Home access: ‘The next three years are pivotal’ 

WATERLOO, Iowa – Coming off a successful event in the fall and a revamped website early this year, VGM Live at Home is helping to solidify home accessibility as "another link in the home care system,” says Jim Greatorex. 

“The next three years are pivotal,” said Greatorex, vice president of VGM Live at Home, a nationwide network of providers focused on home modifications and independent living solutions. “We have a chance for a lot of growth and a chance to influence how home access is perceived by the medical community. Our vision is clear – and now it’s about execution.” 

Here’s what Greatorex said about all the efforts to increase recognition and the uptake for home access. 

On becoming more of a priority for the medical community 

“Instead of the transactions happening in the market right now, which are mostly through digital marketing, we believe the medical community is going to want to address home access (more formally), because there is so much more that can happen in the home. They’re going to start looking for a vetted, certified group of professionals who focus on fall prevention and independence, because those are the people who understand home access and can do the assessment and can present patients with a plan. We believe the medical community will develop a best practice for this in the next three years. We’re seeing Medicare Advantage plans piloting programs, and we’re seeing health systems trying to figure out how they can fund these things.” 

On building the right infrastructure 

“Our industry grew 18% in 2021, 22% in 2022 and only 5% to 8% in 2023. The reason wasn’t because the demand wasn’t still growing; the reason was because the infrastructure is not there to scale the offerings high enough. We’re working on a turnkey apprenticeship program for installers that will give them a career path, where they’re trained appropriately and have a livable wage.” 

On getting the best outcomes 

“The best outcomes are when occupational therapists and home accessibility professionals collaborate. There are certain diagnoses and medical conditions where 80% of the time they are going to need some type of home modification upon discharge, and the OT is driving a lot of that. OTs need to recognize that, while they’re all educated in doing home safety assessments, the needs can go a step above that. We have Cindi Petito, OTR/L, MBA, ATP, CAPS, CEAC, who is an OT and who has life experience in home access, and she has a six-part training program that gives therapists the education and ability to go in and assess at a higher level.”