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My Father passed away at the end of Sept. He had a long list of new in him medical equipment brought to him in August and Sept. Most of it was set up for him, but never used. A lot of it is still in the original shipping box, There is equipment...walker, shower bench, bed railings, bedside commode, blood pressure monitor, personal alarms, etc, etc. and supplies. Cases upon cases of chucks and depends. Boxes and boxes of ensure. I have called so many place to donate this stuff...and no one ever calls back. I have tried the local church...council on aging....senior care network...nursing homes....hospice.... No one ever returns my call. All are glad to take my name and number, but at is the end of it. Can anyone suggest to me how I can donate this stuff to an organization that will make sure a senior that cannot afford it will get it. I do not want this to go somewhere that is just going to turn around and sell it.

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The big city near me has an organization that recycles the DME and distributes within the county to people who are referred to them. They get their referrals from the local hospitals, from doctors. You might try Googling (if you haven't already) 'Recycle DME'. Another thought is to call the local county hospital. Just tell the switchboard operator (or listen carefully to your choices on the following menu) and see if they would take them or at least know of someone who would. I have always heard, but not tried this, that nursing homes can accept disposable underwear packages that have been unopened. The Chux might be usable at the animal shelter. Food pantry might like the Ensure.

I do need to say this though. Make absolutely sure that you are not just leasing the DME before you give it away. You might just be able to return those items to the provider. Look through the paperwork.

Call whoever is in charge of a homeless shelter. They might have some use.

Good luck and best wishes for your success. Let us know if you do find new homes for the items, as others of us will have that situation someday.
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We have a local convalescent aid society that takes this type of equipment or perhaps you have a nearby veterans hospital or a meals on wheels type charity

think a bit outside the box as the organizations you mentioned above might have licensing regs that would prevent them from re-using this equipment
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Katie, make sure none of the larger items were "rented", especially if your Dad had Hospice.

Why I am mentioning this was I was donating items that my late Dad had in his room. He had a brand new wheelchair so I was thinking about donating. It wasn't until I received a second invoice that I starting thinking maybe this wheelchair was "rented", sure enough it was. The small dollar amount on the first invoice I thought was a co-pay and that Medicare had paid for wheelchair.
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Assuming that you do not have to return the items for rental reasons, I would hope that someone would be THRILLED to come and pick up the items. I cannot comprehend that people have not returned your call. It boggles the mind. The only thing that I can think of is that you spoke with a receptionist who did not fully get it and did not forward the message to the right person. It makes no sense.

I'd give it more shot, but when I called, I might insist that I speak with the person in charge of getting the items and that if I couldn't get a time and place for them to pick them up by 5:00 that day, it would be too late.

Did you try Good Will and Salvation Army?
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