Daily Living Blog

When Products Don’t Solve the Issue

Homecare Suppliers, LLC has regularly posted blogs about resources. It is such a daunting task to try and find help, products, and support. 80% of the calls that we have received in the month of August have been from a caregiver. So many of these individuals are trying to care for their loved one remotely. This can be so frustrating to both individuals.

Today for example, I had a person contact me about her aunt in NJ. The niece lives in Missouri. Her aunt suffered a stroke almost a year ago. She moved to New Jersey in order to be closer to her children. After completing physical therapy, she was released. She opted to rent an apartment instead of moving in with her grown child. The apartment complex had wide hallways, an elevator, and wide doorways. Unfortunately, the bathroom was not conducive to her situation. The stroke had her with limited mobility on her left side, including her left leg. She needed a scooter to move from location to location. There was no way for her to lift her legs to get into the bathtub unassisted.

The niece contacted me because of our bathlifts that we sell through our online store. After discussing options, we agreed that a product would not fix this situation. The niece then contacted her local area of aging in Missouri. They were able to connect her to the NJ Area of Aging. The niece was informed that as a result of her aunt’s situation, the state would pay for someone to come in several times a month to help with bathing. How amazing is that?! Further, if a product is required, the NJ Area of Aging will acquire it for her as well.

There are times when a product does not fix the problem. It is best to refer to many sources and sololicit opinions or advice from several entities. So often, we don’t know where to start. We go to the internet or to our local phone book. We automatically try and throw a product at the problem. After many hours and a lot of money, we realize that the product doesn’t help. Sales people are often too focused on the sale, rather than the situation and the person. It is up to you as the consumer to do your due diligence and become educated about your options.

The best place to start —-Your local Area of Aging or possibly a non-profit that supports the individual’s condition —Stroke Foundation, Cancer Society, MDA, MS Society. Each has a local branch. Start there first.

As we find out about organizations, Homecare Suppliers makes every effort to put them on our resource pages. Please do not hesitate to utilize these. And if you find something or someone that assists you and your situation – we encourage you to share your journey with us!

Here are links to our current resource pages:
Disability Resources
Daily Living Related Resources Lists
Making Your Home Safe Resources

One more step today for living life unlimited!

Liberty For Aging Parents

The idea of caring for an aging loved one is hitting closer to home for one of Homecare Suppliers’ frequent blog writers.

Life is ironic in that often much of what we do for another ends up being preparation for what is to come next in our own lives!

Suzanne Wantland is a marketing contractor and writer for us. Recent events have caused her family to look at the possibility of her mother-in-law coming to live closer to them. Her mother-in-law is home bound in another state. The family support system where she is living is overburdened with many obligations. Thus, often her mother-in-law, Mil*, struggles to get prescriptions, her errands done and has had less and less social visits from family members. This has caused a great deal of stress and worry on the rest of the family.

Suzanne has been tapping into the many resources available through Homecare Suppliers. She began by researching what was available to Mil in Oklahoma. What she found was rather disheartening. This rural part of Oklahoma does not have a plethora of resources. Mil’s situation is difficult because she is on medicare, not medicaid, and she currently has some savings. Her financial status decreases the assistance that she is eligible to receive. Further, the assistance that she could acquire on a sliding scale would greatly reduce Mil’s savings and put her in a position where she would lose her housing. The support system that is in place for Mil is significant, but they are also sandwich generation children caring for Mil and their own children. Their time and resources are extremely limited.

Thus, Suzanne began comparing resources available to Mil now and those that would be available in the Kansas City area where she and her husband reside. There is a vast difference in the amount of programs and assistance available. Kansas City is a large metropolis with many governmental agencies, social organizations and non-profit entities committed to serving the aging. Suzanne started compiling a list of resources specific to Mil’s needs and began making phone calls. She has stated that the most frustrating part is that there is not just ONE resource to call to find out everything she needs to know and not all the organizations work together. Further, every call she makes she finds out something else she didn’t know and learns that everyone has different guidelines for assistance.

