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Michigan medical equipment help
Last updated: 26 September 2026
Michigan seniors can often borrow walkers, wheelchairs, commodes, shower chairs, canes, and other home medical equipment from local loan closets. The state does not use one general public closet for every county, so the fastest route is usually to search locally, call Michigan 211, and ask your aging or disability network about current stock.
Bottom Line
Start with the Great Lakes Loan Closets directory and Michigan 211. Then call the closest program before driving. For equipment that must be fitted, prescribed, or medically monitored, use your doctor, health plan, Medicare, Medicaid, or an approved supplier instead of relying only on donated equipment.
Need Equipment Today?
- If hospital, rehab, or nursing-facility discharge is today, ask the discharge planner to arrange medically necessary equipment before you leave.
- If a fall risk or unsafe home setup needs attention now, call 211 and your local aging office. Our Michigan emergency help guide covers other urgent needs.
- Do not depend on a community closet for oxygen, CPAP, BiPAP, a custom power wheelchair, or another device that needs clinical setup or monitoring.
Start Here
- Search by county. Check your county and one nearby county for a walker, wheelchair, bath aid, commode, cane, or similar item.
- Call before pickup. Ask about the exact item, size, fee, loan period, residency rule, pickup location, and return process.
- Use a statewide navigator. If the first program has no stock, call 211, your Area Agency on Aging, or MI Options and ask for another local route.
Quick Reference
| Need | Best first step | What to ask | Reality check |
|---|---|---|---|
| Walker, cane, commode, shower chair, or manual wheelchair | Local DME loan closet | “Is my size in stock today?” | Donation-based stock can change daily. |
| Help finding a nearby program | Michigan 211 | Ask for DME closets and transportation. | 211 gives referrals; it does not control inventory. |
| Try assistive technology first | Michigan AT Program | Ask for a demonstration or device loan. | This is broader than a basic recovery closet. |
| Long-term support at home | MI Options | Ask which aging, Medicaid, or home-support route fits. | Programs may require an assessment or health-plan process. |
| Medically necessary DME | Doctor and health plan | Ask about orders, approved suppliers, and prior approval. | Coverage rules differ by item and insurance. |
What Has Changed
Michigan now gives adults and caregivers a clearer statewide entry point through MI Options. The call center at 1-800-803-7174 can help people sort through long-term services and supports, including medical equipment, assistive technology, home modifications, transportation, and Medicare counseling.
The state also now gives clearer details for the Michigan Assistive Technology Program. Its free device loans usually last 14 to 45 days, depending on the item, availability, and the person’s need. The program can be reached at 1-800-578-0280.
How Medical Equipment Help Works in Michigan
A durable medical equipment (DME) loan closet is usually a local nonprofit, senior center, disability organization, county office, city program, or community group that lends donated equipment. Common items include walkers, rollators, canes, crutches, manual wheelchairs, transport chairs, bedside commodes, shower chairs, bath benches, and raised toilet seats.
This is different from health insurance. A loan closet may help after surgery, during recovery, while someone waits for insurance equipment, or when a short-term item is needed. A closet may also help when a family cannot afford a basic device.
Michigan has many local programs, but rules are not uniform. Some lend free. Some ask for a small fee or suggested donation. Some serve one county. Some focus on older adults or people with disabilities. For a national explanation of reuse programs and what to ask, see our DME loan closet guide.
A borrowed item should not replace a medically necessary order when your doctor or therapist says a specific device, fit, or setup is needed. If the item feels unstable, damaged, too small, too large, or unsafe, do not use it.
Best Statewide Starting Points
Great Lakes Loan Closets
Michigan Loan Closets is a practical directory for finding local reuse programs. It covers Michigan and nearby Great Lakes areas. Search your county first, then nearby counties if the local program has no stock. The directory is not a government agency, so confirm every rule directly with the listed program.
Michigan 211
Michigan 211 is free and confidential. You can dial 211 or 1-844-875-9211 any time. You can also text your ZIP code to 898211, but text and chat hours vary by regional center. Ask for “durable medical equipment loan closets,” “senior services,” “disability resources,” and transportation if pickup is difficult.
Area Agencies on Aging
The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services says older adults can contact a local Area Agency on Aging for community, in-home, caregiver, nutrition, transportation, and other services. Start with the state’s Aging Services page or use our Michigan aging offices directory. An aging office may not own a closet, but staff often know the programs serving your ZIP code.
Michigan Assistive Technology Program
The Michigan Assistive Technology Program offers free demonstrations and short device loans statewide. It can help with communication, daily living, computer access, employment, education, and community living. No referral is required for AT Act services, and the program does not charge for demonstrations or device loans. It is a good route when you need to test a device before buying or requesting it through another program.
