Revere City Council Approves Medical Equipment Loan Program Request

By Barbara Taormina

Councillor-at-Large Robert Haas III presented a motion, favorably recommended by the Health and Human Services Subcommittee, that Mayor Patrick Keefe be requested to establish a Medical Equipment Loan Program through the Elder Affairs and Public Health Departments. The program would allow seniors in need of medical equipment or any resident who undergoes a procedure and is in need of equipment to “borrow” items, such as a wheelchair, walker, transport chair, commode, shower bench/chair, cane, knee scooter, etc.

There would be no charge to the city — simply storage and tracking of said equipment — as well as zero cost to the residents who take out the equipment. The inventory and supply of equipment would rely on donated items, allowing the program to start from the ground up and essentially run itself over time. The program would also feature a waiver that the resident would sign before taking the equipment home. This program would allow our residents easy access to items while avoiding large purchases on medical items, especially if the resident is in need of the equipment for only a short period or recovery window.

Councillors praised the intent of the motion, but several members opposed it.

Ward 2 Councillor Ira Novoselsky recalled when Disabilities Commission Chairman Ralph DeCicco ran a similar program for about a year and a half. “People didn’t bring back the equipment. They wanted DeCicco to pick it up. We don’t have the room or the people for this. It’s extra work for the DPW to clean the stuff. It’s too much for us to handle,” stated Novoselsky

Councillor-at-Large Marc Silvestri said the Veterans Department tried a similar program for a very long time. Silvestri’s opposition to the motion was due to the director of Elder Affairs saying a medical equipment loan program is not something she wants to do or needs. “I’m not comfortable telling them what they should do,” said Silvestri.

Ward 3 Councillor Anthony Cogliandro said Haas is now running a similar program in Danvers and its working. “I’m willing to give this a chance,” he said. “If it’s not working we stop.”

City Council President Anthony Zambuto said the director of the senior center opposes this. “We’ve had this here and it failed,” said Zambuto. “I’m going to side with the person who runs the senior center.”

The City Council voted 7-4 to approve the motion.