Medical Equipment Bank Loses Cash Deposits

Where can I get a wheelchair for my mom as she recuperates from surgery? What do I do with the walker my dad used before he died? How will I afford to pay for my special equipment when I can barely pay for the medicine I need?

These question are asked everyday and a loyal group of volunteers at the Thurston County Council on Aging Medical Equipment Bank have your answers. In fact, about 10-15 calls every day are fielded to match the available used equipment to the patients' needs. Over 90% of the calls are to help our senior citizens. Most referrals to the Bank come from healthcare, word of mouth or individuals reading about the service in The Senior News.

For more than 20 years this group has quietly existed to loan out a variety of medical items and equipment merely for the asking. Three times a week for just a few hectic minutes, volunteer Carl Longnecker and his team roll up the door at the storage shed. Cars line up for dropping off and picking up: bath chairs and benches, canes, crutches, reach sticks, wheelchairs, even hospital beds, and much more. The smiles and thank you's are the only payment.

In today's changing economic climate, the ability to serve is getting tougher as donations of storage space and community funding dries up. Simultaneously, the requests are becoming more frequent. Ironically, there is plenty of good, usable equipment just sitting in closets of many assisted living and retirement facilities. If there were just more space to house the items between uses, then the donations of items to the Medical Equipment Bank could double. Too often, care centers or families are forced to just throw away usable goods in our landfill.

For many of these years, The Senior News has supplemented the Medical Equipment Bank's budget to stay afloat. The Senior Action Network has recently helped with storage rent for the time being through a cash donation by our gifting committee. But how long can this last? SAN sees a great need for seniors is being filled through this program. We believe there is someone out there who has some warehouse space that could be donated. Don't allow this important service to slowly die. Call to help, or pass this information to someone you know who might be able to assist.

Check donations can be sent to:

Medical Equipment Bank
c/o Senior News
112 East Fourth Ave
Olympia, WA 98501

To volunteer, request or donate equipment, call Carl at 456.8810.

If you have storage solutions, call Rick at 586.3590.