Lung association sleep apnea program assisting low income needs

Providing sleep apnea machines for people who can’t a ord them is one of the Lung Association of Nova Scotia’s most gratifying programs, CEO Robert MacDonald says.

“It’s one of the programs we’re very proud of,” he said. “I wish we had more machines to give to more people. Our waiting list is long at any given time.”

Over the past seven years since the association began the program, approximately 600 continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machines have been distributed free to individuals with sleep apnea who otherwise would not have been able to get one.

So far this scal year, which ends March 31, the association has received 200 machines, thanks to the e orts of Lions Clubs across the province, which have taken on the task of collecting machines donated by the public.

But even at that rate, demand is far exceeding supply, MacDonald said.

“At any given time we have a hundred people on that waiting list.”

Donated machines are serviced by a respiratory therapist before being redistributed.

There is no cost to the recipients, although MacDonald said donations are welcomed.

If it is less than four years old, the donor is eligible for an income tax deduction (at a 20 per cent per year depreciation rate).

“We give it to them and it’s theirs,” MacDonald said of the recipients.

He estimated that between 15,000 and 20,000

Nova Scotians suffer from sleep apnea, which can cause problems at work or when driving, depending on the severity of an individual’s problem.

“It can be very, very valuable … it depends on the severity of the sleep apnea,” he said. “ere’s a lot of issues that can come from not sleeping properly, as we all know.”

New sleep apnea machines can range between $1,500 and $5,000. ey are not covered by public health care so those on a limited income who do not have private insurance often must do without.