendations for aging-in-place planning and technologies for seniors.  Our services will include helping people plan for future aging-in-place in their homes in order maintain active, independent, and safe lives.  Home safety assessments include a Make My Home Fit comprehensive Fall Prevention, Safety, and Independence checklist report to identify areas of the home that need special attention to reduce risk of injuries.

Occupational Therapy = helping people “Live Life to the Fullest.”

Thank you Elyk Innovation for an awesome website design!

Cindi

Filed under: General by Cindi Petito, OTR/L, ATP, CAPS Sunday, October 23rd, 2011
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This past April at our national AOTA conference, two motions were passed that will change the way OTs work in the field of Complex Rehab Technology (CRT).  When Tamara Kittelson-Aldred and I wrote these two motions, we had no idea the impact this would make.  We are so proud to be a part of this project, and it’s great to have the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) behind us.  With our efforts including the Clinician’s Task Force, AOTA has decided to support the proposal to create a separate benefit category for CRT set forth by NCART (National Coalition for Assistive and Rehab Technology).

So, where are we now?

The first paper includes Development of a Specialized Knowledge and Skills Document on Complex Seating and Wheeled Mobility in Occupational Therapy Practice. We have begun writing this AOTA Official Document with two other authors, Teresa Plummer, PHD, MSOT, OTR/L, ATP and Thelma Wakefield, OTR/L, ATP.  A final draft will be submitted to AOTA in February 2012, and reviewed by the Representative Assembly (RA) during the April national AOTA Conference.

The second paper includes Educating Occupational Therapists and Public Policy Makers Regarding Appropriate Access to and Funding of Complex Rehabilitation Technology (CRT) and Related Occupational Therapy Services for Individuals with Disabilities. This will be accomplished through a Policy Fact Sheet, which is also an AOTA document used to educate the public, policy makers, and stakeholders.  In the next week, we will begin writing this document with the assistance of AOTA.

As we move forward, we’ll keep posting updates to these two motions and our progress!

Cindi

Filed under: Industry News by Cindi Petito, OTR/L, ATP, CAPS Tuesday, October 4th, 2011
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Teaming up with Home Healthcare

With the growing number of seniors and individuals with disabilities, wheelchair mobility and seating in the area of home health is needed more than ever.  We are proud to announce that Seating Solutions is contracted with 11 home healthcare agencies in the Jacksonville, Orange Park, St. Augustine, and Gainesville areas and surrounding cities.  However, occupational and physical therapists need to know the fundamentals of wheelchair mobility, seating and positioning to first recognize and identify the needs of their patients.  Then, when appropriate, refer services to a mobility and seating specialist.  We are dedicated to helping therapists with identifying these needs and helping their patients obtain the proper equipment.

Teaching at University of Florida, Department of Occupational Therapy

This fall, I will be returning to University of Florida, my alma mater, to teach OT students the fundamentals of wheelchair seating and positioning.  This will be a wonderful experience!  I’m looking forward to learning and growing in my professional career as an OT and mobility specialist through this teaching opportunity.  Also, I’ll be able to apply and relate our current project with the American Occupational Therapy Association, which includes writing the AOTA official document “Specialized Knowledge and Skills Document on Complex Seating and Wheeled Mobility in Occupational Therapy Practice.”  With the two opportunities I’ve been given to help build the knowledge base and skills of future OTs, occurring simultaneously this year, what more could an OT ask for?

Filed under: General by Cindi Petito, OTR/L, ATP, CAPS Monday, August 29th, 2011
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FOTA August issue of FOCUS released and available online

We are in the beginning stages of this project….. writing the AOTA Knowledge & Skills Document for Complex Seating and Wheeled Mobility in Occupational Therapy Practice will be a great experience for all of us involved!  We are expected to have the first draft completed this spring 2012.

Filed under: General, Publications by Cindi Petito, OTR/L, ATP, CAPS Friday, August 19th, 2011
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My, my… how time flies!

As I’m going through some files and old OT Practice magazines I’ve kept over the years, I came across this February 2005 copy.  This was the year I took the leap from being a staff OT to being a full time private practitioner.  From 2001 to 2005, after starting my practice, I was still working as a staff therapist during regular working hours, then seeing my private patients after hours and during weekends.  I’ll never forget this year, because this was also the year Medicare coverage criteria and reimbursement policies started changing for durable medical equipment (DME) and directly affecting my practice and my patients.  I remember receiving e-mails on my blackberry while at Medtrade of the newly released policy changes, and it hasn’t stopped changing since.  Today, I look back and reflect on all that has happened over these last 6 years….. and a lot has changed.  As Medicare continues to cut reimbursement and implement competitive bidding, where will we be in another 6 years?

As we move into the second half of 2011, great things are on the horizon including our project in writing the AOTA Official Document “Specialized Knowledge and Skills on Complex Seating and Wheeled Mobility in Occupational Therapy Practice”.  I’m proud to be a part of this project and honored to work with such a great group of OT’s!

Filed under: General, Publications by Cindi Petito, OTR/L, ATP, CAPS Monday, August 15th, 2011
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