This crosses an MM line, right?

[Deleted]

My grandfather passed away in March, and my aunt is in the process of getting rid of the last of the stuff from his house.

She posted the following picture on FB with a "Does anyone want this?  No charity will take it* and I don't want to just throw it out"

I'm not wrong in thinking that's a bit ^o) , right?  

(* I WONDER WHY)

Attachment Deleted

[monsterz]

Ewwwwwwww - there is a reason that the charities won't take it.

[mich1]

Don't look at charities, but look at places where you can rent or borrow medical devices. Try nursing homes or rehab centers.

I don't see why it's an ewwwwww......after they took my hip out and I was left with a spacer, one of these was by my bed and I'm fairly sure that the hospital did not buy a new one. I'm also fairly sure that one that I used in the rehab center was previously used too.

[Susie]

I'm actually surprised there isn't a somewhat specialized charity that would take it.  Not having something like that because one can't afford it would be pretty devastating.  When my mom had her ileostomy reversed, she actually found a charity that accepted her unused (but open box) ostomy supplies.  They gave them to people without insurance/means to pay for them.  (This was maybe 3 years ago, pre-ACA.)

All the same, posting that on FB gets the :N:. 

[mbcdefg]

I get the sentiment, because medical stuff is expensive. Especially when families are already dealing with the crisis of an ill loved one. After my dad died, my mom was looking for ways to donate some of the stuff he'd accumulated during his last injury/illness (he had one of these things but I have no idea what happened to it).

But, yeah, that particular piece of equipment is something I'd be a bit more selective about offering to people.

[mich1]

Actually, by the picture that looks like a pretty good one. There are some really cheap ones out there and the one you have looks substantial. They're not cheap and if you need one and don't have the $$ to pay for it, being able to get one free/cheap would be a lifesaver.

[hski2349]

Can you check with a nursing home, assisted living home, or a group type home? There has got to be somebody who would be willing to take that.

[moolarkey]

She should CL it, there might be people who honestly could use it and can't afford to buy one.

[raangoli]

I was going to suggest CL as well - I know that there are people out there that could use things like this, but I can see why charities would not take it.

And I did laugh that your aunt posted it on FB. I know she meant well, but dang.

[CloudBee]

She should definitely post on CL.

We throw out FAR more than we should in this country.

[CloudBee]

The bowl part that gets emptied is very inexpensive to replace. The frame/seat are expensive and not disposable like the insert can be. So I really don't see this as any more gross than the used toilet in your apartment or my house.

ETA:  The seats like this in hospitals are used.  Same with what you rent?  Sure it's an odd post, but I'm hung up on why it should be thrown out and not donated to someone.

[teatimefor2]

I would frown putting it on FB, but ditto PP, I bet someone could really use it. Believe it or not, those are expensive for someone without insurance/limited means.

Her heart is in the right place.

[mbcdefg]

Your aunt might also be desperate to just get rid of it as quickly and easily as possible, because (a) it's clutter, and (b) it's a reminder of your grandfather's illness. Honestly I'd rather deal with embarrassment or a side-eye rather than have it sit around longer than necessary.

And if a friend could use this thing, then I'd rather see it go to them, than toss it or donate it and not know if someone could truly benefit from it.

Sorry for your loss, by the way.

[cilantro]

It doesn't belong on facebook. If she was going to post it there, a description would suffice.

[Deleted]

Jul 9, 2014 13:07:19 GMT -5 hski2349 said:

Can you check with a nursing home, assisted living home, or a group type home? There has got to be somebody who would be willing to take that.

I have no doubt that my aunt already has.

I live 800 miles from this whatever-you-call-it and am just a grandchild so not my job anyway.

[Susie]

v has she tried looking for places that specifically take adaptive devices? Sometimes the key is knowing what to call it. ("Donate commodes" isn't going to net many helpful google hits, but "donate adaptive devices" or "donate durable medical equipment" does.)

A lot of them are state-specific, but they are out there:
Missouri: www.at.mo.gov/recycling.html
New England region: www.getatstuff.com
Massachusetts: www.massmatch.org/find_at/borrow.php
New Mexico: ww.backinuse.com/biu_home.cfm
Connecticut: connecticut.networkofcare.org/mh/services/subcategory.aspx?tax=LH-5000
Not region-specific:  thedmelist.com  

Others are focused on assistance for certain diseases:
MD:  mda.org/services/equipment-assistance

There are tons more that I didn't link.  Maybe you could help her identify one in her state or point her in the right direction? I'm guessing both the org and her FB friends would be grateful.

