With the help from the nursing home physical therapist, I determined that Dad needed the following items at his new home, a memory care assisted living facility.
- A wheelchair
- A walker
- A transfer pole
- A shower bench
- A toilet seat riser
We found all these items for a total of $125. Follow these steps and see if you can dig up a free walker or wheelchair!
- Call your local Center for Independent Living. My local center is called FREED Center for Independent Living and they have a âlending libraryâ of walkers, wheelchairs and other assistive devices. They didnât have a wheelchair for me but they gave me a walker, a shower bench and a toilet seat riser.
- According to Medicare, Medicare Part B (Medical Insurance) covers power-operated vehicles (scooters), walkers, and wheelchairs as durable medical equipment (DME) if the doctor treating your condition submits a written order stating that you have a medical need for a wheelchair or scooter for use in your home.
- Look on NextDoor.com. I didnât think of it for a wheelchair, but did get a $500 composter from a neighbor for free.
- Look on your local Craigâs List. We purchased a wheelchair from a nice woman who bought it for her husband and didnât need it anymore. But we didnât know to ask for adjustable arms,which leads me to the next point.
Be aware of the adjustable features you may need. Many doctors and hospitals offer a free âfitting sessionâ for a wheelchair or walker.
And a final tip . . . the seat really needs a cushion if your senior is sitting in it for any length of time.
Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times in every way as you help your senior in their waning phase of life.
*We may earn a commission for products recommended, but we only mention products that were truly important for our father.
