ALS Medical Equipment Program
Durable Medical Equipment (DME) for people living with ALS can be very expensive, even with insurance. DME includes but is not limited to wheelchairs (manual and electric), transport chairs, hospital beds, canes, walkers, lifts, and Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) devices. ALS Northwest recognizes the role that DME plays in providing and maintaining the best quality of life at every level of progression. In partnership with Numotion and NORCO, our Medical Equipment Loan Program provides new and gently used equipment for persons living with ALS living in the service area. The purpose of this program is to provide those without insurance, those unable to purchase durable medical equipment, or those awaiting the delivery of equipment to borrow equipment at no cost for as long needed. Our equipment is housed at several sites throughout our service area and is loaned at no charge to people living with ALS.
Please note that the medical equipment loan program is subject to availability. We may not be able to supply a particular item at the time of request due to high demands and low inventory of certain items.
Some of the different types of items we have available are:
- Mobility aids: canes, walkers, manual wheelchairs, transport wheelchairs and power wheelchairs
- Bathroom accessibility items: raised toilet seats, bedside commodes, shower chairs, shower benches, tub transfer benches
- Patient lifts (Hoyer) and a variety of slings
- Transfer boards and gait/transfer belts
- Seat cushions
- Bed rails
- Adaptive devices for use in ADLs (activities in daily living)
- Augmentative and Assistive Communication (AAC) equipment such as eye tracking communication devices, mounts, iPads and other tablets, and switches
Who to contact to request a loan of equipment
For AAC Equipment, please contact the Assistive Technology Coordinator, Ashley Loyning, at 503-765-7635 or ashley.loyning@alsnorthwest.org.
Please Note: Safety is our number one priority. Please consult with your physician, occupational therapist and/or physical therapist before requesting any equipment.
Power wheelchair features and considerations
Are you considering a power wheelchair? Do you want to better understand what features are available to make your chair work for you? Catherine Sweeney, PT, ATP/SMS and David Knight, ATP from Permobil discuss power mobility for people with ALS in this comprehensive presentation.
Donations
The majority of durable medical equipment and communication devices we loan out to people living with ALS are donated by individuals, their families, or by others who are impacted by ALS. We always appreciate the generosity of others and do our best to accept these requests. We are unable to accept respiratory assist devices, such as cough assists, bi-pap or c-pap machines, adult diapers, 2-wheel walkers, and feeding tube supplies.
Due to storage limitations, we are also unable to accept hospital beds, mattresses, modular ramps, and ceiling track systems.
Please note: We are not able to accept power wheelchairs that are more than 5 years old.
*If you plan to claim a deduction of more than $5,000, an appraisal of the equipment will be required. Please consult IRS guidelines (irs.gov) or an attorney to determine your best course of action. Any appraisals must be conducted by an accredited medical equipment appraiser (not a Durable Medical Equipment provider). Costs for appraisals vary.