Providing Customers With Dignity Will Differentiate Cardinal Health, Inc. (CAH), Darden Restaurants, Inc. (DRI) and More

However, it is buying privately held AssuraMed, a supplier of products for home use to treat diabetes, wounds, and incontinence, among other things. Helping people stay in their homes will not only help save on medical bills, but it will also allow people to maintain a level of dignity that is virtually impossible to have in a hospital.

Omega Healthcare Investors Inc. (NYSE:OHI)

Omega Healthcare Investors Inc. (NYSE:OHI) is a real estate investment trust that owns or holds mortgages on over 450 skilled nursing facilities and assisted living facilities across 33 states. When a person needs more care than can be provided in their own home, they will have no choice but to move into a medical facility of some sort. Omega focuses on owning these facilities.

However, people’s needs are along a continuum. For those who need less assistance, Omega owns assisted living facilities. For those who need a total care solution, it owns skilled nursing facilities. Health Care REIT and HCP (NYSE:HCP) are two larger and more diversified options to consider, though they are notably more expensive at present.

Darden Restaurants, Inc. (NYSE:DRI)

Darden Restaurants, Inc. (NYSE:DRI) is a leader in the casual dining segment. Its concepts include such ubiquitous brands as Olive Garden and Red Lobster, among others. Its prices are reasonable, which is important to a group of people who still like to eat out, but don’t want to, or can’t, pay huge sums to do so (early bird special jokes aside).

However, if you have ever been in an Olive Garden you might not have noticed some very important things. For example, the chairs are on wheels, which makes sitting and getting up from the table easier. And there are generally ramps and ample room for people to move around the restaurant, including those who might be in wheel chairs or other similar devices, electronic and otherwise. The company purposely makes Olive Garden easily accessible.

Dignity

You can’t put a price on dignity, but you can see its impact very clearly. The idea of dignity is already a big issue in healthcare, but, because of the size of the Baby Boom generation, it will be an issue that we all think about soon enough. Thinking about it now will help lead you to companies well positioned for tomorrow.

The article Providing Customers With Dignity Will Differentiate These Companies originally appeared on Fool.com and is written by Reuben Gregg.

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