Out with the Old

Everything has a limit to its usefulness; a stairlift may be an absolutely essential piece of equipment for a family until the person in the home who needs it is no longer there. A mobility scooter may fit someone’s needs when it’s purchased, but after a while their accessibility needs may change. Sometimes, people just want to change it up. What, then, do you do with equipment that people no longer need for one reason or another? It can be very tempting for some to simply employ the services of the local dump to get rid of these things, but in a world where waste is plentiful and disability or medical equipment can be extremely pricey, is it not better to make sure that someone else may be able to use it? As occupational therapists you’re sure to know intimately that one person’s old mobility scooter is another person’s key to independence, so what are the options when your client or patient needs to move on from old medical or mobility aids?

Sometimes, the choice is made for you, and in a way that can be easier. If the equipment was supplied by the NHS, social services, or another support service, they’ll politely request the return of their equipment. It may be your or your client’s job to contact the provider and let them know that the equipment they’ve loaned out is no longer needed, and they’ll give you all the information you need on what will need done with it. It may be the case that they’re able to come and pick it up from its current home, or that it will have to be brought back to them. Regardless, the equipment they’ve loaned out, depending on its state and demand, will very likely be offered to someone else who may need it, so it’ll be spruced up and re-enter service with another person whose life it will likely change for the better.

It goes without saying that the only time equipment should be sold is if it is owned outright by the client or patient - if no-one is sure who the rightful owner is, it’s worth checking with whoever supplied it in the first instance, that way no-one will be upset when it turns up on Facebook Marketplace. There are a few specialist marketplaces where mobility equipment can be listed for free, which is ideal as it gets your equipment in front of people who know exactly what they need, for free. Using these two sites, sellers are contacted through a form, so their private details - like phone numbers or emails - remain private. Equipment could also be listed on more localised marketplaces, like eBay, Facebook Marketplace, or Gumtree. Facebook Marketplace and Gumtree are especially useful if people are looking to sell something locally - mobility equipment is pretty bulky and unwieldy, so it’s a tricky sell to send it via courier or have someone drive for miles to come and get it, especially in a global pandemic where people may still be isolating. Alternatively, some companies will buy back their own equipment, especially if it’s something expensive like a powerchair or stairlift. Motability Buyers will not only buy used equipment, but they also have the capacity to arrange for collection, if that’s something that is causing concern.

If the equipment is still in good condition, donating it is a selfless action, providing it’s something the client and their family are in a position to do comfortably. There are a good few charities which accept donations of medical and mobility equipment, based on their condition and location - The British Red Cross and Recycle Mobility Centre being two of them. The latter will repair and refurbish any equipment they receive, and they accept a huge range of products, from wheelchairs and power chairs to rise and recliners. Disabled Equipment Sent Overseas accept donations of disability equipment, such as crutches, walking sticks, Braille books, and hearing aids, and will use them to help disabled people living in Ghana who don’t have access to the equipment. In a similar vein, Legs 4 Africa break down prosthetic legs donated in the UK into parts and send then to mobility centres across Africa, where they’re made back up into custom prosthetics. The Jacob’s Well Appeal helps send medical and colostomy aid to people who need it around the world, so unopened ostomy equipment like pouches, lotions, and gels can be sent to them and redistributed to people around the world who need them.