186 Staying Independent: Innovations in Home Medical Equipment

Host Marie Betcher RN introduces Hospice Explained and interviews Erica Sell, founder and CEO of Harmony Home Medical in San Diego, about aging in place and home accessibility. Sell explains her high-touch, education-focused approach to home medical equipment and modifications, noting bathrooms as the top fall-risk area and commonly not covered by insurance, with home entry/egress as the next major barrier. She highlights lower-cost safety steps like grab bars, handrails, removing loose rugs, improving lighting, and motion-sensor night lights, and discusses equipment options including shower transfer systems, sit-to-stand lifts versus Hoyer lifts, ceiling and floor lifts, lift-chair recliners with pressure-relief features, and high-low adjustable beds to reduce caregiver strain. She also describes lateral-rotation mattresses that can reduce nighttime caregiving needs and newer mobility advances such as lightweight lithium-ion power chairs and a LIDAR autonomous-driving power chair.

00:00 Welcome and Disclaimer

00:42 Meet Erica Sell

02:36 Bathroom Safety Upgrades

04:18 Home Entry and Steps

06:46 Low Cost Aging Tips

08:13 Transfer Equipment and Lifts

14:51 Filling Hospice Coverage Gaps

18:28 Lift Chairs and Pressure Relief

22:31 Rotation Mattresses Save Care Costs

26:05 New Mobility Tech Breakthroughs

30:10 Final Advice and Contact Info

31:54 Closing and Subscribe

https://harmonyhomemedical.com

https://www.youtube.com/user/harmonyhomemedical

If you want to help, you can donate to help support Hospice Explained at the Buy me a Coffee link https://www.buymeacoffee.com/Hospice

Hospice Explained Affiliates & Contact Information

Buying from these Affilite links will help support this Podcast.

Maire introduces a partnership with Suzanne Mayer RN inventor of the cloud9caresystem.com,
When patients remain in the same position for extended periods, they are at high risk of developing pressure injuries, commonly known as bedsores. One of the biggest challenges caregivers face is the tendency for pillows and repositioning inserts to easily dislodge during care.(Suzanne is a former guest on Episode #119)

When you order with Cloud 9 care system, please tell them you heard about them from Hospice Explained.(Thank You)

Marie's Contact
Marie@HospiceExplained.com
www.HospiceExplained.com

Finding a Hospice Agency

1. You can use Medicare.gov to help find a hospice agency,

2. choose Find provider

3. Choose Hospice

4. then add your zip code

This should be a list of Hospice Agencies local to you or your loved one.