As she has begun this new journey with her mother-in-law, she has decided to chronicle it via a blog. As we have stated in the past, we get many calls from family members caring for their loved ones. They have often shared their struggles, burdens and questions. As a result, two years ago, we created an on-going list of resources to try and offset the question of “where do I go from here?”. Our resource lists cover both aging and disabilities.

To further aid our customers, we have decided to chronicle part of Suzanne’s family’s journey here on our Daily Living Blog. This is an opportunity to highlight someone who is trying to find answers and assist her loved one in finding liberty.

Suzanne’s blog is http://libertyforagingparents.blogspot.com. We encourage you to share with her your own story, your knowledge and your resources. May we be a community helping each other live life unlimited!

*Mil’s name has been changed to honor her privacy

Camp Barnabas Reaches Across Barriers

What is in a name? Does it describe our personality, our character? When a parent chooses a name, is that baby already that person or do they grow into it? What about a label? Poisonous labels warn us to stay away. Sensitive skin labels affirm that anyone can use the product. Labels have the possibility to warn us, restrict us or release us.

There are names and labels throughout our society that are placed on things, places and individuals. Old, Geriatric, Disabled, Autistic, Handicap, Dementia are each words that label. They can be descriptive terms or defining terms. Each of these terms can be used to characterize part of a person’s identity. However, they do not define the whole person. The range of each label is vast, enormous and truly undefined. For example, “Old” can be someone further along in age than you (teenagers call their parents old) to someone who is the oldest living person.

However, often times we see that these labels are allowed to not just define but limit a person. Stereotypes are fixed on the recipient. These labels can become so defining that they mold everyone’s perspective to the negative and the impossible. This is especially true with children who have been diagnosed with a disability or are suffering from chronic illness. The diagnosis becomes the focus, the label and the limiter.

I had a conversation at the end of last summer with one of the founders of Camp Barnabas. Camp Barnabas is a summer camp that provides life-changing opportunities to people with special needs. Cyndi and Paul Teas, are the founders of Camp Barnabas in Purdy, Missouri. Cyndi explained that often those who attend camp consistently hear what they cannot do and are often labeled by their medical prognosis. She said that “many are hearing what the world is telling them – they don’t fit the norm.” But Cyndi pointed out that there are a lot of variations within the “Norm”.

Cyndi said that one of the most limiting factors for people with disabilities is attitude. “People’s attitude toward the child that then forms their attitude toward themselves.” She shared that it is rare for them to see a child so empowered that their disability does not hinder them, but in those cases the child is so much further along.

Camp Barnabas’ respects the difficulties and joys of parenting the special needs child. Their philosophy states “we strive to bring new experiences into these families. We seek to promote a sense of normalcy in the lives of children living with disease or disability. We recognize that disease and disability impact the whole family and we therefore minister to the sibling of a child with special needs by inviting them too to join in the camp experience.”

The camp experience is tailored for each group attending. Every activity is adapted to meet the needs of the campers. There are 9 terms and each term of camp is for specific groups based upon diagnosis including Developmentally Disabled, Physically Disabled, Autism, Hematology, Oncology, Burn Patients, Chronic Illnesses, Diabetes, Sickle Cell, Hemophilia, Amputees, Craniofacial Syndromes, Blind, Visually Impaired, Deaf, and Hard of Hearing. The age is from 7 years old and up.

There is a buddy counselor assigned to each camper for the entire week. The camp is structured so that each camper can successfully do the activities. They adapt everything, from the ropes course to games. Cyndi says, “We see a different way to do it – so that they are able to participate in every way. We don’t want them to sit on the side lines.” This philosophy is proving itself time again as campers state, “I never knew I could do that” and parents are in awe exclaiming “I didn’t know they could do this.”

For many of these young people, their diagnosis has completely limited their lifestyle and their identity. Cyndi says many of these kids haven’t been allowed to just be kids. But Camp Barnabas is that – a place where they can be celebrated for who they are and be a kid. “They need to know that God has a plan for their life. People keep making plans for their life based upon what they think they can do.”

