PEORIA MAGAZINE November 2023

Chris and Ed Monroe of Family Medical Equipment & Supply

patients,” said Monroe. “I didn’t want to pour, lick and stick. I wanted to talk to the patients.” It was the home medical equipment that gave him that opportunity. “If I delivered a nebulizer, I taught the pa tient how to use it. If I delivered a home photo therapy light to a new mother to treat her baby for jaundice, I taught her how to use it,” said Monroe. “If you delivered a hospital bed, a wheelchair, a crutch, a commode, everything was about teaching. That’s what gave me the satisfaction in the durable medical equipment business.” ANTICIPATING RETIREMENT, CHANGE In 2000, Monroe was in his 60s and started thinking about how both of his parents had died about the same age, said son Chris Monroe. “I knew that it was time, that he want ed to be able to step away from this, so as the dutiful son, I said, ‘Tell me what you want for the business and I’ll buy it,’” said Chris. “Financially, it was not the best move for me at the time, but it did what I intended it to do: Take care of my parents, let them retire and have a comfortable retirement.” Chris now lives in Bradenton, Florida

with wife Heather, remaining as owners but without hands-on responsibilities. “I have the same financial practice I’ve had since ’95,” he said. “I’m blessed. Most of my employees have been with the company since I bought the business. I’m very lucky to have a consistent crew of people who run it for me. My job has been vision and direction.” The store has adapted and changed, including another move in 2013 to its current location at 3641 N. Meadow brook Road in Peoria. Father and son have seen the medical equipment business change over the years. These days referrals from the hospitals are almost non-existent, as they either operate their own home medical equipment division or contract with large corporations. Competition is also coming from online retailers. “We compete on customer service and servicing the products, wherever they were purchased,” said Chris. “People buy these things, lift chairs, scooters, or hydraulic lift chairs. We have the staff to fix them, so now our service staff continues to grow.” The store’s largest selling products are CPAP machines and sleep apnea supplies, mobility and lift chairs, compression hoses and mastectomy bras.

Father John Verrier of the St. Joseph Catholic Church in Brimfield and St. James Catholic Church in Williamsfield has been a customer at Family Medical for 20 years, when he was first prescribed a CPAP machine to treat sleep apnea. “They were so good about helping me get the right mask and a good fit, I’ve been going back ever since,” he said. Since that first visit, Verrier has returned for a hip chair after hip re placement surgery and compression stockings. “They’re so kind and always so intent to get you what you need,” he said. “They are like family. Plus, they all seem so happy to be there. Every time I walk in, no exceptions, I’m always greeted with a smile.” Ed and Donna still reside in Peoria and Ed continues working regularly as a pharmacist at the age of 82, filling in at Essential Wellness Pharmacy and Alwan’s Pharmacy.

Linda Smith Brown is a 37-year veteran of the newspaper industry, retiring as publisher of Times Newspapers in the Peoria area

NOVEMBER 2023 PEORIA MAGAZINE 33