"I couldn't get along without it!"

(Courtesy of www.withoutboundaries.com)

My Aunt has a Stander Bed Cane she received for the Holidays. She loves the thing and today told her Physical Therapist, "I couldn't get along without it!" -- and that is no exaggeration. I waited in another room to hear what the PT would say, then heard her say that the Bed Cane was "one of the best things ever invented."

Those testimonials truly bear witness to the efficacy of the Bed Cane, a terrific home health solution for people who have problems getting out of bed. My aunt used to pull on the blanket, trying to use it to pull herself up. Needless to say, it not only did not work too well, but took her an inordinate amount of time to get in and out of bed -- now it's a piece of cake. And the Bed Cane is very simple to install and very secure, just click HERE for all the details.

If you have a family member who could use a Stander Bed Cane, don't think twice about it. $89.99 (with FREE shipping) is a very small investment for this outstanding home health solution.

Focus on Multiple Morbidity

(Courtesy of http://www.withoutboundaries.com/)

Well, a few says after promising to be a better blogger, I ended up going to CA to spend some time with my 82-year-old aunt -- followed by a stint doing some work in Tallahassee for the 2009 Florida Legislative Session. That all left, little time for blogging. Now suddenly to CA again, where my Aunt just came out of rehab. I am helping her transition to an Independent Living facility. I'm not complaining, just explaining :)

When I can, I will indeed blog about new products and welcome your feedback. But to the very salient point of challenges facing seniors that could be fixed, I have started a new blog called, "Who's On First?" It's devoted to multiple chronic health condition issues, especially meds. The combination of multiple health problems is called "multiple morbidity."

What happens when multiple doctors prescribe multiple medications for multiple conditions without paying attention to the Big Picture? What unnecessary, confusing challenges are created? It's like the last straw as far as Quality of Life is concerned. What happened to accountability and compassion? A medical care paradigm shift may well be in order.

You, too, can participate in this timely and critical discussion by clicking HERE -- thanks!

I'm Baaack!

(Courtesy of www.withoutboundaries.com)

A belated Happy, Healthy New Year!

I know, I know -- the last post was dated 9-2-08. But there is a reason for that. On 9-4-08, I fell and VERY painfully broke my right shoulder.

The good news is that I learned alot about having physical challenges. Having a broken shoulder is actually is rather interesting -- especially where gravity plays a role. I could bend over only with excruciating pain. I did not have "a reacher," so had to resort to using Bar-B-Q tongs! Thus I added the Hip Kit (Bend/Reach Aid) to the site; it would work equally as well for a broken shoulder et al.

The bad news is that I had to use the computer with one hand -- my left! -- for almost two months. My arm came out of the sling/swathe just in time to attend MedTrade in Atlanta the last week of October, where I found some great new products like the LivingEaZy Portable Wheelchair Table System...

Subsequently, I had to work with some drawbacks just to keep up with new products and the website, and the blogging had to fall by the wayside. Now I'm back!

In the interim, however, we have NEVER skimped on First Class Customer Service. Please read some of our customer feedback to see what we mean.

Thanks, and Onward & Upward!
Paula

Grab bars that work!

(Courtesy of http://www.withoutboundaries.com/)

When I first spoke with Dan at Bridge-Medical, he told me why their grab bars are superior with suction that does not quit -- that a team of engineers beginning in 2005 aimed to develop portable grab bars that would instill confidence in users: "At Bridge Medical, we’ve dedicated our lives to creating products that make our customers' lives more independent, safe, and accessible. Our customers’ safety is our #1 goal, and we strive every day to insure that our products are of the highest quality and perform to the highest standards."

And they have - the adherence of the grab bar is astounding! As specified, it must be applied to tiles that are at least 5" square. The grab bar must have a flat surface for the the suction to work totally. If any other product claims to work on any surface, buyer beware...This summer, I gifted a 13" Portable to a friend. In the photo, my friend is trying to pull it away with all her strength. No deal! It works great -- providing support when you want a balance check, to stoop forward to adjust the water flow, or to simply feel secure while taking a shower.

