What would Martha Stewart do with your mother-in-law’s gently used hospital bed? These are the pressing questions you need to ask yourself when wheelchairs, scooters and more are no longer needed. There are a few different options for passing these items along, so find the one that best suits your situation.
You can: Participate in National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day on Saturday, April 27, 2019 from 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. This is a safe, convenient, and responsible way to dispose of unused or expired prescription drugs. Check DEA’s official Take Back Day website for more information and to find year-round collection sites near you.
You can: Resell Your Used Medical Equipment
A private sale is the most solid option for recouping some of the funds you put out to secure an electric stair lift or wheelchair. Try posting on Craigslist, NextDoor, or a local Facebook group. Include the condition of the item, the age of the item, the list price and what you are willing to take for it. Do not wait at home alone or with your elderly loved one for a random stranger to show up to purchase and remove the item being sold. Have at least one other trusted adult with you. And trust your gut: if a buyer seems shady, they probably are. Move on to another one, even if you have to wait a bit.
You can: Donate Used Medical Equipment to a Charitable Organization
You won’t directly get paid for your device, but you will get a receipt that can be used for tax deductions. The best part of donating your equipment is that it goes to help another family in need. Many organizations have “equipment closets” that they loan from to help other families for short and long-term assistance. Here are a couple organizations to look into, but there may be more convenient to where you live, so ask around: ALS Association, MS Society
You can: See if the equipment comes with a buy-back program.
Certain types of medical equipment fall in this category but buying back depends on condition of equipment and consumer demand. If you had to repair the item, for example, you will most likely not be able to enjoy a buy-back scenario.