Daily Living Blog

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.