Emergency Response Systems

By now, most people know that there are systems and gadgets of every sort to help you and those you are caring for. Some units operate as simply as a phone that only dials 911. It works without the need of monitoring fees or set up fees. The small cell-like phone is easy to manage and can be used as a pendant. With the push of one button there is direct access to 911. The advantages of this approach is its simplicity and reasonable price. The user must feel comfortable with the fact that he or she is actually calling 911 for help. Some users are reluctant to ask for help if it means calling out the 911 rescue team. Discussing your needs as a caregiver and those of the person you are caring for is always essential before making any kind of decision about emergency response systems.

More elaborate approaches are growing more and more popular as caregivers juggle their own needs for work or long-distance caregiving. Monitored systems generally require an installation fee and a monthly charge. Services range from the basic ability to push a button (either on a console or a pendant; some offer a watch-like option that the user can wear everywhere around the house as s/he would a pendant) to medication reminder calls to companion calls on a frequency determined by the family. Some offer a monitoring system with a strong enough signal that allows the individual to be outside in the yard, for example. Others will only work while the person is in the house.

At Capabilities we have done research on the many options available on the market today and we certainly have our favorites. If you would like more information about the services that we recommend, please contact us. We would love to discuss your needs and help match you to the emergency response system that will work best for your needs right now.

Featured Event: Low Vision Seminar with Dr. Diana Reeves

Our quarterly low vision seminars have become a very popular event, drawing customers and others from the greater Denver metro area to Capabilities to learn from specialists in the field of eye disease, low vision and latest research. On Monday, April 13 at 2 p.m. we will once again be honored to host an estimed ophthalmologist, Dr. Diana Reeves. Dr. Reeves is a diplomat of the American Board of Ophthalmology, highly trained in diagnosing and treating the full spectrum of retinal diseases. The winner of many awards and honors, Dr. Reeves offers state-of-the-art treatment and care. She will discuss macular degeneration, retinitis pigmentosa, and other conditions that affect vision. Her leading edge approaches equip her with stunning photographs of the eye that she will also share during her presentation. She will entertain questions and comments from attendees.

As usual, we will follow her presentation with a review of the latest technology available to cope with low vision presented by Linda Belyeu-Conklin, an expert in low vision technology. Linda helps Capabilities stay abreast of the latest technologies and is our supplier of these products. Linda will demonstrate how these tools can assist someone with macular degeneration or a host of other conditions bring some level of independence back into their lives.

Because of the popularity of this low vision series, we highly recommend that you RSVP. You can do that here right now or visit our Events page online. If you or someone you care about struggles with the effects of low vision, please plan on coming to this event.

If you have specific questions you would like Dr. Reeves to answer, you may send them to us ahead of time or just come prepared to ask them directly to her.

Capabilities Offers Free Gift Registry Service

Have you seen the joke going around? Two older folks, George, 92, and Margaret, 89, find each other, fall in love and decide to get married. While strolling, talking about wedding plans, they walk into (and here we will take some liberties with this joke) Capabilities and engage in the following conversation:

"Do you have compression stockings to help with circulation?"

"Yes, indeed, we do," responds one of Capabilities' trained staff people.

"What about medication reminders?"

"Yes, of course."

"And, pads to put on furniture for times when we can't make it to the bathroom fast enough?" George added. "oh, yes, and padded underwear or adult diapers?"

"I can show you all these things," replied our staff person.

"Magnifiers, phones that amplify, and reclining lift chairs?"

"Yes, yes and yes."

"Great," said George. "We are going to use your store for our bridal gift registry."

We sure got a chuckle from this joke that many folks have sent us over the past couple of weeks. It also gives us the chance to remind everyone that we offer gift registry services, and have since the day we opened. Having this ability was one of the features we looked for when we purchased our computerized point-of-sale system.

It is quite simple. Whether you are in the store or online, we can set you up in a jiffy. It is a great feature for that hard-to-buy-for someone in your life. Or, perhaps you are that hard-to-buy-for someone! Everyday, we see mothers and fathers, grandmas and grandpas, aunts and uncles roaming through our store, admiring something or other they might like to have, but feel they "just don't need." It is the perfect time for us to offer to capture some of those ideas on a wish list they can refer family or friends to later on when that special occasion comes around. Grandpa does not really need another pipe most likely, but might surely want that gas cap wrench or fishing pole holder that he can set up on his wheelchair now that spring is on its way.

There are all kinds of unique AND practical gift ideas at Capabilities. And, we are already way ahead of that story making its rounds. It is no joke, really. Mom and Dad might really want something from our collection!

Send us your contact information and we will set you or a loved one up today. Then you can browse our online store or stop by and point out what you would like to have.

Featured Product: PikStik

We love the PikStik. Have you seen it yet? This is quite the unique reacher. Wider rotating jaws, a locking mechanism, ergonomic trigger, and its durable, safe and lightweight design make this the ideal reacher for all purposes. We have customers who keep finding new uses for the Pikstik at home, at work, in the yard. What we especially like is that this comes in different lengths! The rotating head prevents you from having to twist your hand and arm in crazy ways. PikStiks are precise enough to pick up a dime, yet sturdy enough to lift 5 pounds. Typical reachers have been a godsend to folks for a long time. One of the usual complaints, however, is that you need strength to grab the object and holdthat grip while you move or carry that object. What happens if you don't have that hand strnegth? Oops! How frustrating is that to drop the very thing you are after, sometimes multiple times. Take a closer look at the Pikstik and compare to the one you might be currently using. Better still, buy one now.

