By Tate Papworth
Keilor Rotary Club and Sunshine Hospital are teaming up to get patients moving.
The Rotary club’s Donations in Kind program puts secondhand mobility and lifestyle aids into the hands of those who need them most.
Allied health education lead Angela Mucic said the program allowed patients experiencing financial hardship to access equipment for free.
“Previously, the hospital provided equipment for 30 days for free,” she said. “But after that patients had to pay a hire fee or purchase it, so there’s often this limbo where people have had to give up equipment because they can’t afford it.
“We think that could potentially contribute to people readmitting to hospital if they’re not safe enough or having falls, so this program allows patients in hardship to have that equipment from the very beginning and as long as they need it.”
Ms Mucic said a wide variety of equipment had already been donated.
“We’ve only been going three months and we’re already seeing equipment returned from patients who’ve had it for a month of two and no longer need it,” she said. “That’s the aim, so it’s great to see.
“It’s mainly four-wheel frames and bathroom equipment, like shower seats and over toilet seats. One of the great things is … getting this equipment out of hard rubbish.”
