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	Valerie Ford, Mosaic Direct Support Manager, assists Adam Patton with the new rail system in his home.

Home rail system increases safety and independence

by Randall Donner, Communications and Ministry Partners Director

The safety of the people Mosaic supports and of our staff is a high priority. Over the last several years, Mosaic has been working toward having no manual lifting of people who receive services from Mosaic. The newest rail system, recently installed in a Mosaic home in Bushnell, Ill., provides a higher degree of both safety and independence for those who use it.

"That system has turned my life around," said Adam Patton "I can be independent now and move around my home. It is just wonderful."

For some time, Mosaic has been using portable, assisted lifts that are designed as a frame on wheels, and also has used ceiling-installed rail systems. Both have limitations based upon either space or structural considerations. The new wall-mounted rail system in Patton's home has features that virtually erase those limitations, according to Jean Matthews, Mosaic Safety and Health Director, and offers other advantages.

First on the list is safety, she said, because the sling which holds the person is more secure and does not bounce or swing while in motion, eliminating the possibility of hitting a portable device frame or a doorway while being moved. The lift system is also safer for staff since it eliminates back, neck or shoulder strain associated with manual lifts.

Maneuverability is also an advantage, Matthews said. A person can move from one room to another without worrying about the width of the door, getting caught up in carpeting or throw rugs, or having too little floor space because of fixtures such as a bath tub or toilet.

"With my old lift I had more of a chance getting hurt," Patton said. "Now I feel completely safe."

The wall-attached rail design is non-obtrusive, so it is out of the way when not in use, Matthews said. In addition, the system is simple to remove and relocate either to a different part of the home, or to a new home if a move is necessary.

The cost per home for each new system is estimated at $20,000-25,000, according to Robert Franco, Mosaic Director of Construction and Facilities. The ideal goal is to have this system included in every new structure that Mosaic builds or buys where it would be needed to provide the highest quality care possible.

"We who serve people with disabilities take so much, like moving freely around our workplace or home, for granted," Matthews said. "Even after all these years serving people through Mosaic, the greatest feeling you can get is having someone who is benefiting from a new system, like the rail lift system, thank you with a big smile and a handshake. That's priceless!"