More Pre-Owned Products

With this economic squeeze continuing, our customers are on the search for bargains they can trust. This year we have introduced a broader selection of pre-owned products in categories that are generally considered too expensive for many folks to consider. Power wheelchairs, for example, are a much desired item for aging relatives or for those whose conditions, such as MS, ALS and Parkinson's disease are advancing, making mobility more and more of a challenge. While power wheelchairs are a Medicare covered item, many people do not qualify based on their diagnosis or situation, or Medicare might have previously paid for equipment that they consider still operable. You might recall from earlier discussion in our blog about Medicare coverage, the eligibilty requirements for power vehicles is dependent on your physician's diagnosis, prognosis and detailed evaluation. Capabilities then performs an in-home evaluation to determine usability requirements. Medicare covers products for use based on needs inside the home, not outside.

Our selection of pre-owned, affordable power chairs has grown significantly over the past couple of months. See our previous discussion of some of these products, including details about the power chairs and pricing. We have also added reclining lift chairs, low vision equipment, and the occasional patient bed, a semi-electric bed similar to a hospital bed to help with home care.

Don't miss our wonderful special on a pre-owned reclining lift chair that was only in someone else's hands for two months. We sold the chair originally, so we know exactly its history. Not only is it a classic, but this chair comes with heat and massage, often a luxury that many people agree to live without. You can get this chair, complete with heat and massage, a manufacturer's warranty, AND our own labor warranty for $1000!! Contact us now if you would like more information about this incredibly affordable and comfortable solution for you or someone you care about.

Please contact us for more information about our pre-owned products or stop by our flagship store to see for yourself what value you can get from shopping with Capabilities.

April Is Foot Health Awareness Month!

How long has it been since you soaked your feet after a hard day? Do you have corns or an aching metatarsal? Have you ever tried wearing arch cradles in your shoes? Yes, you can also have expensive orthotic devices molded especially for your feet, and those who have made the investment generally rave about the results. I have discovered, however, a much more economical version in these challenging economic times. For under $30 a pair, I have found a terrific solution to my aching feet. Being on my feet all day long, clocking a lot of miles around our flagship store, these arch cradles definitely make a difference in controlling and nearly eliminating pain in my toes and on the ball of my foot.

Taking care of our feet often falls to the bottom of most everyone's list, even though when feet hurt, everything hurts. Here are a few good tips from the foot experts:

• Check your feet often for cuts, bruises, callouses, fungal infections and other potential signs of problems. Watch especially for swelling as it can be the signal of more serious circulatory issues.


• When you are not standing, try to put your feet up to enhance blood circulation.


• Select the right shoe size. Our feet change frequently over the years, and even over the course of the day. Always try shoes on (preferably at the end of a day when they might be the largest from normal swelling and overuse.) Buy shoes shaped like your foot, in spite of the interesting "fashion" options available.


• Don't ignore wounds that don't heal, painful bunions or hammertoes that won't be helped by over the counter pads and supports, or shooting pain that travels up into your legs.

As we age, trimming toenails becomes especially challenging. It is harder to see clearly and bend properly to ensure a safe procedure. There are tools to help if you would like to stay as independent as long as you can. Many use this self-examining, mirror with its telescoping handle for easy use without having to bend and stretch too much. It is also very common to find a podiatrist to become part of your regular health care team. She or he generally has a regular plan for trimming toenails and performing regular foot inspections.

So, don't be stubborn! Stay on your toes, put your best foot forward, keep both feet on the ground and let yourself still be swept of your feet! Just don't be flatfooted and miss the opportunity to stay healthy...all the way down to your feet!

Make your comments on foot care or other foot metaphors at the bottom of this blog or email us your words of wisdom. We always love hearing from you.

Are You Making Plans for Springtime Visitors?

This is the time of year when we field many requests for rental equipment. With weddings, graduations and family get-togethers in the planning stage, don't forget that you do not have to buy many of the items you will need to make your home safe for aging relatives. Or, if you know that your grandmother can manage with a walker usually, but you want to get her out to see the many beautiful sights in Colorado, consider renting a transport wheelchair. This type of wheelchair is lightweight, so it is easy on the person getting it into and out of the car and doing the pushing. Yet, most typical transport chairs are sturdy enough to carry folks up to 275 lbs. We have a selection of larger transport chairs available for purchase if your loved one will be coming frequently and needs a bit larger chair to be safe and comfortable.

We also rent walkers, both the traditional two-wheeled type and the four-wheeled version for that special someone who generally does just fine around the house, but needs some extra safety and comfort while walking through our many beautiful parks, for example.

Scooters become a favorite rental item this time of year, too. We offer a nice selection of smaller, travel type scooters for individuals weighing under 250 lbs. These travel models come apart easily for transporting in the trunk of a car. With the additional of a rental ramp, you can easily push the scooter into a van or SUV without taking it apart. We also plan on adding a couple of larger models for those who may need extra room and additional safety features.

So, as you plan for spring and summer family gatherings, don't fret about the arrival of Aunt Sue or Great-Grandpa. Let Capabilities help you and them "be unlimited" with the help of our rental fleet. We can also help you find products you can purchase to make the bathroom and bedroom safer for their visits, too. Contact us for more ideas.