Community

Gifts That Just Might Make Life Easier

Home Medical Equipment Needed and Wanted by Family, Friends

It’s difficult to shop for gifts for physically-challenged family or friends, particularly the elderly. This holiday season, instead of the traditional trek to the mall, experts at Spectrum Health are recommending shoppers consider purchasing home medical equipment for those who live with physical restrictions.

Jason Kops, director, Spectrum Health Home Medical Equipment, says that with an aging population, the demand and popularity of daily living aids is growing.

“There are many items that aren’t covered by insurance, but are needed and appreciated by people who struggle with daily living tasks,” said Kops.

Some insurers only cover a portion of needed home medical equipment, such as the lift mechanics on a lift chair, but not the chair itself. This additional cost stops individuals, particularly those on a limited budget, from buying, no matter the need.

“There are many senior citizens who would appreciate a gift of a $500 lift chair much more than a new LED television,” he explained.

Kops says that people are surprised that many items are reasonably priced. The most popular equipment includes:

  • Dressing sticks – for putting on socks and other clothing: $5
  • Extendable reachers – for a variety of household tasks: $13
  • The “Hip Kit” – includes a long handled sponge, a reacher, a shoe horn, a dressing stick and a sock aid – all designed to help people who have trouble bending or reaching: $30
  • Shower chair – to prevent falls: $45
  • Transfer bench – for safely scooting into bathtub showers:  $72
  • Blood pressure monitors: $80
  • Bed assist rails – to prevent falls. They slide between the mattress and box spring: $45
  • Lift chairs – available in a variety of styles and materials. Cost can range from $500 to $2500 and Kops says that often the chairs can be delivered the next day.

Spectrum Health, like many other health care systems, has been expanding the care and services it delivers to patients in their homes. All of these gifts can make living at home easier for the recipient, says Kops.

“Our goal is to deliver as much care in the home as possible. That’s where people want to be. Whatever we can do to make it easier for them to enjoy their daily lives, that’s what we want to do.”

Spectrum Health is a not-for-profit health system in West Michigan offering a full continuum of care through the Spectrum Health Hospital Group, which is comprised of nine hospitals including Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital, a state of the art children’s hospital that opened in January 2011, and 183 service sites; the Spectrum Health Medical Group and West Michigan Heart, physician groups totaling more than 700 providers; and Priority Health, a health plan with 600,000 members. Spectrum Health is West Michigan’s largest employer with 19,000 employees. The organization provided $204 million in community benefit during its 2012 fiscal year.