NorthShore Care Supply launched with a mission to restore dignity for seniors with incontinence, a perfect match for our nonprofit mission.
“Anything that’s human is mentionable, and anything that is mentionable can be more manageable.” – Fred Rogers
Hygiene products are something every human uses to improve health and overall quality of life. Each individual may have different needs, and some may not be able to afford the products that others rely on – hence our mission.
Yet, personal hygiene is viewed in a somewhat taboo way.
“My father had brain cancer. When he was losing control and was in hospice, he was so ashamed to have his family see that he needed ‘diapers,’” said Adam Greenberg, CEO of NorthShore Care Supply. “He was more worried about that than us seeing him deteriorate from the cancer.”
Greenberg would love to see that change, and urges people to start talking about these taboo or “scary” and uncomfortable subjects more often – just as Mister Rogers suggested and often did on his famous show.
NorthShore Care Supply manufactures high absorbency adult diapers and incontinence supplies, and Greenberg explains that while we don’t talk about incontinence – it’s actually quite common. Greenberg says:
- 1 in 3 adults are dealing with some form of bladder control issues today
- 2 in 3 people will have incontinence during their lifetimes
- 100% of people will know someone, if not themselves, who have incontinence
Greenberg started his company when family members were struggling to find a quality product to meet their needs, including the ability to feel comfortable continuing in everyday life.
“It’s all about dignity,” he said. “We feel that a sense of control is closely correlated with somebody’s sense of dignity and ability to live a full life.”
That sentiment aligns strongly with Jake’s Diapers vision and mission to ensure that no person has to choose between food and basic hygiene. After Adam met our Executive Director Stephanie Bowers at a conference, it was clear how our missions aligned. NorthShore Care Supply has since joined Jake’s Diapers as one of our key business partners, providing in-kind donations of its products as well as financial support.
“NorthShore’s mission is to improve the quality of life for those managing incontinence by offering life-changing products with compassion as well as to help #EndHealthStigma for Incontinence,” Adam said. “The partnership between NorthShore and Jake’s Diapers aligns the missions of both companies to help improve the lives of many by offering diapers to those in need while maintaining their dignity and bringing awareness to the ongoing problem of diaper need.”
When COVID-19 hit locally, Adam said his company noticed an increase in demand for their products.
“Diapers are like toilet paper for those people who have incontinence,” Adam said. “We definitely had a surge (in demand).”
NorthShore Care Supply also manufactures a “diaper doubler” booster pad, which Adam said offers a creative way for people to feel protected while cutting costs during the pandemic.
“With COVID, especially for people on a budget, this is an option that is available for people to cope during this and help with the financial challenges,” he said.
Jake’s Diapers is thankful for NorthShore Care Supply’s support and innovative options that help people live with dignity during this crisis and always.
About this feature: We regularly share stories from our business partners in this Business Buddy Spotlight to highlight the great ways other organizations are doing good work alongside us. We appreciate these community partners and have a larger impact because of them. Is your organization interested in helping out? Contact Community Engagement Director Suzanne Wittman at [email protected]