Camp Barnabas’ success is measurable in many ways, including by the sheer number of campers that come back. 98% of the campers return year after year. Since their beginning in 1995 they have had over 10,000 campers. Children, youth, adults who have come through the gates of the camp to the tune of 150 volunteers cheering, calling their name and celebrating their life. These campers leave with an understanding that they can do anything, they just might not do it like someone else.

Camp Barnabas, the founders, the staff, the 1800 volunteers and the 10,000 campers and their families truly reflect Living Unlimited!

To find out more about their camp please visit their website at http://www.campbarnabas.org/. Or to make a donation or volunteer you can contact them at 417.476.2565.

Moving Forward

Today, Homecare Suppliers is moving forward with a new momentum! Unlimited by the challenges that have faced them in the days past. What lies ahead are days filled with solutions! Solutions for individuals faced with mobility and disability issues. Answers that define the future of everyone they serve.

Over the course of the last couple of months, Homecare Suppliers and its staff have spent their time in a quiet pursuit of purpose. Director of Operations, Pam Billings, explained that they used the Lenten season as a time of reflection, guidance, prayer and introspection. She says over the 40 day period they literally “stripped Homecare Suppliers back to the foundation”. They stopped pushing in all the directions available for a home medical supply company to go. Instead, they reigned back in their efforts and were still.

What they discovered when it was all stripped away was their passion. A passion that had somehow gotten burried under the day-to-day business of running a company. A passion to serve. A passion to assist those faced with the challenges of aging, mobility and disability issues.

The resonating question may be ‘what does this mean for their customers?’ The answer is that from the outside, looking in, nothing will appear to have changed. Homecare Suppliers has always been dedicated to superior customer care and service. But internally, there has been a shift back to their main purpose: meeting the needs of those they serve. “We had the foundation right, we just lost focus for a bit and got caught up in the competition’s movements as well as a little too distracted by the industry standards for pricing, products, sales and service,” shares Pam. She goes on to stress that “the services we will provide and the products we will begin to carry will reflect more customer needs and not just industry standards.”

Pam states that “Homecare Suppliers is dedicated to assisting all we serve to live life unlimited no matter the challenge before them. We no longer are saying the issues our customers face are a ‘limitation’ but instead we are stressing that those issues are a ‘challenge’ that can be overcome.”

She realized during those days of introspection that the challenges they as a company were facing were much like the challenges that their customers face when looking for assistance in the home healthcare market. Both Homecare Suppliers and customers are often faced with a plethora of products, services, costs, time constraints and even at times an overwhelming sense of just not knowing which way to go. But just as Homecare Suppliers discovered, there is a difinitive way to travel through any path of uncertainty and to find the necessary solutions to live life unlimited.

To find out more about the new products and services available through Homecare Suppliers, call 888-252-2205 or visit their website at http://www.buyastairlift.com.

Homecare Suppliers Today & Tomorrow!

Being a locally based company in the Kansas City area, I often have the opportunity to meet with customers in our area for a site visit. Today, I had the pleasure of meeting with Nancy*. She is currently recovering from back surgery and has been house bound for the last year. Frequently during her physical therapy sessions, she would inquire about different daily living products to assist her. She repeatedly asked about a product to help with climbing stairs. Unfortunately, neither her home health nurse nor her physical therapists were aware of such a product as a stairlift. After nearly a year, she found us.

Daily, I am astounded by the lack of knowledge and communication from people in the healthcare industry. Homecare Suppliers, LLC is not a standard medical supply company. Yet approximately 30% of our phone calls are for products that we do not carry. We have developed a significant resource guide for local customers to assist them in finding the right product from the right company. Regularly, we post different resources on our blog highlighting where consumers can go for different products.

