Service clubs

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If you were hoping to borrow a walker or a wheelchair from the Royal Canadian Legion, Branch 183, Kincardine, you're out of luck.

The Legion was forced to suspend its medical aid service due to a lack of volunteers to operate the program.

Donna Wilson, the Legion's public relations officer, says it's a shame because the service club has 500-600 pieces of medical equipment to loan out, including wheelchairs, scooters, walkers (with wheels or without), raised toilet seats, shower chairs, canes, crutches, and hospital beds.

Last year, 258 pieces of equipment were lent out, and as of July, this year, 157 pieces had been lent out. 

Wilson admits that part of the problem was the availability of the people who ran the program for a long time.

"Jack Pym and Barry Fuller looked after this for years and years," she says. "When someone called needing a piece of equipment, they came down and got it for them right away. Now, people have come to expect that. We had a woman from Port Elgin who wanted a hospital bed, and she wanted it delivered right away. We had to stop that."

She says that if the Legion were to undertake this program again, it would be important to train people to realize what equipment they need and to obtain it ahead of time. Otherwise, wait until a volunteer can get the equipment for them.

"There really isn't much work involved in running this program if people understand what's required and are reasonable," says Wilson.

What's missing is a volunteer to do the paperwork, she says. "We need three or four volunteers and one person to head it up. Hope MacCrostie and Garry Goessell were doing it, but we have now instructed our office administrator that the medical aid service is suspended until we can get enough volunteers."

If nobody comes forward to continue the program, the equipment would be passed on to another Legion, or it would be sold or given away, says Wilson.

"We have had several people call needing medical equipment," she says. "Unfortunately, we can't help them. They will have to go out and buy the equipment they need."

She says the Legion tried to get another organization to take over the program but had no success. "We have bought a lot of equipment over the years. We asked for donations from those borrowing the equipment and we used that money to purchase more pieces. We even have somebody who repairs the equipment."

Some of the items were also donated by the public, she adds. In most cases, the equipment was borrowed for about three months or less, unless it was a hospital bed which would be used longer.

If you are interested in volunteering for this program, contact Legion president Maureen Couture at 519-396-3629 or the Legion office at 519-396-2372.
 

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Friday, August 19, 2011