Causes: Community Health Systems, Health, Health Care, Home Health Care, Human Service Organizations, Human Services
Mission: F. R. E. E. acquires and provides mobility-related rehabilitation equipment to maximize functional independence and improve quality of life.
Results: Since 1999, F. R. E. E. has served more than 18,500 people with 29,000 devices valuing $9.3 million if purchase new and a medical cost savings of more than $180 million to Virginia. In 2020, F. R. E. E. 's clients reported the following outcomes:91% Greater Functional Independence 96% Decrease Falls (1,403 before reduced to ONLY 60) 96% Decrease ER visits (1,073 before reduced to ONLY 44) 97% Decrease Hospital Re-admissions (1,194 before reduced to ONLY 37) 98% Remained living safely at home. *739 Individuals stated without F. R. E. E. ’s services they would have been prematurely displaced from their homes.
Target demographics: adults with disabilities and low-iincomes
Direct beneficiaries per year: 2261
Geographic areas served: Virgina
Programs: F. R. E. E. has six programs across Virginia located in Lynchburg, North Shenadoah Valley, Richmond, Roanoke, South Hampton Roads, and Williamsburg. F. R. E. E. collects and gifts durable medical equipment like wheelchairs, walkers, rollators, canes, crustches, shower chairs, hoyer lifts, grab bars, bedside commodes, and raised toilet seats to improve functional independence. F. R. E. E. takes in donated mobility related rehab equipment, sanitizes and refurbishes it and gives it to those in the community, who need it but cannot afford it. This equipment helps recipients maximize their functional independence and improve their quality of life. F. R. E. E. qualifies these individuals based on medical and financial need so not duplicate services. According to local healthcare providers, there are on average 1 in 3 adults returning home from stroke, spinal cord injury, brain injury and other serious illnesses or accidents without equipment needed to recover. This significantly limits their ability to be mobile, productive and independent in their communities. This impacts not only the underserved individuals, but also their families and the community they live and work in. People who go without needed mobility rehabilitation equipment fall more often. When they fall, they wind up in emergency rooms, hospitals, nursing homes and assisted living facilities. They lose their mobility and their independence. If they are uninsured or underinsured the communities that they live in, the healthcare systems that serve them and the local and state governments that provide services to them all bear the cost of their loss. When F. R. E. E. gifts equipment, falls drop by OVER 80%. This results in equally dramatic drops (80%) in ER visits, hospital re-admissions and transfers to expensive nursing homes and assisted living facilities. Those in need regain their mobility and independence and virginians save millions of dollars annually. Based on these outcomes, on established estimates for hospitalizations and ER visits due to falls, on expected lengths of stay and facility costs, F. R. E. E. has revised our ROI model that projects that for every $1 invested in F. R. E. E. , F. R. E. E. gives back over $70 in equipment and healthcare cost savings to the communities it serves.
Mission: F. R. E. E. acquires and provides mobility-related rehabilitation equipment to maximize functional independence and improve quality of life.
Results: Since 1999, F. R. E. E. has served more than 18,500 people with 29,000 devices valuing $9.3 million if purchase new and a medical cost savings of more than $180 million to Virginia. In 2020, F. R. E. E. 's clients reported the following outcomes:91% Greater Functional Independence 96% Decrease Falls (1,403 before reduced to ONLY 60) 96% Decrease ER visits (1,073 before reduced to ONLY 44) 97% Decrease Hospital Re-admissions (1,194 before reduced to ONLY 37) 98% Remained living safely at home. *739 Individuals stated without F. R. E. E. ’s services they would have been prematurely displaced from their homes.
Target demographics: adults with disabilities and low-iincomes
Direct beneficiaries per year: 2261
Geographic areas served: Virgina
Programs: F. R. E. E. has six programs across Virginia located in Lynchburg, North Shenadoah Valley, Richmond, Roanoke, South Hampton Roads, and Williamsburg. F. R. E. E. collects and gifts durable medical equipment like wheelchairs, walkers, rollators, canes, crustches, shower chairs, hoyer lifts, grab bars, bedside commodes, and raised toilet seats to improve functional independence. F. R. E. E. takes in donated mobility related rehab equipment, sanitizes and refurbishes it and gives it to those in the community, who need it but cannot afford it. This equipment helps recipients maximize their functional independence and improve their quality of life. F. R. E. E. qualifies these individuals based on medical and financial need so not duplicate services. According to local healthcare providers, there are on average 1 in 3 adults returning home from stroke, spinal cord injury, brain injury and other serious illnesses or accidents without equipment needed to recover. This significantly limits their ability to be mobile, productive and independent in their communities. This impacts not only the underserved individuals, but also their families and the community they live and work in. People who go without needed mobility rehabilitation equipment fall more often. When they fall, they wind up in emergency rooms, hospitals, nursing homes and assisted living facilities. They lose their mobility and their independence. If they are uninsured or underinsured the communities that they live in, the healthcare systems that serve them and the local and state governments that provide services to them all bear the cost of their loss. When F. R. E. E. gifts equipment, falls drop by OVER 80%. This results in equally dramatic drops (80%) in ER visits, hospital re-admissions and transfers to expensive nursing homes and assisted living facilities. Those in need regain their mobility and independence and virginians save millions of dollars annually. Based on these outcomes, on established estimates for hospitalizations and ER visits due to falls, on expected lengths of stay and facility costs, F. R. E. E. has revised our ROI model that projects that for every $1 invested in F. R. E. E. , F. R. E. E. gives back over $70 in equipment and healthcare cost savings to the communities it serves.
PO BOX 8873, Roanoke, VA 24014
540-777-4929
Health
Roanoke
