Over the last few weeks following the death of an old friend's wife, we've been attempting to dispose of quite a few disability aids - walkers, hoists, chair lifts, electric beds etc etc.
Basically we found that despite most of the items being never used, it is virtually impossible to give them away. One item, a hoist cost over $3500 and we offered it to a few organisations like cerebral palsy but found they they could not accept donations due to "OH&S" regulations. Disability aids for their clients must be brand new. The retailers from whom the items were bought from were also not interested. Advertised them on Gumtree etc at about 20% new price but no takers - this is for items still in original wrappers or barely used.
Then someone told us about a website that you can buy and sell disability items.....BINGO.
So, whilst it's too late for us as we've ended up giving most items away, this website should be of interest for us Grey Nomads all getting older and frailer and in need of disability aids - eventually all of us!. Virtually any aid is available at this site.
Yes it seems a shame that so much equipment is wasted after a family member passes on. Sister in Law works in Nursing Home, they dispose of around 20 rollator walkers every year as they cannot take the chance that they may have some wear on a critical part or other. On the other hand if your loved one was injured because of a failure of the equipment, there would be Hell to pay. The staff and Nurses are not competent Engineers to thoroughly test all components so the SWMS state a use by date and it is religiously followed.
Being a cynic, I believe someone in the disposal chain has a good little earner in reselling scrapped equipment on Gumtree or such.
Over the last few weeks following the death of an old friend's wife, we've been attempting to dispose of quite a few disability aids - walkers, hoists, chair lifts, electric beds etc etc.
Basically we found that despite most of the items being never used, it is virtually impossible to give them away. One item, a hoist cost over $3500 and we offered it to a few organisations like cerebral palsy but found they they could not accept donations due to "OH&S" regulations. Disability aids for their clients must be brand new. The retailers from whom the items were bought from were also not interested. Advertised them on Gumtree etc at about 20% new price but no takers - this is for items still in original wrappers or barely used.
Then someone told us about a website that you can buy and sell disability items.....BINGO.
So, whilst it's too late for us as we've ended up giving most items away, this website should be of interest for us Grey Nomads all getting older and frailer and in need of disability aids - eventually all of us!. Virtually any aid is available at this site.
http://www.reusability.com.au/index.php
Good Luck.
Being a cynic, I believe someone in the disposal chain has a good little earner in reselling scrapped equipment on Gumtree or such.