NEEDED: Crutches, Walkers, Canes

[Bekeart]

The following story was posted today bu Al Tompkins a journalist at Poynter which teaches journalism.

Wanted, due to supply chain shortages: used crutches, walkers and canes

My Words here:
Knowing the geezer content of the forum, self included, I think some of us probably have extra or unneeded items that could be donated.
End My Words

From Utah to South Carolina and Kentucky, hospitals and charities are asking for gently used crutches, canes and walkers. Supplies are getting harder to come by thanks to - let's all say it together - supply chain problems. The main issue seems to be the unreliable supply of aluminum, which is used to make the products.

Wanted, due to supply chain shortages: used crutches, walkers and canes – Poynter

Bekeart

 

[Dave.357]

I have been buying them at yard sales all
summer and giving them away.

 

[robrossk]

who woulda thunk it? Thanks for sharing and I will keep an eye out.

 

[VonFatman]

i just moved from a walker to a cane....had my second knee replaced oct 5th.
i will keep this in mind!

 

[walkin jack]

I have some of these items left over from Knee replacement surgeries and from my parents at the end of their time. But the time is not too far down the road when we are going to need some or all of them. sigh......

 

[Oldfrt]

Just started to use a cane during my walks around the neighborhood, uneven sidewalks caused several trips and falls. Made my first cane from a $26 pick ax from Lowes, cut off the ax part and the tip of the pick. Worked pretty good but was a tad heavy and the steel would get cold quickly. Did find a in stock cane for old fat guy 250 lb rated for $105 from Fashionable Canes, less than a week for delivery.

 

[Ivan the Butcher]

I had left the house without my cane one day last week, There was a Goodwill next to my wife's first stop. Went in bought a unused cane tagged at 3.99 and on Thursday Old Guys got 25% off. So it only cost me $3.24. I now have a cane I move from project to project, plus a cane in every vehicle.

Ivan

 

[Bekeart]

AMEN! GREAT IDEA!

I now have a cane I move from project to project, plus a cane in every vehicle.

AMEN! GREAT IDEA!

 

[Bekeart]

My Winter Not-A-Cane

I do not need to use a cane, yet ...

For slippery winter walking I have a pair of Cross-County Ski Poles from a thrift shop.

My Winter Not-A-Cane

They are a big help in snow covered paths.
My Winter Not-A-Cane

Bekeart

 

[grover99]

I have several cares that I don't use because I went to Canes made by Cold Steel. They give you good support and with some of them you can do a lot of damage if you hit someone with one of them. Or with one I have you can run a blade through someone with your sword cane. I will be glad to pass on my standard canes to anyone who needs one.

 

[Ole Joe Clark]

I was just encouraging my 82 year old brother to get a cane this morning. I could tell he didn't like it. But, he really needs one.

Have a blessed day,

Leon

 

[Ivan the Butcher]

I found that canes are very length specific! An inch or maybe two long is a pain but still usable. Any too short, is a fall waiting to happen!

No instructions come with the cane, you just have to experiment until it works for you! Personally, going up stairs, I keep the cane in my right hand, and use it as an equal let to my left leg. That makes my right leg the third leg of the tripod. So far so good for 3 months.

Ivan

 

[Golddollar]

I had left the house without my cane one day last week, There was a Goodwill next to my wife's first stop. Went in bought a unused cane tagged at 3.99 and on Thursday Old Guys got 25% off. So it only cost me $3.24. I now have a cane I move from project to project, plus a cane in every vehicle.

Ivan

I'll need to check into something like this. I keep losing canes.

 

[Onomea]

I found that canes are very length specific! An inch or maybe two long is a pain but still usable. Any too short, is a fall waiting to happen!

No instructions come with the cane, you just have to experiment until it works for you! Personally, going up stairs, I keep the cane in my right hand, and use it as an equal let to my left leg. That makes my right leg the third leg of the tripod. So far so good for 3 months.

Ivan

Ivan, on a stairway, the cane will be in the hand not on the bannister, I would think. In general, the cane belongs in the hand opposite the weak leg, and hits the ground at the same time as the weak leg foot does.

So, if your right knee is shot, the cane belongs in your left hand. They teach this in PT classes after knee replacement surgery.

(Three months out now from full replacement of my right knee. I'm now walking about two miles, no cane/stick, most days.)

 

[Ivan the Butcher]

I keep losing canes.

Are you loosing them, or are people helping them selves to your canes?

In High School I made a "Walking Stick" from hard maple. It was a beast, that everybody kept saying was theirs. Not normally a problem, I had inlaid my initials in copper in the knob on top. But this one guy had to push it, we had the same initials. I said fine, we will settle this outside! And into the parking lot the entire shop class went. "IF this is yours you should know how to use it" and pointed at a trash can. He did a really good job on the trash can! It was my turn, I walked over to his car! He recanted his claim before my second swing!

Ivan

 

[riverrat38]

Ivan, on a stairway, the cane will be in the hand not on the bannister, I would think. In general, the cane belongs in the hand opposite the weak leg, and hits the ground at the same time as the weak leg foot does.

So, if your right knee is shot, the cane belongs in your left hand. They teach this in PT classes after knee replacement surgery.

(Three months out now from full replacement of my right knee. I'm now walking about two miles, no cane/stick, most days.)

I am looking forward to when I will be able to walk 2 miles again. My right knee went to bare bone 3 months ago, and they are going to give me a new one. Unfortunately, they have put all elective surgery on hold, due to the hospital being full of covid patients. No telling how long. They will need me for about 3 days, I am told.
I have been holding my cane in my right hand. Unfortunately, my shoulders aren't far behind my knees. Hips aren't so good, either. Bionic man? My trigger finger is holding up, so not all bad news!

73,
Rick

 

[Golddollar]

(Three months out now from full replacement of my right knee. I'm now walking about two miles, no cane/stick, most days.)

Wow, that is fantastic. If I can make 1 1/2 miles walking with my cane I am ecstatic.