Sharing Comfort: The Lending Cupboard's Impact on Caregiving
Meet Donna – who came in recently as she’s preparing for knee-replacement surgery.
“They were saying these are the items that you need, and you need to go to The Lending Cupboard™. Everyone here was very kind, and so organized – it was lovely! Everyone is here to help,” she said, adding our friendly community of volunteers made her think this is something she might like to do one day, too.
Donna also pointed out how her family has utilized our services in the past to help her mom. “She lived in her own home for over 50 years, and she just recently moved into West Park Lodge, which is really, really nice.”
But as Donna mentioned, TLC’s medical equipment was key to enabling her mom to ‘age in place’ for so long and with much greater comfort and security.
“We came here, and you guys were just so awesome! It’s so nice to have all of this in the community,” she added. “It truly is. Otherwise, you would have to purchase it. And for some people, that isn’t feasible,” she said. “All of these aids are available to help you stay in your home.”
Currently, as her mom settles into her new surroundings, it’s a new chapter in more ways than one. Donna and her family have found joy in returning the equipment to TLC that they have found so helpful, and they are pleased to know it can help other families through similar transitions.
Read more about the impact that The Lending Cupboard™ is having on the lives of Central Albertans.
Services
The Lending Cupboard™ is located in the heart of Central Alberta in Red Deer. We have an incredible team with 6 part-time staff and over 60 volunteers, led by our Executive Director and a strong Board of Directors. We believe that every Albertan should have access to medical equipment and daily living aids so they can stay mobile, independent, and live with dignity.
With an inventory of 15,000+ items, we see an average of 1,100 clients and handle 2,800 pieces of equipment every month. Our clients consist of all ages, including children, youth, adults and senior citizens. Each person that walks through our doors has a unique story and medical need, which can range from an extreme sports injury, recovering from illness or surgery or end of life care.
We're dedicated to making equipment borrowing a hassle-free experience for you!
Whenever you require medical equipment, just drop by our office during our business hours, and we'll gladly help. Our friendly team of staff and volunteers will take the time to understand your needs so that we can select the most suitable equipment for you. Additionally, before you leave, we'll ensure that everything is adjusted correctly, for comfort and safety.
Enhancing Quality of Life
We believe that through the work at The Lending Cupboard™ we are supporting Central Albertans young and old to have the ability to live their lives the best they can, to be socially engaged with family, friends, and community, and to be able to maintain their mobility, independence, and dignity.
Three simple but essential factors for quality of life are key to our mission and are
entrenched in our values at TLC:
Mobility
Mobility is important to the physical, social, cultural, and emotional development from the start of life to the end of an individual’s life.
Independence
Independence is the ability to be self-reliant and self-sufficient and do things for oneself.
Dignity
Dignity is the belief that all people hold a special value that's tied solely to their humanity, a conscious sense of one's own worth.