Below are a few simple resources that are beneficial to keep on hand.
1. Area Agency on Aging – Each state should have an Area Agency on Aging and then it is broken down into regions. Each plans, develops and coordinates a network of services for family caregivers and older persons within their area.
2. Stroke Foundation – We have seen many families faced with the affects of a stroke. Often this results in the need for a stair lift or bath lift or other mobility assistance. It is important to not only understand the affects of a stroke but to know what kinds of resources are available to you in your area.
4. AARP – A membership organization leading positive social change and delivering value to people age 50 and over through information, advocacy and service.
5. H2U – The h2u program creates a strong local connection for its members by being part of a community hospital or health facility. Each location has a director on whom you can depend for information on organized h2u events, health screenings and educational classes, as well as access to physicians and care at your local hospital and some offer discount programs to members.
6. Alzheimer Foundation – The leading voluntary health organization in Alzheimer care, support and research. Local branches can provide support and assistance.
7. Elder Care – The Eldercare Locator is a great step for finding local agencies, in every U.S. community, that can help older persons and their families access home and community-based services like transportation, meals, home care, and caregiver support services
8. Heart Association – National organization, the America Heart Association, provides information to be heart healthy and live stronger, healthier lives.
9. VA Hospital – We direct people that are veterans to their local VA Hospital. This is especially vital when they need medical mobility products like bath lifts and stair lifts.
10. Local Medical Supply Company – We regularly get calls from all over the United States about medical supplies that we do not carry. We suggest checking local Yellow Pages or phone books under “medical supply”. Also, Yellow Pages has started listing products so check under the actual product that is needed like “stair lifts” or “oxygen”.

Our 10 Resources for Seniors found on Twitter
Their websites as well as their twitter user names are linked in blue.
1. Gilbert Guide – Gilbert Guide Senior Housing Guide & Resource for Senior Care Information.
2. Homecare Assistance – JMoskovitz – Provider of home-care, in-home living assistance, and eldercare services.
3. Caregiver Journey – Beth Parker-O’Brien – Researcher and Clinical Social Worker focusing on Alzheimer’s and related dementias as well as other older adult issues.
4. AgeWiseLiving – AgeWiseLiving Barbara Friesner
– Counseling and training for aging loved ones.
5. Aging In Place Technology – AgingTech Laurie Orlov – Aging Industry Trends Technology Watch, Research and Analysis
6. Age In Place – Aging_in_place – A place where Baby Boomers and seniors can get information on how to build their own aging in place plane. It is also a place caregivers, families and friends of aging people can come to get news and information about how to better care for their loved ones.
7. Inside Elder Care – InsideElderCare Ryan Malone – Comprehensive blog that focuses on “by families, for families” approach to elder care which teaches families how to make elder care a positive experience
8. All About Seniors – Allaboutseniors Missy Johnson – A senior resource directory for South Carolina – the publisher also has one for Charlotte, NC.
9. AFB Senior Site – AFBSite for seniors with eye conditions as well as other helpful information.
10. Baby Boomer Knowledge Center – BoomerBuzzNews – Informative Blog with information that is resourceful, wistful, impactful and engaging for the baby boomer generation.

On another note, I have been in prayerful consideration about the direction of Homecare Suppliers, LLC. Today is Ash Wednesday. It is the start of Lent. As a Christian, I am not required to do this. However, I do. Lent was established in the 4th century, and since then, participants will eat sparingly, give up a certain food, favorite activity, etc. The basis for this is the idea of repentance (complete with sackcloth, ashes, and fasting, found in places like Esther 4, Jeremiah 6, Daniel 9, and Mathew 11), for the sake of turning from sin and seeking forgiveness, and to display devotion and focus on Christ. Many people participate for a variety of reasons: tradition, personal gain, pride, for clarification, or just to do it. Homecare Suppliers, LLC is currently participating in Lent as well. The purpose is for self-discovery. Homecare Suppliers, LLC has always been a vehicle for God. I have mistakenly taken the wheel on many occasions. HCS is now at a cross road. The next 40 days will be spent in trying to figure out where to go. I am going to take a back seat. Therefore, no more posts will be made until after Easter.