The Heart of America Medical Center Auxiliary recently donated 50 wheelchairs to HAMC’s Long Term Care Unit, amounting to over $13,000 worth of new wheelchairs.

Long Term Care Director of Nursing Kristen Tryba stated, “The new wheelchairs really enhance residents’ safety and comfort.” She says it has been many years since their wheelchairs have been replaced.

In total, the Auxiliary purchased 31 new standard wheelchairs, 11 standard wheelchairs with elevated leg rests, five wide wheelchairs and three high back wheelchairs with tilt and recline. With this donation, Long Term Care also received new cushions for all wheelchairs. The new wheelchairs have completely adaptable arm rests, wheelchair height and leg rests, allowing staff to properly fit all body shapes and sizes. Currently, staff from HAMC’s Physical Therapy Department are assessing residents and fitting each new wheelchair to a resident. The old wheelchairs will be donated to a third world country, says Tryba.

While staff say the new wheelchairs “roll like a Cadillac,” resident Agnes Iverson said it best: “They are way more comfortable than the old ones!”

Funds for this donation came from Tree of Giving money donated in the past for Lifeline. Recently, the monitoring of calls for the Lifeline program was transferred to Philips Lifeline, although no interruption in service was experienced. Although call monitoring was transferred, the HAMC Auxiliary will continue Tree of Giving fundraising for HAMC.