Dear HomeCare Readers,

We talk a lot in the homecare industry about catering to specific markets, especially those aging in place and the disability community.

But we often forget that there’s a huge group out there with specialty needs. Are we truly considering the needs of women—senior women, women with chronic illness and women with disabilities—in this market? In fact, according to the National Institutes of Health, people assigned female at birth are disproportionally affected by dementia, osteoporosis, chronic pain, autoimmune diseases and other conditions that may require equipment and care in the home. Urinary incontinence, for example, affects twice as many women as men. And women in certain phases of life, such as after mastectomy or childbirth, have specific needs.

A move to value-based care could make care more affordable and accessible for women, according to a McKinsey report. The Mayo Clinic says providers across the continuum should ensure that women receive the interventions they need.

There’s also demand, which will increase as female baby boomers age. The global market for female urinary incontinence products is projected to surpass $1 billion in five years, for example. One in eight U.S. women are expected to face breast cancer in their lifetime, and post-mastectomy bras are expected to net more than $1 million worldwide by 2032. The list goes on. You can learn more about just a few aspects of women health in our cover series.

As always, thanks for reading!