Written by Patrick Thornburgh

 

 

All The Zoom Meetings

“Can you see me now?”  “Mute me!”  “You are breaking up?” “Damn computers!”

“I hear the light at the end of the tunnel.”  “Cannot wait to get back to normalcy.”

These were just a few of the sentiments heard across Zoom meetings these past few months. Through my experience as an UltraComfort Sales Representative, I have found that we are very adaptable whether we are still working or on “furlough”. I have come to realize that this pandemic has made us all stronger, more open to change, and just possibly, better people.

 

Working From Home

For many, we might not know where we will be seated when we are back to work full time—at home or in the office. There are many distractions in both locations. We were used to the “office friends” and chatting and now we are used to our family and chatting. Possibly, we will find that working at home inspires us to work harder and with more enthusiasm than in the office; or possibly working at both locations becomes the more efficient way to make our lives better.

 

Getting Back To Business

Just as I have learned so much more about my business/or lack thereof, and adapting to my current concerns, I believe some retailers have learned more about their business inside and out, and the opportunities awaiting them.

This is probably the best time for all businesses and families to reflect on these new experiences and update their “Best Practices”. Talk with your team about providing stellar customer service. Get to know your customers better, just like you have learned more about your loved ones while spending more time at home.

Although we may never completely go back to the normal we knew pre-pandemic, turn this time into an opportunity to improve your customers’ experience with more caring and thoughtful service. It might take a lot of courage for some to go out shopping again—make that experience worthwhile and stress-free and your customers will remember that and spread the word to others.

Take care of one another and stay safe.

 

 

 

Though we are experiencing a time of uncertainty, one thing you can be certain about is UltraComfort. We are here to offer all the support you need to provide your customers with the outstanding service, products and care they deserve. The following are ways we can support you today: Business Hours – As a division of Golden Technologies, UltraComfort is listed as an essential business under the category of medical manufacturing. Therefore, all departments are fully functional and operating at a reduced capacity. A vital part of being fully operational is practicing all standards set forth by the CDC to ensure the health and safety of our employees. This includes social distancing, proper hand washing and regular sanitizing of workstations. In addition, all employees that can work remotely have been asked to do so. Quick Ship Inventory – We understand that the need for our product has not diminished during this time of uncertainty. We have thousands of power lift recliners in-stock that are ready to be shipped to meet your customer’s immediate needs. Retailer Support – Sales, marketing and service departments are available and here to support your business in any way possible. Product Development – The R&D department has been working to ensure that you have the most innovative products to offer your customers once this pandemic is behind us. In addition to our normal daily operations, we are continuing to partner with Geisinger Health Care Systems to manufacture surgical face masks to help safeguard their employees as they care for our loved ones and our community. We are proud to be able to make a difference during the shortage of vital personal protective equipment. In closing, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to local, state and government officials that have worked tirelessly to provide stimulus packages for businesses and individuals during this time of need. We are all in this together and I heartily believe we will come out of it stronger than ever! Stay safe and stay well. Sincerely yours, Richard Golden, CEO

 

As COVID-19 is impacting more and more individuals around the globe, home medical equipment manufacturer, Golden Technologies, is initiating efforts to assist local healthcare professionals by providing vital personal protective equipment to stop the spread of the virus in Northeastern Pennsylvania. Golden Technologies is the parent company of lift and wellness recliner manufacturer, UltraComfort America.

“Concerned about the availability of medical supplies in our area and around the country, we identified a way to use the exceptional skills of our employees in our power lift chair division and the capabilities within our manufacturing facility to quickly produce disposable face masks for our local healthcare providers,” said Rich Golden, CEO of Golden Technologies.

“We reached out to Geisinger—one of our great community healthcare systems—and invited their leadership to visit Golden to propose our idea and present a sample mask sewn by one of our employees, which was enthusiastically received,” he added. Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Gerald Maloney, and Director of Emergency Management, Stephanie Gryboski attended the meeting last week.

“Geisinger is very appreciative of Golden to be able to provide masks to our staff to be used during this pandemic,” said Gryboski. “We were pleased to meet with Golden executives and have discussions around protecting our healthcare workers,” she added.

Golden began cutting fabric and sewing face masks this week to donate to Geisinger for distribution in Lackawanna and Luzerne Counties. Golden employees are eager to work on the masks and take action during this challenging and uncertain time.

