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If you missed my last week’s radio show, you missed Gary Owens and his wonderful sharing as a caregiving spouse. Gary is many things: a problem solver, entrepeneur, cabinet builder, inventor of TenderCare beds. But, as he says, his most important role in life is being caregiver to his wife Gina.
14 years ago when Gina became disabled, their world changed forever…shrinking to one room with an institutional hospital bed. That bed became a constant reminder of her illness. She didn’t want family to visit because she didn’t want them to see her like that. Gary knew he had to somehow change that ugly hospital bed into a beautiful piece of furniture. He settled on a simple but innovative design of slipping hardwood headboard and footboard right over both ends of the hospital bed.
As Gary shared, it is truly all about dignity in living. He said that transforming Gina’s bed was the “best medicine” ever. Her room looked like “home” again. Her spirits were lifted, and she once again found herself looking forward to visits, and finding her “new” normal. Gary learned another important lesson along the way. Filling a family member’s room with the many products on the market was both overwhelming and unnecessary. He adopted the goal of keeping Gina’s room simple, and functional but stylish. And that is what drives Gary’s innovations forward. He has seen first-hand how his products have changed the quality of life for entire families!
Gary’s company, Tender Care Beds, produces the slip-on headboards/footboards in hardwood in 5 standard colors, in various styles and even accepts orders for custom items (such as a cover for a ventilator.) Other standard products include a foot chest, wall shelf and soon-to-be announced new innovative products!
Gary noted that there is indeed a cultural change underway to make the environment for elderly and disabled as homelike as possible. ”In June 2009 the CMS (Center for Services) updated its guidelines for long-term care facilities in several ways. Out of the many changes made, the new ‘homelike environment guideline’ was one of the most revolutionary.” So, whether your loved one is living at home or is in a skilled nursing facility, they can absolutely benefit from Gary’s wonderful line of products.
Gary’s goal is simple but so very powerful for loved one and their families, “To improve the quality of life for those whose world has shrunk to a single room.”
I encourage your to check out Gary’s website and product offerings. And, check out the TenderCare bed community of users on Facebook. You’ll find some amazing stories of lives transformed by the TenderCare bed.
http://tendercarebeds.com/ http://tendercareathome.com/
For the Facebook Fan page (TenderCare beds), click here.
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