LAGRANGE — During the months of April and May, the LaGrange County Council on Aging assembled a group of volunteers to install an I-beam in the home of a LaGrange County senior citizen.
The need surfaced late last year when a senior client from the Council on Aging told David Clark, the chairman of the COA’s Aging in Place committee, about a challenge that she has. The client has a son who is a quadriplegic and weighs nearly 250 pounds. The client has a hoyer lift to assist getting her son in and out of a wheel chair. However the lift does not solve her problem of getting her son on and off the toilet and in and out of the bath tub.
David Clark discussed the issue with the Aging In Place Committee of the LaGrange County Council on Aging.
An idea surfaced to remove a wall in the client’s home and install a long I-beam. The beam will support an electric hoist which can easily be moved from one end of the house to the other. The challenge then became securing the necessary funds to obtain the materials needed.
The LaGrange Ministerial Association was contacted by Bill Cunningham, executive director of the LaGrange County Council on Aging. It was not long afterward that Cunningham received a call from the LaGrange Christian Fellowship. According to their pastor, Cory Happner, the church has a special Mission Café in which they raise money for special needs. Happner said the church would donate $300 for the special project. With that piece of information, the Aging In Place committee began its work.
Through the efforts of David Clark, a 26-foot beam was donated by Elkhart Metal Distributing Inc. With the arrival of the beam, a group of volunteers were assembled.
Sheriff Terry Martin arranged for a number of work release participants to assist with the project. The beam was installed and arranged so that there was a straight line from the bed to the toilet. The bathtub had to be relocated to line up with the beam.
Now with one hand on the controls, the senior client can lift her son and move him easily to an awaiting wheel chair, or to the toilet or in and out of the bathtub. A special device was made by volunteer Jim Haas to keep the pulley from catching. Members of the LaGrange Christian Fellowship are going to make a swivel and install it to the lift to make the device even more efficient.
According to Cunningham, “this project would not have been possible without the contribution from the LaGrange Christian Fellowship and the many volunteer hours. We owe special thanks to David Clark of Bath Express/D & T builders for his expertise, time and effort.
Local News
Volunteers install I-beam to help mother of disabled man
z Council on aging, church join efforts on project.
- Local News
-
-
Toledo Symphony, Goshen College choirs in concert Feb. 19
The Toledo Symphony Orchestra and Goshen College choirs will come together under the direction of Grammy award-winning conductor and Goshen College alumnus Vance George for a Feb. 19 show.
-
'Seussical' debuts Friday
Joel Lininger is a 15-year-old boy. He’s also been Tom Sawyer and the King of Hearts. Currently, he’s The Cat in the Hat.
-
Student radio station up for national awards
The Goshen College radion station, WGCS, 91.1, The Globe, has been nominated for 15 broadcasting awards by the Intercollegiate Broadcasting System.
-
Council bailout of housing authority not a done deal
Supporters of a $571,050 plan to bailout the Goshen Housing Authority and put the agency back on solid footing left Tuesday’s City Council meeting with new optimism, according to some people who attended the meeting.
-
Goshen winter guard members preparing for their big show
Members of the Goshen High School Winter Guard are working hard in preparation for their last regular season invitational. And that event will be a big one.
-
Police have suspects in theft of charity containers at Walmarts
According to a report by the Elkhart County Sheriff’s Department, suspects in the recent thefts of donation containers at local Walmart stores have been identified.
-
Museum programs to focus on barns
Two events focusing on historic barns are planned at the Midwest Museum of American Art, 429 S. Main St., Elkhart:
-
New library rental fees set
The Middlebury Town Council amended the Middlebury Public Library's community room use policy Monday, with the primary change being an increase in rental fees for the library's three community rooms.
-
Local artists win at regionals
Five NorthWood High School students won at the 2012 Northwest Indiana & Lower Southwest Michigan Region of The Alliance for Young Writers & Artists.
-
Indiana lawmakers return to action after Super Bowl break
After a time-out to accommodate out-of-town Super Bowl visitors, the Indiana General Assembly is back in session to tackle legislation that had been bottlenecked by a contentious labor bill.
- More Local News Headlines
-
Obama Gives Education Waivers to 10 States
Giffords Aide to Run for Her Seat
LA School in Sex Abuse Scandal Reopens
Winter Slamming North Asia, Parts of Europe
Syrian Forces Renew Bombardment of Homs
States, Banks Reach Foreclosure-abuse Settlement
Raw Video: Italy's Mount Etna Bursts Into Life
Greeks March; Angry Despite Debt Deal
Raw Video: U.S. Pullout Celebration
Raw Video: Annual Empire State Building Run-Up
Man Killed in Courthouse Shootout
Video of Ga. Man Who Killed Girl Released
Air Force Airlines: Leaders Get Polished Service
Ga Girl Fights Off Kidnapper at Walmart
Nevada Highway Patrol, City Settle Beating Case
Homs Bombardment Continues, Global Outcry Grows
Raw Video: Dog Rescued From Icy Colo. Water
Skip the Coffee Cup and Inhale Your Caffeine Fix