[ECB]

Um..... o.k.

[hski2349]

Jul 9, 2014 13:35:59 GMT -5 v said:

Jul 9, 2014 13:07:19 GMT -5 hski2349 said:

Can you check with a nursing home, assisted living home, or a group type home? There has got to be somebody who would be willing to take that.

I have no doubt that my aunt already has.

I live 800 miles from this whatever-you-call-it and am just a grandchild so not my job anyway.

Maybe that is why she posted it on facebook.  She is hoping that you will pay for shipping to your house.  You never know when you may need that.   

[thebulldog]

My mom had boat loads of unused gauze pads and other "supplies" after my dad died. It was hard to find a place to take but i think it went to a Veterans org.

i be typing from me phone. typos and grammer dont count.

[thatgirl2478]

yes & no... I'd put it on CL to see if it sells (or just give it away free).

[genet313]

i understand the sentiment here, but there are just some things that are not transferable.  and this is definitely one of them.

[mich1]

Jul 9, 2014 15:17:12 GMT -5 genet313 said:

i understand the sentiment here, but there are just some things that are not transferable.  and this is definitely one of them.

Why not?  You can buy a new bowl for the commode.

If you are in desperate need of medical aids, you honestly do not care where it was as long as you can clean it up.  You might just think it's a commode, only $50 or so.  But when you consider that it is not just a commode you need to buy, but a shower chair, grab bars, you need to modify chairs, or rent a lift chair (which is what I had to do), and sometimes you need a different bed too.  This is just to live, it doesn't include needing to get around.  Then you add walkers, crutches, wheelchairs to the mix, and special cushions (that can run up to about $400 each).

Being disabled gets expensive, believe me.  And insurance doesn't cover a lot of what you need.  If I hadn't been able to borrow most of what I need, there is no doubt in my brain that just for me to live at home would have cost me around $2000-3000 OOP.  As it was, I only needed to rent a lift chair at $80/mo.

[Deleted]

We bought a used raised toilet seat when my mom had a knee replaced. We kept it until she had her other knee replaced. Then we sold it. Kijiji (Canadian CL) FTW.

Lysol covers a myriad of sins.

[genet313]

Jul 9, 2014 15:25:53 GMT -5 mich1 said:

Jul 9, 2014 15:17:12 GMT -5 genet313 said:

i understand the sentiment here, but there are just some things that are not transferable.  and this is definitely one of them.

Why not?  You can buy a new bowl for the commode.

If you are in desperate need of medical aids, you honestly do not care where it was as long as you can clean it up.  You might just think it's a commode, only $50 or so.  But when you consider that it is not just a commode you need to buy, but a shower chair, grab bars, you need to modify chairs, or rent a lift chair (which is what I had to do), and sometimes you need a different bed too.  This is just to live, it doesn't include needing to get around.  Then you add walkers, crutches, wheelchairs to the mix, and special cushions (that can run up to about $400 each).

Being disabled gets expensive, believe me.  And insurance doesn't cover a lot of what you need.  If I hadn't been able to borrow most of what I need, there is no doubt in my brain that just for me to live at home would have cost me around $2000-3000 OOP.  As it was, I only needed to rent a lift chair at $80/mo.

this is probably my own ignorance speaking, but if i were disabled and in financial need, i would do my best to find a resource to give me a free or discounted new commode.  
obviously this may not always be possible, but i'm a clean freak, and i just don't think there's any amount of cleaning that would make me comfortable with using this particular device.  i'm speaking for me personally here.

[Deleted]

I can pretty much guarantee that if you ever use the bathroom in a hotel, more disgusting things have taken place on that toilet than this commode has ever seen.

[genet313]

Jul 9, 2014 15:52:25 GMT -5 @tokenhoser said:

I can pretty much guarantee that if you ever use the bathroom in a hotel, more disgusting things have taken place on that toilet than this commode has ever seen.

oh, i don't doubt that.  but this feels much more personal to me than an anonymous hotel bathroom.  and that's really my hang up with this particular item.  

[mich1]

i would do my best to find a resource to give me a free or discounted new commode.