“It is our great honor to provide our outstanding healthcare professionals the equipment they need to keep themselves safe as they help care for our families, friends, and neighbors,” said Golden. “I am extremely proud that we are doing our patriotic duty in defending our great nation against this virus and playing an even more important role in the communities where we live and work.”

Additionally, Golden is using its strong supply chain partnerships in Asia and abroad to ship what could be several hundred thousand masks as quickly as possible.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

March 23, 2020 COVID-19 Update

As we are all aware, the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is a threat to all and it is impacting our world more and more as the days unfold. At UltraComfort, we are taking all precautionary measures to safeguard our employees, products, and factories and making any necessary adjustments to our work environment or operations. 

Our primary objective is to provide you with the products your customers need when they need them most. At this time, all of our vendors have assured us that we will not experience a disruption in their supply chains that would impact our manufacturing operations. Our warehouses are well-stocked and we are in a great position to continue to meet all of your lift chair, scooter, and power wheelchair needs. We are in constant communication with all of our suppliers and feel confident about the situation. Should any issues arise, we will notify you immediately.

We are also taking the following actions at our home office and other facilities to further protect our employees and maintain a healthy environment:

• All business travel for employees has been suspended until further notice.
• We prefer that our Sales Representatives keep visits at a minimum during this time and conduct face-to-face meetings with you only if necessary and reachable via car.
• Tech Service Dealer training has been canceled for March and April.
• We ramped up professional cleaning services and are enforcing the daily use of disinfectants.
• We have purchased hospital-grade air purifiers to eliminate viruses and reduce allergens.
• All large group meetings will be conducted via teleconferencing or webinars.
• We are practicing social distancing by minimizing face-to-face meetings and interdepartmental visits.
• Visitors are not invited to the home office during this time.
• If employees are sick, they are to stay home and work remotely, if possible.

We are following recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention and are closely monitoring this fluid situation. We will communicate any further updates or new developments. 

We intend to lead our organization on a path of being productive while remaining safe and healthy.

I am truly grateful for all of your hard work and your dedication to UltraComfort. We are praying and wishing all of you the very best during this challenging time.

Thank you for being a loyal customer. 

 

Sincerely yours, 

Richard Golden, CEO

How To Know if You Have Insomnia

Are you having difficulty sleeping for weeks or even months at a time? Even if you fall asleep just fine, but consistently wake in the middle of the night or too early in the morning and can’t get back to sleep, you may be suffering from insomnia. The most common insomnia causes are stress, pain, and discomfort. Make sure you’re taking care of yourself to recharge daily with a restful night of sleep with these helpful tips. Otherwise, long-term insomnia can have harmful effects on your health. 

According to an article from Geisinger Health, “If you notice that you’re having trouble sleeping, don’t write it off,” said Michael C. Marino, D.O., medical director of Geisinger Sleep Labs. “Sleep deprivation can cause a sleep debt that only gets worse with each passing day. This can increase your risk for heart disease and diabetes, so it’s important to talk to your doctor if you have consistent sleep problems.” (*1)

Reduce Stress Before Bed

If stress keeps you up at night, try to reduce your stress levels before going to bed. I know, I know, easier said than done. But even writing a list of things you have to do the next day an hour or two before bedtime will help ease your anxiety. A few other ways to help you sleep by reducing stress: 

1. Clear your mind. Recognize negative thoughts and realize that they are not true or simply don’t matter. Our mind tends to drift toward the negative, and recognizing that will help ease those thoughts. All that really matters is your health and happiness. Thinking of nothing will surprisingly bring about a feeling of deep calm and joy. Read the “Power of Now” by Eckhart Tolle for more ways to relieve stress and anxiety—it’s an incredible book for personal growth! 
2. Exercise daily: go for a walk or engage in other types of physical activity, but be sure that it is no later than 2 hours before bedtime
3. Make your bedroom comfortable for sleep and only use it for sex or sleep.
4. Limit screen-time an hour before going to bed. TV, smart phones, and other electronic devices emit a blue light that mimics daylight and can affect your ability to fall asleep. 
5. Take a relaxing bath or shower before bed 
6. Leave 30 minutes to relax and read or do another non-strenuous and non-electronic activity before going to sleep
7. Practice deep breathing through your nose and out your mouth

Experiencing Insomnia Due To Pain?

