National Seating & Mobility (NSM) has partnered with SYNERGY HomeCare, a national provider of in-home services, in a new pilot project.

The agreement, which starts this month in 40 SYNERGY HomeCare locations in five states, “will allow SYNERGY HomeCare franchises to connect clients to mobility solutions that support safer aging at home and allow NSM to offer comprehensive in-home care resources when needed by their clients,” according to an Aug. 9 news announcement from NSM.

SYNERGY HomeCare provides a wide range of support services in consumers’ homes, from assistance with activities such as dressing and bathing, to light housekeeping, meal preparation, laundry, and gardening. SYNERGY HomeCare also offers respite services for caregivers.

Bill Mixon, NSM’s CEO, said in the announcement, “NSM is devoted to helping our clients achieve independence and maintain safety in and around their homes. By partnering with SYNERGY HomeCare, we can make an even larger impact as we work together to offer solutions that increase safety, create more accessible and functional home environments, and provide our clients with the level of care and respect they deserve.”

The SYNERGY HomeCare partnership is part of NSM’s Solutions for Accessible & Functional Environments (SAFE) program. Launched in September, SAFE “seeks to support organizations and health insurance payors in proactively preventing falls, now the leading cause of fatal injuries for adults over 65, according to the Centers for Disease Control,” the NSM announcement said.

The new partnership will enable NSM’s ATPs, technicians, and other specialists to work with SYNERGY’s in-home caregivers based on each consumer’s unique needs. Examples of services could include home assessments and mobility equipment evaluations, with NSM’s ATPs acting as assistive technology consultants when a SYNERGY HomeCare client returns home from the hospital after a stroke, for instance.

Charlie Young, SYNERGY HomeCare’s CEO, said in the announcement, “We are pleased to partner with NSM’s SAFE program. We can support NSM’s clients in need of home care assistance with activities of daily living, and conversely, we can approach our clients’ needs holistically and provide them peace of mind, knowing their homes are safe and their independence is not in jeopardy. The continued growth of aging in place is allowing our franchisees to have ongoing discussions with their clients and loved ones about not only care needs, but also how to make the home safer and more accessible. We look forward to this relationship with NSM creating greater opportunities and cross referrals at the local level.”

While the pilot project involves just five states, NSM and SYNERGY HomeCare expect the program to expand nationwide by the end of 2021.