Woodstock
But here’s another that many people might not know about: donating and receiving medical equipment at area senior centers.
“There’s definitely an informal network of people who reach out to each other,” said Deanna Jones, executive director at the Thompson Senior Center in Woodstock. The center has about 70 pieces of equipment, ranging from grabbers used in therapy to ramps that attach to houses.
“We often have knee scooters, crutches and canes,” Jones said. “Shower chairs seem to come and go more than anything else.”
About 30 pieces come and go each month, Jones estimated.
“They keep it as long as they need it too,” Jones said. Sometimes that means indefinitely.
When not in use, the donated items are stored in the senior center’s basement.
“People that have things to donate love that it’s easy to get rid of things they no longer need, but also that it’s not going into a landfill,” Jones said. “They’re so glad to be able to get rid of it somewhere where it’s going to be used.”
People get equipment from senior centers for a variety of reasons. Sometimes, it’s because their health insurance won’t cover it.
“And sometimes it’s just easier than going through that if they known we have it,” Jones said. “It is really helpful for people to quickly get something that they need.”
The Thompson Center is far from the only senior center in the area that has medical equipment. And it’s never limited to people who are residents of the town the senior centers serve. In interviews with directors of the Bugbee Senior Center in White River Junction, Horse Meadow Senior Center in North Haverhill and Upper Valley Senior Center in Lebanon, all said that if they have a piece of equipment, anyone is welcome to it. All of the directors were also unsure of an exact number of years they’ve had equipment programs, but emphasized that the informal exchanges have been around for decades. (There are also other senior centers in the Upper Valley that provide this service. Call and check with the one nearest to you.)
“If we have it, folks are welcome to use it,” Bugbee’s executive director Len Brown said. Walkers are a hot commodity there. “I’ve got too many to estimate.”
Like in Woodstock, shower seats and commodes are also a popular item.
Some people come to borrow equipment for a short-term condition, “like hip replacements and knee replacements,” Brown said. “Gotta get it done before the spring and the nice weather comes.”
Others, take and use equipment for years.
“We have things that go out that we never see again” Brown said. “If it’s here and you need it, take it.”
People of all income levels and any insurance status are welcome to the equipment, which can range in price.
“We don’t ask,” about health insurance said Guy Mitchell, Horse Meadow’s executive director. They simply look to see if they have what the person needs and then, “we provide it. We’ve been fortunate and able to accommodate. … I’ve never had to say no.”
Horse Meadow uses a sign up and sign out system, and also have people sign a waiver. “The biggest demand is for the walkers and wheelchairs,” Mitchell said.
A brief trip to Walmart found that a wheelchair cost $129.97, a commode seat cost $54.58, a walker with a foldout seat cost $88.84 and a shower chair cost $39.98.
“Some of these things are brand new,” said Jill Vahey, executive director of the Upper Valley Senior Center, about the equipment the center has. “A lot of this comes in when somebody passes away or somebody has been in rehab.”
Vahey estimates that the senior center has about 40 pieces of equipment.
“Anybody can come in,” Vahey said. “This is very helpful to a lot of people.”
Here’s something else that the senior center directors request: Donated equipment should be in usable, working condition. Only bring donations when the centers are open, do not leave equipment outside the doors.
Liz Sauchelli can be reached at esauchelli@vnews.com or 603-727-3221.
