“Stand up Device” Allows Wheelchair Users To Stand For the First Time in Years

Stand Up and Play Foundation Delivers Paramobile to Armed Forces Retirement Home

Washington DC, – October 22, 2010 – The Stand Up and Play Foundation today announced it has delivered one of the organization’s ‘Paramobiles’ to the Armed Forces Retirement Home in Washington D.C. The AFRH-W houses approximately 500 veterans with varying levels of healthcare. Many residents from various wars and branches of service were in attendance for the October 20th delivery. The AFRH is the first United States governmental facility to purchase the Paramobile

There was a frenzy of excitement as several of the residents were able to experience “Standing” for the first time in several years.  Mr. Robert Hill, a war veteran, wheelchair user and a Multiple Sclerosis patient said that the thrill of standing for the first time in four years was the same thrill he experienced while flying on the Concord!

There were many staff on hand for the Paramobile presentation. Timothy Cox, Chief Operating Officer of the Washington, D.C. Armed Forces Retirement Homes. “We purchased the Paramobile because it fits into our wellness programs for our residents, and we understand there are multiple therapeutic and rehabilitative health benefits that can result from their utility. We use the Paramobiles to get our veterans standing and playing everything from bocce ball to shuffleboard and we have witnessed firsthand how their quality of life can be enhanced tremendously with this technology. Thanks to these Paramobiles, our veterans will discover a new and unimagined level of freedom and independence.”

Stand Up and Play volunteer Anthony Netto conducted training for the staff and residents in the proper use of the paramobile. Activitiesduring the day included golf, round the world basketball and one lucky lady received a hug from a amputee veteran who had not hugged standing in over 4 years!

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