DME Loan Closets and Medical Equipment Reuse in Kentucky

Last updated: 27 May 2026

Bottom Line: Kentucky does not have one senior-only medical equipment closet with one statewide stock list. Most older adults and caregivers should start with the KATS Network, the Kentucky AT Locator, and Project CARAT. Then call the right regional or county office if the item is not listed, if pickup is hard, or if a hospital discharge is coming soon.

Emergency help if equipment is needed now

If a senior is being discharged today, do not rely only on an online search. Ask the hospital discharge planner, social worker, case manager, or therapist to help before the person leaves. Tell them the exact item needed, the home problem, and whether anyone can pick up equipment.

• Unsafe discharge: Ask the discharge planner to check a regular supplier, KATS, Project CARAT, and local loan closets before discharge.
• No safe way inside: If steps are the main problem, ask about RampUp Kentucky. Availability is not guaranteed, and ramps must be picked up and returned to the loan site.
• No local lead: Call Kentucky 211 by dialing 211 or texting your ZIP code to 898211.
• County help: Use your local AAAIL for county referrals, transportation leads, caregiver help, and local senior services.

Phone script for discharge: “My parent cannot go home safely without a [walker, wheelchair, commode, shower chair, ramp]. Can you check KATS, Project CARAT, local loan closets, and enrolled DME suppliers before discharge? We also need to know who can pick it up and whether it fits our home.”

Quick help and best starting points

Contents

• Emergency help
• Quick help
• What counts
• How to start
• Statewide paths
• Regional help
• Insurance coverage
• What to gather
• Rural help
• Reality checks
• Common mistakes
• FAQ

What counts as equipment help in Kentucky

Durable medical equipment, often called DME, means reusable health equipment. Common examples include walkers, canes, rollators, wheelchairs, shower chairs, transfer benches, bedside commodes, raised toilet seats, ramps, lifts, and some powered mobility items.

In Kentucky, free or low-cost equipment usually comes from one of three paths. The first path is a reuse program, where donated items are cleaned, repaired when needed, and passed to another person. The second path is a short-term loan, where the item must be returned. The third path is insurance coverage through Medicare, Kentucky Medicaid, or another health plan.

These paths are not the same. A loan closet may help fast with a shower chair, but it usually does not bill insurance. Medicare or Medicaid may cover medically needed equipment, but the item usually must come from an enrolled supplier and meet plan rules. A reuse program may have no cost, but the exact item may not be available that day.

How to start without wasting time

Start with the item, not the program name. A family who needs a “rollator with a seat” should search that phrase and also ask for “walker with seat.” A person who needs a “bedside commode” should say whether it must be bariatric, folding, or used over the toilet.

1. Write the item name: Include size, weight limit, seat width, charger, footrests, cushion, or other needed parts.
2. Search statewide: Use the locator first, then call the listed program before driving.
3. File the request: If the item is not listed, send the Project CARAT request and give clear details.
4. Call local offices: Ask your area aging office and Kentucky 211 for nearby loan closets, churches, and civic groups.
5. Run insurance at the same time: If the item is medically necessary, ask the doctor or discharge planner about Medicare or Kentucky Medicaid supplier rules.

Phone script for KATS: “I am helping an older adult in [county]. We need a [specific item] for [temporary or long-term use]. We checked the locator but still need help. Which regional center or Project CARAT site should we call first?”

For broader local aging help, use the GFS guide to Kentucky aging agencies. That page can help when the equipment problem is tied to meals, rides, caregiver support, home care, or Medicare counseling.

Statewide Kentucky equipment paths

KATS Network and the locator

The KATS Network is Kentucky’s statewide assistive technology program. It serves Kentuckians of all ages and disabilities, plus families, support people, and professionals. For seniors, this matters because the best help may be under “assistive technology,” not under “senior equipment.”

The locator is the fastest way to check current items. It may show items for loan, used items for free or low cost, and places where you can place a want ad. This is often better than calling one local office and stopping there.

Practical reality: Search results are only the start. Call before pickup. Ask if the item is still there, whether it fits the senior, and whether the program will hold it while you travel.

Project CARAT

Project CARAT is the main statewide reuse route. It collects donated assistive technology and DME, cleans it, repairs items when needed, and redistributes them at no cost. The program says inventory changes daily, and it has steady demand for shower chairs, benches, and manual wheelchairs.

Use the request form when nothing is listed or when you need help matching the right item. Be specific. Say whether the need is urgent, whether the senior can transfer safely, and whether a therapist gave exact measurements.

