OT - ACK! PT equipment! $$$$

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Registered: 07-12-2005
OT - ACK! PT equipment! $$$$
9
Mon, 07-30-2007 - 2:32am

Okay, so, as some of you already know, my youngest DD, Angel, is physically handicapped and can't walk, and that her prognosis was recently down-graded. As it stands now there is an 81% overall chance that she'll never be able to walk. And if she does, it will be after not 1 but multiple (looking at 2 right now) very invasive surgeries. The number of surgeries depends on the outcome of each previous surgery's outcome.


So, in preparing for the long haul (it will be a few years yet before she walks even if the surgeries go perfectly) we've started migrating even more of her physical therapy to home. DH and I have both taken classes to administer daily PT, with bi-weekly check-ups with her regular therapist, and monthly visits with her surgeon.


It's mostly exercises that require assistance, not in-depth PT. But, with her getting older her exercises are changing, concentrating more on building muscle and rang of motion for personal mobility, that kind of stuff. So, now she has all these new daily exercises she needs to start in the next few weeks, and her therapist gave me a list of all the equipment we're going to need in order to do that.


OMG!! We're talking an entire gym! 2 inch thick tumbling mats, parallel bars, a balance beam, ring pullies, and more. Our insurance doesn't cover it, or should I say, it would have, but we only get so much in 'appliances' every year and we already spent it all this year on wheelchair tie-downs and a new lift for the van. We were already planning on spending next year's credits on outfitting her bathroom in the new house with a sling, tub rails, and hand-holds (she desperately wants to use the big potty -that flushes- without someone having to hover over her).


I've been searching online as I have time all weekend, and I can't believe the prices on some of these things! The best price I found on the mats was $135 for a 4'x6'x2" section, which means we'd need at least 2 to accommodate the exercise she needs them for.


She already has a lot of the stuff, like the exercise balls, medicine balls, foam rollers, tension sling, etc. but those are all the little things. Now we have to buy the big things, which all together will cost a few thousand $$.


WHAAAAAA! Anyone know where to get this kinda stuff for cheap? Any foundations or funds that help out with kinda stuff? Easter seals paid the co-payment on the lift for us, but I don't know if they do anything with this kinda stuff? Anyone know? Amy?


~Candes

APOV on Autism

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-28-2007
Mon, 07-30-2007 - 7:28am

I'm still hunting around for you, but I found a 5ft balance beam for $74.99.

http://www.affordabletherapysolutions.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWCATS&Category=2

edited to add: When dh was a Scout he helped another boy become and Eagle Scout by building a special needs play ground (balance beams, etc). Perhaps you could contact the Scouts and ask if any one would like to work toward a certain merit badge or even Eagle Scout by builing the hevier equipment. Just a silly thought.

Dee




Edited 7/30/2007 9:12 am ET by roanmom
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-04-2007
Mon, 07-30-2007 - 12:41pm

I hear you! This stuff is crazy expensive. Here is what a few of my patients families have done.

For parallel bars they have made them out of plumbing supplies. Bolting things to plywood sheets. I don't know all the exact dimensions and they are generally not height adjustable, but much cheaper than bars in catalogs. Or is there an out of the way wall (ie in a garage) that you could put a handrail on for one side?

For a balance beam, just use a 2x4 on the ground. Does she really need to be off the ground for her PT work? I find that it terrifies my guys to be off the ground that much anyway. Just make sure it doesn't slide around (maybe make a brace for it or I just put the heavy weights on the ends to stabilize).

Of course it helps to have someone handy around. Any civic groups around (ie Elks, Lions club)? They often like to have projects like this and have retired guys with some extra time.

Good luck!
Kara

iVillage Member
Registered: 11-28-2006
Mon, 07-30-2007 - 1:22pm
Just a thought, and I don't know if it will help, but have you looked into Freecycle. com at all?
iVillage Member
Registered: 06-25-2003
Mon, 07-30-2007 - 4:00pm

I am sure you have already chcked out the ADA, Idealist.org, charity.com, the children's yellow pages and other not-for-profit

-Paula

visit my blog at www.onesickmother.com
iVillage Member
Registered: 10-03-2004
Mon, 07-30-2007 - 8:03pm

Hi Candes,

Another thought ... call schools and gyms, Y programs, see if anyone has old equipment they would be willing to donate to you!? Even churches might have equipment being replaced or not used.

Gosh darn it, it's always something, isn't it?

Sara

iVillage Member
Registered: 12-22-2003
Tue, 07-31-2007 - 1:00am

Sorry for the delayed response...I'm out town right now and just getting a chance to read the boards after being MIA for a couple of days.

Easter Seals may be willing to cover the expenses of some of the equipment, but that's not something that I witnessed during the time with the organization. However, that doesn't means squat as I worked for the CEO/President and had very little knowledge of the workings of the therapy team. My guess is they covered the deductible because they could list it as a write-off...which is what most of the local telethon money goes to...writing off services for those who can't afford them.

My husband is all about making his own. In fact, he even made the treatment tables that he uses in his gym. Balance beams are easy to make, as are parallel bars...my DH isn't even slightly handy, so I'm pretty sure Craig could handle a lot of it.

As for the exercise mats, I'd call around to local gymastics club and see if they have any old ones they'd be willing to donate...if not, ask if they're in contact with organizations that might be able to help.

If all else fails, I'd ask your PT for a more "user friendly" home exercise program. Any PT worth their hourly rate knows that there is almost always more than one way to get the desired results. My guess is that you were handy some copies of cards that are standard for the industry...or at the very least, standard for that particular therapy clinic. With a little research and creative thinking, your PT should be able to come up with alternatives that might not be ideal, but at least feasible given the circumstances.

Amy

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iVillage Member
Registered: 03-28-2003
Tue, 07-31-2007 - 3:21pm
I don't have any solutions, but I do want to say I'm sorry Angel's condition was downgraded! Is she going to get the surgeries? Wow, can't believe such a sweetheart has to go through so much!
iVillage Member
Registered: 04-11-2007
Tue, 07-31-2007 - 3:27pm

Hi Candes,

I don't know if this will help, but in Michigan we have a program called Children's Special Health. It is a back-up insurance for medical special needs. I applied for it at the Health Department. They have to have a physical problem, and it sounds like dd definitly does. Here they pick up where reg. insurance leaves off, even on equipement. I thought you could at least check into it. Good luck, I have on in a wheelchair too and all the equipement can be very difficult to deal with.
Carey

iVillage Member
Registered: 07-12-2005
Tue, 07-31-2007 - 6:53pm

Hi all! Thanks for all of the suggestions and ideas. This is where we are at with things...


Contacted our lady at Easter Seals. They don't have anything themselves to help, but they have all the contact info for places that will or might. She's sending me that, and placing a few calls herself to help 'greese the wheels' a bit.


Called the PT back and asked which items were the most emergent. He said that the parallel bars and ankle board were the ones she needed most and first. Had already had the thought of making the ankle board myself. DH has agreed to get The Boys together and figure out the parellel bars, lol. After that she needs the tumbling mats and balance beam. Can't make the mats, but I'm going to start calling around to see if we can get a few used from local schools that are turning over equipment. Children's has a large mat we can barrow for a month in the mean time, but

APOV on Autism