The separate AT Xchange lets Michigan residents list, donate, sell, or look for used assistive technology. Treat it like a community exchange rather than a medical supplier. Check condition, fit, missing parts, and safety before using any secondhand item.
MI Options
If equipment is part of a bigger need to stay safely at home, call MI Options at 1-800-803-7174. The state describes MI Options as a person-centered counseling route for adults and caregivers. It can help you understand long-term care supports, home and community services, medical equipment, assistive technology, transportation, home modifications, and Medicare counseling.
If disability affects the equipment need, our Michigan disability help guide covers other disability-focused routes.
Regional and Local Michigan Programs
These are useful examples, not a complete statewide list. Call before traveling because stock, fees, hours, loan periods, and local eligibility can change.
| Program | Area | Current help | Rule to check |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lending Hands | Allegan, Calhoun, Cass, Kalamazoo, St. Joseph, Van Buren | Free loans of many home DME items for up to seven months; knee scooters are generally three months. | Confirm item, size, service area, and pickup before going. |
| Disability Network Eastern | Huron, Lapeer, Macomb, Oakland, Sanilac, St. Clair, Tuscola | No-cost donated DME such as rollators, wheelchairs, bedside commodes, and some incontinence supplies. | The program says pickup and drop-off are at its Troy office. |
| Novi DME Closet | Novi area | Bath aids, commodes, canes, crutches, walkers, rollators, wheelchairs, knee scooters, and daily-living aids. | No charge is listed; call 248-347-0414 because availability varies greatly. |
| Macomb loan closet | Macomb County | Walkers, wheelchairs, and canes at no cost on a first-come basis. | The county lists residency and a mobility limitation as eligibility rules. |
| St. Clair loan closet | St. Clair County | Wheelchairs, shower chairs, crutches, walkers, commodes, and some disposable supplies. | One year of residency is required; equipment loans are listed as three months. |
| Otsego loan closet | Otsego County | Walkers, rollators, wheelchairs, bath benches, shower chairs, commodes, canes, and crutches. | A $5 total processing fee is listed for items checked out at one time. |
| Oceana loan closet | Oceana County seniors | Canes, commodes, raised toilet seats, shower seats, walkers, and wheelchairs. | The current page lists a suggested donation of $3 per month per item. |
| Cass loan closet | Cass County | Temporary use of gently used wheelchairs, commodes, walkers, canes, shower chairs, and similar items. | The program says equipment is available at no charge, depending on stock. |
| DNWML loan closet | Washtenaw, Monroe, Livingston | No-cost disability-related equipment including wheelchairs, commodes, shower chairs, transfer chairs, walkers, canes, and rollators. | Availability, brand, color, and style can vary with donations. |
| ALS of Michigan | Michigan residents with ALS | Free ramps, lifts, wheelchairs, communication devices, and other equipment for Michigan pALS. | This is diagnosis-specific, not a general public closet. |
A local program can change its inventory between your phone call and pickup. Ask staff to place the item on hold only if their policy allows it.
What Equipment You May Find
The easiest items to locate are usually basic mobility and bathroom-safety devices because many local closets accept them as donations. Depending on the program, you may find:
- walkers, rollators, canes, crutches, and transport chairs;
- manual wheelchairs and wheelchair cushions;
- bedside commodes and raised toilet seats;
- shower chairs, bath benches, and tub transfer benches;
- grabbers, reachers, sock aids, and other daily-living tools;
- limited incontinence supplies or unopened disposable medical supplies.
Hospital beds, patient lifts, ramps, power wheelchairs, specialized seating, and respiratory equipment are harder to find and may have fitting, electrical, maintenance, prescription, or safety needs. Ask a clinician or supplier before accepting a substitute that may not meet the person’s medical need.
If incontinence supplies are part of the problem, our free incontinence supplies guide covers other routes beyond DME closets.
Medicare, Medicaid, and Long-Term Support
Loan closets are useful, but insurance may be the better path for equipment that is medically necessary and expected to be used at home.
| Route | What it may cover | Important step |
|---|---|---|
| Original Medicare Part B | Medically necessary home DME such as walkers, wheelchairs, hospital beds, oxygen equipment, and CPAP when coverage rules are met. | Use the Medicare DME rules and an enrolled supplier. After the Part B deductible, the usual cost is 20% of the Medicare-approved amount when the supplier accepts assignment. |
| Michigan Medicaid | Medical supplies and other medically necessary services, subject to program rules. | Check the Michigan Medicaid page and your health plan. Some services require prior approval. |
| MI Choice | Home and community-based supports, including specialized medical equipment and supplies for eligible participants. | Ask MI Options whether the MI Choice program or another long-term support route should be screened. |
If Medicare premiums or cost sharing are making equipment and other care unaffordable, our Michigan Medicare Savings guide explains programs that may help eligible Medicare beneficiaries with certain Medicare costs.
