Get A Cane bay area: recent trends

As Get A Cane has been growing over the past year, I have noticed some trends worth sharing that might help you make more informed decisions about items to donate as per the need in the community. After visiting the Santa Clara senior center to pitch the idea for Get A Cane, I learned that insurance companies provide DME (Durable Medical Equipment), however there are a few caveats: walkers that they provide often do not have helpful features such as seats and DME may take a while to arrive at a patient’s home. I heard from a senior gentleman that a hospital bed mattress that was provided my insurance was not soft and induced back pain.  Furthermore, insurance will only cover a part of the device cost even when it is prescribed by the doctor, and the DME company must also be registered with the insurance or else the patient will have to pay entirely out of pocket. These hidden fees and inconveniences make it difficult for patients to obtain the desirable, low-cost DME quickly.

​          Aligning with this, I have observed that there is a much greater demand for walkers with seats also known as rollator walkers. These allow individuals to take a break when needed or place some essential items on the seat to carry with them while walking. Additionally, more expensive devices such as wheelchairs have a much greater demand than, for example, crutches because the patient has to pay a higher price out of pocket even when insurance does cover a part of it. Disabled and low-income people may also find it difficult to get transportation to a DME store and, therefore, we offer a free delivery service to everyone in the local community. 
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    We believe that everyone deserves the right to the best quality of life possible. Socioeconomic status or any other factor should not hinder anyone from having access to walking aids that can help them in their daily lives. These aids may enable them to go to school, work, or just navigate their surroundings with more ease. Join us in our efforts today by donating now!