Practical reality: Project CARAT may ask for more information. It may also ask for a prescription if there is a concern about whether the item is appropriate.

Short-term loans

The KATS Lending Library is for short-term use, trials, temporary replacement, training, and decision-making. It can help when a senior is waiting for a repair, deciding between devices, or trying to bridge a short recovery.

Ask about the loan period, fee, return date, late fee, pickup site, shipping, and training. KATS says loan lengths vary by center and are typically 30 days, with possible extensions case by case.

Practical reality: A loan is not the same as a gift. Put the return date on a calendar and keep all parts together.

Ramp loans and home entry problems

RampUp Kentucky may help with portable aluminum ramps when a matching ramp is available. The application page says no guarantee is made that the program will have a ramp that fits the slope or rise of the property.

Before applying, measure the step height and entry space. Take photos if possible. Ask who will pick up, install, remove, and return the ramp. Some homes need a longer ramp or a permanent change that a short-term ramp cannot solve.

For permanent safety changes, the GFS guide to home safety grants may help with ramps, grab bars, bathroom safety, and fall-prevention paths.

Regional and local equipment help in Kentucky

Kentucky equipment help is regional. KATS lists five regional assistive technology resource centers. Project CARAT also works through regional partners. Local nonprofit closets can help, but they may only serve certain counties or have small stock.

Phone script for a local closet: “Do you have a [specific item] available today or this week? Is it a loan or a donation? What is the return date? Are there size or weight limits? Can you hold it long enough for us to pick it up?”

If a local charity cannot help, ask for one more name. Many church, hospice, civic, and hospital-based closets do not show well in search. The GFS guide to Kentucky charities may help when equipment is part of a larger household crisis.

When to use Medicare, Medicaid, or a supplier

Community reuse is useful, but it is not a replacement for covered medical equipment. If the item is medically necessary, ask the doctor, therapist, discharge planner, or health plan how to use the insurance path.

Medicare DME rules say Part B may cover medically necessary durable medical equipment for use in the home when a doctor or other health care provider orders it. Medicare says the equipment must be durable, used for a medical reason, usually useful only to someone who is sick or injured, used in the home, and expected to last at least three years. After the Part B deductible, the usual cost is 20% of the Medicare-approved amount if the supplier accepts assignment.

Kentucky Medicaid DME uses medical supply, equipment, and appliance rules and enrolled providers. Some items may need prior approval. Ask the Medicaid plan or provider before buying anything yourself.

For a broader plain-English Medicaid overview, see GFS help on Medicaid for seniors. Use that page for general Medicaid context, but use Kentucky Medicaid and the health plan for the exact DME rule.

Phone script for insurance: “My doctor says I need [item] at home. Does my plan cover it? Do I need prior approval? Which enrolled supplier can provide it? Should I rent or buy? What will I owe?”

What to gather before you call

Good details can save days. Keep this list near the phone before calling KATS, a loan closet, a supplier, or a local office.

• The senior’s county, ZIP code, and best phone number
• The exact item needed
• Whether the need is short term or long term
• Height, weight, seat width, and other size needs
• Doorway width, step height, bathroom setup, and bedroom space
• Whether the senior can stand, pivot, or transfer safely
• Whether a doctor, therapist, or discharge planner recommended the item
• Whether someone can pick up, load, install, return, or store the item
• Medicare, Medicaid, or health plan information
• Caregiver contact information if the senior does not handle calls

What to do in rural Kentucky

Rural families may need to call more than one place. Do not stop because your county has no obvious closet. Search nearby regions, ask 211, and ask the aging office if any church, civic group, hospice, or volunteer group handles equipment.

In rural eastern Kentucky, Kentucky Homeplace can be useful when a senior needs help finding medical, social, or environmental services. It uses community health workers and has served rural Kentuckians for many years.

If transportation is the barrier, ask about local ride help, volunteer drivers, or non-emergency medical transportation if the trip is medical and the person has Medicaid. The GFS page on senior transportation can help readers think through ride options while they also call local programs.

Phone script for rural help: “I live in [county] and cannot pick up a heavy item far away. Do you know any local church, senior center, hospice, volunteer group, or county program that can help with pickup or a closer loan closet?”

