This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of NMEDA. All opinions are 100% mine.

Once again “the powers that be” (whatever or whoever you choose to attribute life to) reign. I’ve been thinking about my mother quite often of late. If you remember, or if you’re a first time visitor, she was diagnosed with ALS (Lou Gehrigh’s Disease). Although giving it a valiant fight, there is no stopping this devastating horror. She’s “gone home” but remains a source of constant power for me, day in and day out.

And then, this morning, the world once again provided. One of the situations that was such a long-standing problem for us was keeping my mother mobile. I was thinking how hard this must be for so many. When I came across the National Mobility Equipment Dealers Association in my wanderings, it was no surprise (I believe in the “ask and you will receive” theory).

NMEDA is a non-profit association that does not sell anything, but it is a valuable resource for educating caregivers and disabled individuals who need assistance.

Just as no one situation, or disease, strikes every person the same way, NMEDA’s web site takes that into account, and provides individualized information on a wide variety of subjects including safe driving. Disabled individuals need special equipment, and you need to know that there are particular standards developed by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration one needs to adhere to.

As a past caregiver (well current one, too, since taking care of one’s family is an ongoing process), I can state without hesitation that taking care of another person who needs assistance with everything, including transportation and devices to make that person’s life as comfortable as possible – as mobile as possible – is utterly exhausting. Of course you love your loved one, and want only the best for them. It is providing the resources and proper equipment, and making your job as a caregiver easier in the process, that makes all the difference (for both of you!).

As a caregiver, using improper or difficult to use equipment can be medically hazardous not only to the person you are assisting, but to yourself. Injuries to caregivers themselves are common. You put all your strength and heart and soul into not inflicting more discomfort on the disabled individual that often times the caregiver physically injures themselves. Trust me, I know.

NMEDA is a resource I wish I had found sooner, and their Dealers And Quality Assurance Program (QAP), too. QAP has the distinction of being the “only recognized accreditation program for the Adaptive Mobility Equipment Industry”. In other words, it is a program caregivers and the disabled can put their faith and trust into to ensure consistency across the board. Each Dealer uses the same system, the same documented approach, to ensure you or a loved one receives nothing but quality.

For as long as was humanly possible, my mother maintained (insisted on!) her right to mobility. Something many of us no doubt take for granted. The headaches and heartaches we went through, and the sheer volume of WRONG equipment choices was draining. NMEDA would have been, and can be now for you, the shortcut to the proper mobility resources and equipment we struggled so hard to find.

It is extremely easy to find a Dealer near you. Just go to their Locate a Dealer web page, type in your zip code or choose your State and/or Province, and voila!

I just typed in my own zip code, and sure enough there are two very close locations. Had we only known… Help is just a web site click away.

I do have just one request please. If you would do me the courtesy of visiting the Dealer page, locating NMEDA Dealers near you, and letting me know your results via Commenting, I’d appreciate it.

By demonstrating how easy it is to get help, and bringing that information back here, you’re adding goodness into a world that really needs it.

As those of us in the United States roll toward turkey day tomorrow (and you’re still fortunate enough to be able to afford to provide even a meager dinner at best), here’s something to think about… It concerns the health and welfare of our country in particular, especially with the health care reform debate raging.

First do you honestly know what the term obesity means? Not just “hey fat guy!” but the percentage of your own body and its fat and whether or not the term applies (shockingly perhaps) to you or not?

Do you know the exact number at which you tip out of “being overweight” into being “obese?” If you don’t, use the last link in this post to find out. (more…)