What should you do when chronic pain, such as arthritis, back pain, or a lengthy surgical recovery causes sleep deprivation? According to The Sleep Foundation, “People with pain also feel less control over their sleep, worry more about lack of sleep affecting their health and exhibit greater sleep sensitivity. They’re more likely than others to say environmental factors make it more difficult for them to get a good night’s sleep. These factors include noise, light, temperature and their mattresses alike, suggesting that taking greater care of the bedroom environment may be particularly helpful to pain sufferers.” (*2)

When chronic or long-term pain is the issue, you may need to change your sleeping arrangements to a specialized power recliner that will help you find the perfect sleep position. UltraComfort’s UC558 power lift chair is a wonderful sleep solution. The patented Eclipse Technology creates a zero gravity experience for ultimate comfort and weight distribution. This innovative recliner chair also may attribute to health benefits, including elevating the feet above the heart, which could help improve circulation, and provide the full night’s sleep of your dreams.

“I would certainly recommend this to anyone with issues of sleep discomfort.”

According to Wesley Kinzie, M.D., “I have used this chair for both naps as well as sleeping through the night. The chair has many features that enhance comfort and wellbeing while using it. The positioning movement includes the seat box rising, which places the user in a position that is slightly flexed at the hips and knees. This decreases the tension on the hamstrings, as well as the sciatic nerve. The movement of the seat box combined with the independent movement of the back of the chair allows the user to comfortably achieve Trendelenberg position. This dependent or head-down position elevates the user’s legs allowing gravity to decrease swelling and edema of the feet and ankles. I would certainly recommend this to anyone with issues of sleep discomfort due to the support and positioning capabilities. In addition, many patients that have shoulder surgery can sleep in a somewhat reclined position… in which an individual cannot sleep on their side. The positioning would provide comfort allowing for continuous sleep necessary without tossing and turning side to side during the night.”

Everyday Tips To Get A Good Night’s Sleep

For the perfect night’s sleep, this Eclipse recliner chair, plus these pro tips from WebMD (*3) will surely bring you some Zs:

1. Lower the thermostat: The ideal sleep temperature is between 65 and 72 degrees
2. Wake up at the same time every day. It can be tempting to sleep in on weekends, especially if you haven’t slept well during the week. However, if you suffer from insomnia, waking up at the same time every day will train your body to sleep and wake at a consistent time.
3. Eliminate alcohol and stimulants like nicotine and caffeine. The effects of caffeine can last for several hours, perhaps up to 24 hours, so the chances of it affecting sleep are significant. Caffeine may not only cause difficulty getting to sleep, but may also cause frequent awakenings. Alcohol may have a sedative effect for the first few hours following consumption, but it can then lead to frequent awakenings and a non-restful night’s sleep. 
4. Take medication early: If you are on medications that act as stimulants, such as decongestants or asthma inhalers, ask your doctor when they should best be taken to help minimize any effect on sleep.
5. Limit naps. While napping might seem like a good way to catch up on missed sleep, it might affect your sleep at night. It’s important to establish and maintain a regular sleep pattern and train yourself to associate sleep with cues like darkness and a consistent bedtime. 
6. Don’t eat or drink right before going to bed. Eating a late dinner or snacking before bed can activate the digestive system and keep you up. If you suffer from acid reflux or heartburn, it’s even more important to avoid eating and drinking right before bed since this can make your symptoms worse. Also, having a lot to drink before you go to sleep will cause you to wake at night to go to the bathroom.
7. Make your sleeping environment comfortable. Temperature, lighting, and noise should be controlled to make the bedroom conducive to falling (and staying) asleep. You should feel comfortable and if you have a pet that sleeps in the room with you, consider having the pet sleep somewhere else if it tends to make noise in the night. 

Be sure to take care of yourself and contact your doctor or a local sleep center if you continue to experience insomnia, despite trying these tips. Sleep deprivation symptoms can include lack of concentration, memory loss, fatigue, irritability, low energy levels, and depression. (*4) Your medical provider may need to prescribe sleep medication or conduct a sleep study if your insomnia continues. 

*Resources:

1. Geisinger Heath 
2. Sleep Foundation 
3. WebMD
4. Sleep Education