Reality checks before you rely on a used item

• Inventory changes fast: A listed item may be gone by the time you call.
• Pickup is often your job: Many programs are not delivery services.
• Basic items move first: Walkers, wheelchairs, and shower chairs are common needs.
• Large items are harder: Hospital beds, patient lifts, scooters, and power chairs may take longer to match.
• Fit matters: A free item can still be unsafe if it is the wrong size.
• Training matters: Ask for instruction before using a lift, ramp, transfer device, or power chair.
• Cleaning still matters: Ask when the item was cleaned and checked.
• Reuse is not insurance: A donated item usually does not create a Medicare or Medicaid claim.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Waiting until the discharge day to start calling
• Searching only one word, such as “chair,” instead of the exact item
• Assuming a loan can be kept forever
• Driving without confirming the item is still available
• Forgetting to ask about weight limits and missing parts
• Not checking whether the item fits the car or doorway
• Buying first and asking Medicare or Medicaid later
• Using a ramp or lift without safety advice
• Forgetting to ask the AAAIL and 211 for local leads

If you are denied, delayed, or overwhelmed

If one path fails, move to the next path the same day. Do not wait a week for one answer if the senior cannot bathe, transfer, walk, or enter the home safely.

• If the locator is empty: File a CARAT request and call the closest KATS regional center.
• If CARAT is delayed: Ask local aging, disability, charity, hospice, and hospital social-work contacts.
• If pickup is hard: Ask 211, the AAAIL, a church, or a caregiver group about local transport help.
• If the item is medically needed: Ask the doctor for an order and call the health plan or supplier.
• If the home needs changes: Check home repair, ramp, and housing routes before the senior returns home.
• If cost is the barrier: Ask KATS about alternative financing and the Kentucky AT Loan program.

When the equipment need is tied to unsafe housing, rent stress, or repairs, the GFS guide to Kentucky housing help may be useful as a backup path.

If the senior is staying across a state line, use the AT3 Center to find the assistive technology program in that state.

Resumen en español

En Kentucky, no hay un solo programa estatal para personas mayores con todo el equipo médico disponible. El mejor primer paso es buscar en KATS, usar el localizador de tecnología asistiva de Kentucky y pedir ayuda a Project CARAT si necesita equipo donado.

Si la persona sale del hospital pronto, hable con el trabajador social o planificador de alta antes de salir. Pregunte por una silla de ruedas, andador, silla para ducha, inodoro portátil, rampa u otro equipo exacto. También llame al 211 o a la agencia regional de envejecimiento para recursos locales. Para Medicare o Medicaid, pregunte al doctor, al plan de salud o a un proveedor inscrito antes de comprar el equipo.

Frequently asked questions

Is there one statewide free medical equipment closet in Kentucky?

No. Kentucky’s strongest statewide starting point is KATS, the Kentucky AT Locator, and Project CARAT. Local help still depends on county, region, inventory, and the item needed.

Can Kentucky seniors get equipment the same day?

Sometimes, especially for common items such as walkers, canes, commodes, shower chairs, and manual wheelchairs. Same-day help is not guaranteed. Call before driving.

Are KATS loans free?

Not always. The KATS Lending Library says a nominal maintenance fee may apply, fees vary by center, and late fees may apply. Project CARAT is the better route for no-cost reused equipment.

Can I get a ramp in Kentucky?

Maybe. RampUp Kentucky may loan portable aluminum ramps when an appropriate ramp is available. The program says no guarantee is made, and ramps must be picked up from and returned to the loan site.

Will Medicare pay for a loan closet item?

Usually no. Loan closets and reuse programs normally do not bill Medicare. Medicare DME coverage usually requires a medically necessary item ordered by a provider and supplied by a Medicare-enrolled supplier.

Where can I donate equipment in Kentucky?

Start with Project CARAT or a regional KATS partner. In Northern Kentucky, St. Vincent de Paul NKY also accepts gently used medical equipment for its loan closet.

About This Guide

This guide uses official federal, state, local, and other high-trust nonprofit and community sources mentioned in the article.

Editorial note: This guide is produced based on our Editorial Standards using official and other high-trust sources, regularly updated and monitored, but not affiliated with any government agency and not a substitute for official agency guidance. Individual eligibility outcomes cannot be guaranteed.

Verification: Last verified 27 May 2026, next review 27 August 2026.

Corrections: Please note that despite our careful verification process, errors may still occur. Email info@grantsforseniors.org with corrections and we will respond within 72 hours.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and is not legal, financial, medical, tax, disability-rights, immigration, or government-agency advice. Program rules, policies, and availability can change. Readers should confirm current details directly with the official program before acting.

Last updated: 27 May 2026
Next review: 27 August 2026