Durable Medical Equipment: Medicare, Financial Aid, and Loans

Learn what constitutes “durable medical equipment”

• Durable medical equipment typically refers to items such as canes, walkers, wheelchairs, shower benches, portable commodes, and hospital beds.
• See Medicare’s definition of “durable medical equipment.”

Learn when Medicare pays for durable medical equipment

• Medicare web page summarizes when Medicare covers durable medical equipment.
• Medicare web page summarizes types of equipment typically covered.
• 16 page Medicare booklet gives detailed information on Medicare’s coverage of durable medical equipment.  The booklet also is available in Spanish.

Find a Medicare certified medical equipment supplier

• Find a certified supplier at Medicare’s website.

Learn about DC metro financial aid for medical equipment

• Maryland’s Assistive Technology Loan Program provides low-interest loans to Maryland residents for the purchase of certain types of medical equipment.
• The Newell Fund provides low-interest loans to Virginia residents for the purchase of certain medical equipment.

Find free loans of medical equipment in the DC metro area

• Iona’s Medical Equipment Loan Closet provides free loans of donated durable medical equipment to anyone in need.  For more information, call 202-895-9448 (option 4) or email info@Iona.org.
• The Washington Area Wheelchair Society provides free loans of donated durable medical equipment to low-income residents of DC, MD, and VA.  For more information, call 301-495-0277.
• DC Shares provides free loans of donated durable medical equipment to low-income DC residents.  For more information, call 202-332-2595.

New Aging-in-Place Technology

Read articles about new technology that helps seniors age-in-place in the Washington Post (GPS equipped shoes for wanderers), the Washington Examiner (high tech medical ID “bracelet), and at ABC news (various).

Research products via the Center for Aging Services Technology clearing house and AbleData.com‘s database.

Maryland Medical Equipment Loan Closets

Iona’s Medical Equipment Loan Closet loans donated wheelchairs, walkers, canes, bath seats, bed-side commodes, and other durable medical equipment to seniors and caregivers throughout the metro area.  For more information, phone 202-895-9448.

The Maryland Technology Assistance Program makes short-term loans of assistive devices to MD residents.

The Washington Area Wheelchair Society loans donated medical equipment to DC metro residents.  For more information, phone 301-495-0277.

Call or email Iona Information & Referral (202-895-9448; info@Iona.org) for answers to aging-related resource questions.

DC Medical Equipment Loan Closets

Iona’s Medical Equipment Loan Closet loans donated wheelchairs, walkers, canes, bath seats, bed-side commodes, and other durable medical equipment to seniors and caregivers throughout the metro area.  For more information, phone 202-895-9448.

DC Shares loans donated Medical Equipment to low-income DC residents.

Washington Area Wheelchair Society loans donated medical equipment to DC metro residents.  For more information, phone 301-495-0277.

Call or email Iona Information & Referral (202-895-9448; info@Iona.org) for answers to aging-related resource questions.

Virginia Assistive Technology Loans

Virginia seniors may be eligible to receive low interest loans, from the NewWell Fund, for purchasing assistive devices

Call or email Iona Information & Referral (202-895-9448; info@Iona.org) for answers to aging-related resource questions.

Maryland Assistive Technology Loans

Maryland seniors may be eligible to receive low interest loans, from the Maryland Technology Assistance Program, for purchasing assistive devices.

Call or email Iona Information & Referral (202-895-9448; info@Iona.org) for answers to aging-related resource questions.

Vision related assistive devices

The American Foundation for the Blind maintains a database of vision-related assistive devices.

Call or email Iona Information & Referral (202-895-9448; info@Iona.org) for answers to aging-related resource questions.

Assistive Device Database

Maintained by the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research, Abledata.com contains information on a myriad of assistive devices.

Call or email Iona Information & Referral (202-895-9448; info@Iona.org) for answers to aging-related resource questions.

How to Select a Walker

Mayo clinic tutorial on choosing and using a walker.

Did you know Iona loans (free of charge) donated walkers and other durable medical equipment to seniors and their families throughout the DC metro region?  For more information, call 202-895-9448.

How to Select a Cane

Mayo Clinic tutorial on selecting and using canes.

Did you know Iona loans (free of charge) donated canes and other durable medical equipment to seniors and their families throughout the DC metro region?  For more information, call 202-895-9448.