Restoring Hope: Improving Lives Through a Heartfelt Transformation

Published in Home Modifications on November 13, 2024

VGM Live at Home is always honored to share stories from members who have had a tremendous impact on the lives of others, especially when it comes to helping their clients live comfortably at home.

A longtime member of VGM Live at Home, Ali Soltani is a dedicated professional from HandyPro in Washington, D.C. He has built a reputation for his exceptional skills and compassionate approach to home modifications. His commitment to improving the lives of his clients is evident in every project he undertakes. One particular story highlights Ali’s dedication and the profound impact of his work.

Ali and the team at HandyPro in Washington, D.C., received a call from a local nonprofit organization about a client who had previously hired a different company for home modifications. Unfortunately, the work done was inadequate, leaving the client in a difficult situation. The nonprofit, along with a couple of other organizations, sought Ali’s expertise to rectify the issues.

Upon visiting the client’s home, Ali immediately noticed several problems. The most glaring issue was a ramp at the front of the townhouse. It was so short it resembled a slide more than a ramp, making it unsafe and impractical. Inside the house, although the stairlifts were well-installed, the bedroom modifications were poorly designed and unnecessary.

Ali decided to take on the challenge. He tore down the faulty installations, except for the stairlifts, and redesigned the entire setup from scratch. His goal was to provide the client with more freedom and independence. Ali’s new design allowed the client to move from his bed to the car without needing assistance, thanks to a ceiling lift system that facilitated smooth transfers.

Because the client lacked the mental capacity to be fully independent, each transfer required assistance from a caregiver. The equipment provided significant comfort and safety, reducing the risk of injury for both him and his caregivers. From his bed to the bathroom and all the way down to street level, he no longer needed to be manually lifted or carried. Instead, he transitioned smoothly between various lifts: from his bed, the ceiling lift will take him to the turntable shower area, changing table, or over to the stair lift, which will then take him down the stairs to the first floor (family room and kitchen), and finally into his wheelchair for the VPL to take him to street level.

The project was completed just before Christmas, and the family was overjoyed. On Christmas Eve, Ali received an email from the client’s mother, which included a heartfelt video. The video showed the client, a young man with a great sense of humor despite his disabilities, using the new system to move around independently. The family expressed their gratitude, highlighting how Ali’s work had transformed their lives and provided comfort and safety to him while reducing the risk of injury for both the client and his caregivers. Click here to watch the video.

“It was the best Christmas gift that I ever got,” said Ali. “That was the reason that I started this business. I wanted to help people.”

This experience was profoundly moving for Ali. It reinforced his belief in the importance of his work and the positive impact it could have on people’s lives, because his work provided invaluable freedom and independence to his clients. Though the client unfortunately passed away a few years later, this project and the heartfelt gratitude from the family became one of the highlights of Ali’s career, reminding him of the true purpose behind his business.

VGM Live at Home is proud to have Ali Soltani and all at HandyPro as part of something bigger!

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