Being an engineer, La Costa Glen resident Vic Matricardi is wired to solve problems when they arise. He observed a big one affecting his neighbors at the Carlsbad, CA, continuing care retirement / life plan community and decided to take action.
“We noticed that a lot of equipment was being thrown out after people came back from the hospital with walkers and scooters if they didn’t need it anymore,” Matricardi said. “The families that usually come in and help the elders come back from the hospital don’t know what to do with this stuff.”
Matricardi’s solution came in the form of a 501(c)3 charity called the Helping Hands group, created at the CCRC. He and his team of fellow residents have spent the past six years restoring and donating – at no cost to others – more than 2,200 walkers, scooters, canes and other medical assistance devices to their fellow residents.
Residents can call a hotline to find the equipment they need, and then one of 28 volunteers will deliver the item from one of the three La Costa garages the group uses for storage. Today, their presence is warmly welcomed in the neighborhood.
“People are very, very gracious. They’re unbelievably generous,” Matricardi said. “They also give us donations if they’re happy with the service, so we have quite a bit of funding from their generosity.”
Not only does the group provide a valuable service to the community; it also keeps the community involved. Matricardi hopes it can provide a positive experience for residents looking for fulfillment during retired life.
“An organization like this provides a focus that tells seniors that they can provide a valuable service to other seniors,” he said. “There is a stigmatization [of the elderly], so it provides a sense of contributing by seniors. This provides a purpose and a value.”
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