Living alone can be risky for senior citizens, not only due to age-related factors but also due to prevailing ailments or risk of falls and injuries. With their children living away or busy mostly due to professional commitments, aged people are left in the confines of their homes. Hence, living in an unsafe or uncomfortable home environment can easily create or contribute to depression, anxiety, social isolation and, of course, enhance the risk of injury. Many older adults want to age in their own homes but do not pay much attention to modifying it according to their needs. A trailblazing duo, Dr. Emily Reilly and Dr. Devon Turnbull, are working to bridge that gap and provide a suitable home for such seniors.
Passion for Caregiving
Dr. Reilly and Dr. Turnbull have a rich educational background that has helped spur their entrepreneurial journey. Dr. Reilly attended Russell Sage College in Troy, New York, and graduated with a Master of Science in Occupational Therapy, in addition to completing a Doctor of Health Science from Nova Southeastern University in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Dr. Turnbull graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Biological Sciences from Barrett, the Honors College at Arizona State University, and holds a Doctor of Physical Therapy from Northern Arizona University. While Dr. Reilly holds additional certifications in home modifications, Dr. Turnbull is a Certified Fall Prevention Specialist.
Most of the duo's professional experience comes from working with older adults. Dr. Reilly took up a career in occupational therapy after a personal tragedy made her realize first-hand the challenges that family caregivers face. Similarly, after practicing for several years in outpatient orthopedics, Dr. Turnbull founded a mobile concierge practice to provide personalized, evidence-based care to her clients from the comfort of their homes. Through her physical therapy practice, she helped clients restore their quality of life and age safely in the comfort of their homes through strength, mobility, and balance training.
Idea Behind Building Safer Homes
During their initial career, Dr. Reilly and Dr. Turnbull witnessed a barrier that these senior citizens, in terms of returning home or continuing to stay where they were due to inaccessible living spaces. Also, due to the hectic lifestyles of the family caregivers, it becomes difficult for them to gain the skills needed to effectively help their loved ones at home. The duo began referring their clients to each other’s individual practices to fill the gap in the healthcare system and aid families requiring additional services not always covered by their health insurance. Interactions with many family caregivers also revealed their confusion as to how they could give the best care for their loved ones.
To bridge this gap and provide clients with valuable resources that help them continue living safe and enriched lives in their homes, the duo started “Purposefully Home”, a boutique consulting agency that offers low-cost, high-impact outcomes to families living and caring for older adults at home. The company offers functional, intuitive, and timeless solutions through three primary services: mobile physical/occupational therapy, home safety assessments and modifications, and caregiver education/training. This will ensure that older adults keep living in their homes for as long as they want to and do not feel pressurized with the transition to long-term care because their place of stay does not cater to their needs.
Instilling Faith and Trust
Dr. Reilly and Dr. Turnbull believe that a home is the foundation of health and happiness and work towards empowering adults and seniors to live meaningful lives by creating simple home solutions that are functional, intuitive, and timeless. Among the many challenges that come along with running a business, dealing with aged adults also has its share of trials and tribulations. Not very keen on flexibility, adapting to home improvements, or participating in therapy does not come easily to them. What sets the duo apart is that they try their best to adapt their services to the client’s needs and do not force their solutions upon them, ultimately letting the seniors decide and experience the effectiveness of the services.
Dr. Reilly and Dr. Turnbull have dedicated their lives to making sure aging adults live the fag end of their lives in comfort and peace and not resign to a forced life in an assisted facility. “Often, people feel a normal part of growing old is accepting a sedentary, lonely life at home. It is not our decision to choose a person’s quality of life, but we help empower them to recognize that they are capable of more and lead the life that they like and love,” the entrepreneur duo said.
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