When her uncle sustained a traumatic injury, Jennifer Evans and her family were nearly overwhelmed trying to locate the medical equipment needed for his care. When he was released from the hospital, and during his months of rehabilitation, they continued to be challenged by the lack of easy access to home medical equipment.

So it's not surprising that years later, Jennifer Evans and her husband, Chris Evans, have opened their third medical equipment sales center, Keystone Medical Equipment, at 203 Claremont Ave., Hometown, across from McDonald's. They also have Keystone Medical Equipment in Jim Thorpe and American Surgical Supply in Pottsville.Tuesday morning, members of the Tamaqua Chamber of Commerce welcomed them to Hometown. Chamber Executive Director Linda Yulanavage, along with members Linda Marchalk and Linda Rice, held a ribbon-cutting ceremony in front of the store."There have been a lot of changes in Medicare and other insurances, which mean that people have to pay for some of the medical equipment they need," Jennifer Evans said. "We have the standard equipment that's offered, and we also offer things that aren't covered, but are needed."As an example, Evans pointed to a wall full of various types and sizes of compression hosiery. The items usually aren't covered by insurances or Medicare but are greatly needed. But how to choose? By coming to the store, people can try on compression hosiery of various sizes and from different manufacturers to find the brand and size that best suits them.Keystone Medical also carries scooters and power chairs, wheelchairs, canes, crutches, walkers and rollators, stair lifts (including installation and service), lift chairs, hospital beds, bath safety items, emergency alert systems, nebulizers, braces, mastectomy products, diabetic supplies, wound care items, oxygen, incontinence supplies and other products. They are accredited by the Better Business Bureau and Medicare approved."We felt that our stores in Jim Thorpe and Pottsville were an important piece of the community," Jennifer Evans said. "People like to be able to actually see something, be shown how it works.""At the same time, if they are elderly, they may need a family member or friend to give them a ride to the store," she said. "We felt like this is a midpoint between the two, and is needed in the area."