Today, I worked at a client's apartment, doing a small clean-out. He lived in a studio at a local assisted living community. What continues to surprise me is the sheer volume of medical waste we often encounter in our clients’ homes.
In this small studio, boxes of medical supplies and equipment were stacked high—many of them opened but barely used. This creates a real challenge when it comes to donation or reuse. There were tubes, medications, gels, wipes, cleaners—the list goes on.
Why is there so much excess? Why are multiple boxes of the same item opened before the previous one is even finished?
Considering how high the cost of healthcare is in the U.S., it’s troubling to see so much waste. Maybe it’s time to think more seriously about how we manage and reduce medical surplus, especially in home care settings.