Designed Living expands mods biz

LAKE FOREST, Calif. - Designed Living has named David Traub senior vice president of construction services to oversee all home modifications as the company moves more aggressively into that space.
“The promotion is strategic for sure,” said Fred Gladney, president and CEO. “Home access is an emerging market and we're excited about that.”
Currently, home modifications make up about 10% of Design Living's total revenue. However, over the next few years, the company expects that to increase to 35% to 40%.
“We were getting subcontractors to do the work, but now we're doing the work directly and through subcontractors,” said Gladney.
In addition to home modifications, Designed Living also offers a full range of DME, prosthetics and orthotics, and vehicle modifications.
Until now, most of the home modifications the company has done have been for catastrophically injured patients. Going forward, the company plans to target the aging-in-place population. While catastrophic injuries can't be predicted, aging is an absolute certainty.  
“We want to help baby boomers before they think they need it,” said Traub. “It's just a matter of time and that age group—the 60 to 70-year-olds—is getting bigger and bigger every year.”
Another reason to expand? Customer demand.
“Whether it's the special needs trust departments at the banks or the nurse case manager, they wanted a one-stop-shop,” said Gladney. “They want to order supplies, electrotherapy devices and incontinence products from one company and they were excited to learn that we were moving into the home modification space, so they could have one place to have it all done.”