AGE of Central TX collects incontinence products for older adults

HAYS COUNTY — Through its Donation Drive for Dignity, AGE of Central Texas collected more than 12,000 incontinence products for low-income older adults, as well as $17,500 in monetary donations.

The Donation Drive for Dignity — which was held April 15 through May 15 — is a compassionate initiative designed to provide adult pull-ups to low income older adults in need. Through community support, AGE is committed to restore dignity by providing essential products like adult pull-ups that promote comfort, hygiene and confidence, alleviating the stigma associated with incontinence and enhancing the overall quality of life for neighbors in need.

The donation drive was a component of AGE’s Health Equipment Lending Program that makes a wide variety of health and mobility equipment available to the community through free, no-time-limit loans of donated equipment. However, even though the organization has this program, it’s been a challenge the last several years to maintain an inventory of incontinence products for those in need.

“We have experienced a challenge in maintaining an inventory of incontinence products, particularly adult pull-ups, to meet the needs of the community. We're seeing that need grow exponentially and we have just not been able to keep up. And so this year, we launched the first annual Donation Drive for Dignity to collect adult pull-ups from the community so, that way, we can better meet the need for those we serve,” said AGE Chief Development and Communications Officer Jayden Beatty.

There are low-income older adults in the community who depend on AGE every month to receive adult pull-ups, Beatty explained. They may be financially insecure and are, oftentimes, having to make the difficult decisions between paying for their medications or paying for necessary hygiene items.

Beatty explained that the drive was titled Donation Drive for Dignity because incontinence products are referred to as being dignity restoring for older adults: “Incontinence can result in isolation and depression in older adults because it limits their independence, mobility and it can really affect their self esteem. When you look at, especially post-pandemic, isolation and depression are really big health issues for adults, resulting in a lot of decline and that's affecting our ability to maintain a positive quality of life. When we think about the impacts that something as simple as adult pull-ups can provide, it's really providing dignity for older adults, where they can have the confidence to leave their home, be social within their communities and be independent as much as they can.”

Along with those who donated adult pull-ups or monetarily, Beatty explained that there were others who also helped make the Donation Drive for Dignity a success. Presenting sponsors of the drive were H-E-B and FT Cares Foundation. There were drop-off locations throughout the service area, including Buda Oaks Assisted Living & Memory Care and team drives where companies, amongst clients and stakeholders, asked for donations on AGE’s behalf.

Community members had three options to support the campaign. They could donate a pack of adult pull-ups, donate $25 to be used toward purchasing adult pull-ups or give toward the Health Equipment Lending Program as a whole.

As of Tuesday, May 21, AGE has collected more than 12,000 adult pull-ups — surpassing its goal of 10,000 — and a total of $17,500 in monetary donations. However, the numbers are still being counted, Beatty said, as there are some companies and organizations who are still dropping off what they collected in their team drives.

While the Donation Drive for Dignity has officially ended, the need for incontinence products is still there and AGE is always looking for more donations. Those who are looking to drop off items at the new South Austin location — 9400 Alice Mae Lane — are asked to make an appointment by calling 512-614-6079 or emailing [email protected]. Appointments are available between 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday or 10:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Thursdays.

Those who are needing items through the Health Equipment Lending Program can also email or call AGE of Central Texas for assistance.

“One of our values is to make the process of receiving support as easy [as possible], so there are no barriers to entry … If we have what they need in stock, then we will schedule a time for them to come pick up those items at their earliest convenience,” Beatty said. “We are not currently equipped to deliver to anyone's homes, but we do try to work with those in need to get these products close to them the best way we know how.”

To learn more about the AGE Health Equipment Lending Program, visit www.ageofcentraltx.org/index.php/seniors/health-equipment. More details about AGE’s mission, the services it offers and ways to donate can be found at www.ageofcentraltx.org.