The question of what to do with a loved one’s possessions is one that every family faces. Some items, like trinkets and personal effects, may be given away to family or friends. Others, including medical equipment, can be sold, or donated to charity. From eyeglasses and hearing aids to wheelchairs and at-home hospital beds, there are options for giving used medical equipment a second life.
Death and Decluttering. Family members charged with clearing out the deceased’s home may unwittingly find themselves in control of medical items left behind. Nobody in the family may have a use for them, but that does not mean they must be discarded. Provided it is in relatively good condition, the medical equipment can be given to those in need, listed for private sale, or purchased by a dealer.
Donating Used Medical Equipment. The fastest and easiest way to get rid of unneeded medical items is to donate them. Depending on the items, consider the following options for donation:
- A local hospice, nursing home, church, Veterans Affairs hospital, or Center for Independent Living.
- Charities, including Alliance for Smiles, American Red Cross, American Medical Resource Foundation, Easter Seals, Med-Eq, MedShare, Project CURE, and United Way.
- A local Goodwill store or Salvation Army.
- Eyeglasses – The Lions Club Recycle for Sight program, Eyes for the Needy, and New Eyes or a local eye doctor who may participate in one of these programs.
- Hearing aids – The Starkey Hearing Foundation Hear Now program, the Lions Club Hearing Aid Recycling Program, Hearing Charities of America, and Hearing Loss Association of America.
Selling Used Medical Equipment. Donating small personal items like eyeglasses and assistive hearing devices might make more sense than selling them. While hearing aids, which are considered medical devices by the Food and Drug Administration, can be costly and might be worth selling, not all states permit the sale of used hearing aids. Where legal, used hearing aid sales may also have guidelines and restrictions.