When you are disabled to the point where you need a commode like this by your bedside, you do not have the ability to find stuff like this.  You take what you can get.

My brief story.  I was a healthy scientist who had 2 hip replacements.  I got a blood infection that infected both of my functioning prostheses....one than the other.  In 2 weeks, I went from regularly beating myself up at the gym to surgery having them break apart my pelvis so that they could remove my badly infected prosthesis to save my life.  2 years later, I'm disabled.  I can walk a little and even my orthopedic surgeon says it's a miracle because of the damage the infection did to my bone, and the removal of my prosthesis.

So yes, I used a used commode both in the hospital and rehab - and was glad to have access to them because the alternative would be to have an accident in my bed.  At rehab, some people were diapered if they could not get to a commode and I refused the indignity of being diapered.  Rehab allowed me to learn to get from bed/chair to wheelchair so I could get myself to the toilet, so I did not need a commode at home.  Had I not been as healthy and strong as I was, I would have needed a commode at home too.

People do not give new stuff away.  You do not get discounted stuff and when you need something like a commode, you do not have the luxury of spending 4 days on the phone trying to talk someone into giving you this.

[Susie]

Jul 9, 2014 15:49:21 GMT -5 genet313 said:

this is probably my own ignorance speaking, but if i were disabled and in financial need, i would do my best to find a resource to give me a free or discounted new commode.  
obviously this may not always be possible, but i'm a clean freak, and i just don't think there's any amount of cleaning that would make me comfortable with using this particular device.  i'm speaking for me personally here.

In order for that to be possible, someone would have to get past "ew that seems so icky!" to make the effort to donate it.

I don't care who's willing or unwilling to actually use it, that's everybody's own prerogative.  But since there are people out there for whom it'd make a big difference, who don't have the luxury of affording a brand new one that has never seen the shine of someone's moon, I would hope for it to stay out of a landfill.  

It is such a privileged thing to be able to say "I won't touch a lysol'ed commode that someone has ever used before me," it's kind of amazing to me that some people (not necessarily you, genet) think it is a universal sentiment.

[aurora]

Jul 9, 2014 15:49:21 GMT -5 genet313 said:

Jul 9, 2014 15:25:53 GMT -5 mich1 said:

Why not?  You can buy a new bowl for the commode.

If you are in desperate need of medical aids, you honestly do not care where it was as long as you can clean it up.  You might just think it's a commode, only $50 or so.  But when you consider that it is not just a commode you need to buy, but a shower chair, grab bars, you need to modify chairs, or rent a lift chair (which is what I had to do), and sometimes you need a different bed too.  This is just to live, it doesn't include needing to get around.  Then you add walkers, crutches, wheelchairs to the mix, and special cushions (that can run up to about $400 each).

Being disabled gets expensive, believe me.  And insurance doesn't cover a lot of what you need.  If I hadn't been able to borrow most of what I need, there is no doubt in my brain that just for me to live at home would have cost me around $2000-3000 OOP.  As it was, I only needed to rent a lift chair at $80/mo.

this is probably my own ignorance speaking, but if i were disabled and in financial need, i would do my best to find a resource to give me a free or discounted new commode.  
obviously this may not always be possible, but i'm a clean freak, and i just don't think there's any amount of cleaning that would make me comfortable with using this particular device.  i'm speaking for me personally here.

Definitely. Being disabled is often very expensive and generally makes it harder to keep a high-paying job.

I do think it's an amusing thing to put on FB, but I also think it's quite possible to clean and re-use. Don't people use public restrooms?

[Deleted]

Jul 9, 2014 16:14:33 GMT -5 aurora said:

Jul 9, 2014 15:49:21 GMT -5 genet313 said:

this is probably my own ignorance speaking, but if i were disabled and in financial need, i would do my best to find a resource to give me a free or discounted new commode.  
obviously this may not always be possible, but i'm a clean freak, and i just don't think there's any amount of cleaning that would make me comfortable with using this particular device.  i'm speaking for me personally here.

Definitely. Being disabled is often very expensive and generally makes it harder to keep a high-paying job.

I do think it's an amusing thing to put on FB, but I also think it's quite possible to clean and re-use. Don't people use public restrooms?

Perhaps it's irrational, but this grosses me out more than a toilet.  I think because the waste just sits there instead of going into water and then being quickly whisked away never to be seen again.

Also, if charities aren't taking it, that may be a sign...