Elant donates rehabilitation equipment to support Haitian relief efforts

Oct. 4, 2010 - PRLog -- Elant, in partnership with SUNY Orange, has recently donated a busload of rehabilitation equipment and recreational supplies to the AFYA Foundation of America to benefit those devastated by earthquakes in Haiti.

“It’s been nine months since the tragedy occurred, but Haiti’s citizenry is still struggling for survival, still fighting to stand on their own,” said Donna Frazier OTR, director of Rehabilitation for Elant. “Any effort we can make to help can positively impact someone’s life.”

For some, needs go far beyond the basics, like food, water, shelter, and clothing. Instead, many of the survivors struggle to simply walk, to endure, to recover from the injuries that changed their lives.

AFYA, which translates to “good health” in Swahili, regularly collects rehabilitation supplies to help address the therapeutic needs of those affected by catastrophes across the world. In addition to supplies, team of therapists travel to devastated areas to assess the needs of the people, and often teach local therapists how to adapt items into therapy tools.

When Ms. Frazier heard of AFYA’s work, she moved into action to offer support. But what started out as a small collection effort quickly turned into a network-wide endeavor thanks to several Elant staffers and one very motivated volunteer, Julie Whitney.

Mrs. Whitney traveled to various Elant campuses and helped hunt through rehabilitation supplies to collect any surplus or outdated items, like crutches, wheelchairs, pads, walkers, braces, and splints.

“I’ve been so blessed in my life so it’s important to me to do whatever I can to help support and assist others, especially those who have such great need,” said Mrs. Whitney. “This project really touched something in me.”

Then Ms. Frazier reached out to Flo Hannes, chair of the Occupational Therapy program at SUNY Orange, who offered to help with the project as well.

But instead of basic equipment, her team collected old looms and other craft materials designed to help support rehabilitation therapy efforts.

“With ongoing upgrades and renovations, we had many items that weren’t being used anymore,” said Ms. Hannes. “We thought it was important to give them to those who could really use them.”

Everything was loaded into an Elant bus (a van was too small) and driven down to the AFYA warehouse in Yonkers recently.

“Donna and Flo are reflective of most people in our profession and many people in America,” said Laura Watson, the Occupational Therapy coordinator at Northern Dutchess Hospital in Rhinebeck, and a volunteer therapist for AFYA. “They have a desire to help in a meaningful way. And all the supplies and equipment that has been delivered to Haiti thus far has been received with such appreciation and requests to thank those who gave the equipment.”

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Elant, Inc., a community-based, not-for-profit organization, has been a part of the Hudson Valley healthcare landscape for the past 25 years. Its seven campuses, located across five counties, serve an estimated 3,500 people daily and provide sub-acute care and rehabilitation services, nursing home care, assisted living, adult day care, retirement community living, home health care, and a managed long-term care plan. Elant’s mission is to provide personalized, high-quality care and lifestyle options to persons of diverse generations, cultures, means, and needs.