There are other models; they are all portable and can be put up in about 15 seconds. No kidding! No tools, no defacing the shower wall, nobody to pay for an installation...Most recently the Telescoping Pivot Grip Portable Grab Bar was honored for its technology with 2008 MedTrade Spring INNOVATION AWARD in Long Beach. I was there, and proud of our association with Bridge-Medical -- onward & upward!

My Brother Loves His C-PAP Pillow!

(Courtesy of www.withoutboundaries.com)

A couple of week ago, I sent my brother a C-PAP pillow as a gift -- which was greeted somewhat skeptically, I thought. But when pressed a few days later as to how he liked it, he responded, "I love my C-PAP pillow!" Only those who wears C-PAP masks can relate to the quid quo pro of perhaps saving your life in addition to the cessation of snoring, versus wearing a device on your face all night long...

The Multi-mask C-PAP Pillow by Contour Living improves spine and airway alignment. Sections of pillow provide: proper shoulder/neck positioning, neck support for back and side sleeping, pressure-free mask zone, head support area, ear comfort depression, and inclined forehead support to keep face from rotating downward. It can be worn with various mask styles. Best of all, it is not so expensive as good pillows go, especially in this case.

Check it out for yourself right HERE!

ShowerBuddy & TubBuddy are UNIQUE!

(Courtesy of www.withoutboundaries.com)

It's been awhile, but we have been busy adding some new great products and generally updating our operation...And as of yesterday, we have added the ShowerBuddy (for a standard shower), the Roll-inBuddy (for a shower with no lip/base, and the TubBuddy (goes over the bathtub) ! These are remarkable chairs -- which also function as commodes -- that ride on frames and make showering or bathing so much more pleasant and so much more easier for the caregiver. They were developed and engineered in New Zealand -- because someone was trying to fill a personal need. Most great home health solutions are derived from such situations, and it is always fascinating to delve into such product histories...

The standard Buddy features are awesome, including: ability to swivel around, padded seats, lap/chest belts, and lifetime warranty on the non-corrosive, mold-resistant frames -- not to mention, easy to install. See for yourself by clicking HERE, before commiting to expensive bathroom renovation to make your love-one comfortable.

Whose your buddy? ShowerBuddy!

PS: My blood pressure is under control and I have no sugar problems...How do I know that? By monitoring myself with the DUO-CARE combined Blood Pressure & Glucose Monitor. (I've also joined a gym:)

High Blood Pressure + Diabetes = TROUBLE

(Courtesy of http://www.withoutboundaries.com/)

Yesterday on MSNBC, a physician referring to Tim Russert's death talked about something that most people are not aware of: how high blood pressure and diabetes are a bad combination as related to heart disease. Of course, other factors probably coincide like being overweight with high cholesterol -- which I have, after a lifetime of being in great shape (more-or-less). My blood tests were prompted by a blood pressure reading of 140 over something during a long-overdue doctor's visit last month. I passed a subsequent basic stress test, but so did Mr. Russert just 6 weeks before his death.

At the doctor's office, I had also weighed more than ever in my life, 182 lbs. I can really feel it, but have not done much about it. No wonder my bad LDL cholesterol was a whopping 270, HIGH RISK for coronary heart disease. My good HDL cholesterol was 170. But at the age of 63 I am still left with a bunch of scary thoughts, especially after seeing this in print!

So I decided to put the DUO-CARE Combination Blood Pressure & Blood Glucose Monitor by GenExel-Sein -- that we sell on withoutboundaries.com -- to the test. The BPM features "Highest precision with the application of AOA (Advanced Oscillometric Algorithm) technology. As the value automatically compensates for arteriosclerotic level and the method of wearing the cuff, accurate measurement is possible for both arteriosclerosis patients and general users." It is touted as the best of the wrist cuff BPMs and stores 60 measurements. The Glucose Monitor is very easy to use with results in 5 seconds, storing 150 test results.

This morning my Glucose level before Breakfast was 113, a tad high but still good according to the log book chart. BP was 102/75...I know I also have to lose about 20 lbs. by exercising and eating right just to basically stay healthy and, well, alive. Stay tuned...