How to Start Without Wasting Time
- Name the exact item. “Walker” is not enough if you need a rollator, bariatric walker, front-wheel walker, transport chair, or tub-transfer bench.
- Measure before calling. If fit matters, write down height, approximate weight, seat width, doorway width, and whether stairs are involved.
- Call the program. Ask about stock, size, fee, loan length, residency, identification, pickup, return, and whether a caregiver may collect the item.
- Ask about safety. Ask whether staff inspect or clean equipment and what to do if you find a loose wheel, missing brake, rust, torn seat, or other problem.
- Keep a backup route. If the item is medically necessary, continue the insurance or supplier process even if a closet gives you a temporary device.
What to Gather Before Calling
- Your ZIP code and county.
- The exact equipment name and size.
- The date you need it, especially for surgery or discharge.
- Your height and weight when the device has weight or fit limits.
- A prescription or medical order if the program or insurer requires one.
- Medicare, Medicaid, or health-plan information if you are checking coverage.
- The name of the person who can pick up the equipment and the vehicle available.
Reality Checks
- Stock changes fast. A directory listing does not mean the item is available today.
- Local rules matter. Some closets limit service by county, age, diagnosis, disability, or residency.
- Pickup is common. Ask about delivery before assuming it is available. Large wheelchairs or beds may require a suitable vehicle and helper.
- “Free” may still have conditions. A program may request a small processing fee, suggested donation, deposit, or return deadline.
- Used equipment may not fit. A device that is the wrong height, width, weight rating, or setup can create a fall risk.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Driving to a closet without confirming stock and hours.
- Borrowing a wheelchair or walker without checking size and weight rating.
- Using a donated respiratory device instead of working with a clinician and approved supplier.
- Stopping a Medicare or Medicaid equipment request because a temporary loan became available.
- Paying a website that promises guaranteed “free medical equipment” without identifying the real program or supplier.
Phone Scripts That Save Time
Calling a loan closet
“I live in [county] and need a [exact item] for an older adult. Do you have one in stock today? Is there a fee, residency rule, or return date? Can a caregiver pick it up, and what should we bring?”
Calling Michigan 211
“I need durable medical equipment for a senior in ZIP code [ZIP]. Please give me loan closets, aging offices, disability programs, and transportation options that serve this area.”
Calling MI Options
“The equipment need is part of a larger problem staying safely at home. Can you explain which long-term support, assistive technology, Medicaid, or local aging program I should contact next?”
Calling a discharge planner
“Discharge is planned for [date]. What equipment is medically necessary at home, who is ordering it, which supplier is handling it, and what is the backup plan if delivery is late?”
Denied, Delayed, or Overwhelmed
If insurance denies equipment, read the written notice and ask the plan or supplier for the exact reason. Ask what medical documentation is missing and how to appeal or request reconsideration. Do not assume a denial means every model of the item is excluded.
If the problem is finding the right local office, use our Michigan senior assistance guide as a wider benefits map. If hands-on care is becoming the bigger issue, our Michigan caregiver programs guide explains caregiver-support routes.
Backup Options When the First Closet Is Empty
Ask the closet when donations usually arrive and whether staff know another program nearby. Then widen your search through 211, your Area Agency on Aging, or the local Center for Independent Living.
For low-cost equipment rather than a loan, World Medical Relief operates local programs from Southfield for low-income, uninsured, and underinsured Michigan residents. Its DME rules can change, so call first and ask about current eligibility, handling fees, required paperwork, pickup, and item availability.
If the equipment need comes from home access or fall risk, medical equipment may solve only part of the problem. Ask the aging office about home-safety work, ramps, grab bars, or other modifications. When the person has ongoing disability needs, a disability network or MI Options counselor can help look at the full support plan instead of one device at a time.
Resumen en Español
En Michigan, muchos adultos mayores pueden conseguir equipo médico usado por medio de programas locales. Puede haber andadores, bastones, sillas de ruedas manuales, sillas para la ducha, bancos para la tina y cómodas. No hay un solo armario estatal para todos los condados.
Empiece buscando un programa en su condado y llame al 2-1-1. También puede llamar a MI Options al 1-800-803-7174 si necesita ayuda para entender servicios de apoyo en el hogar, Medicaid, Medicare o tecnología de asistencia. El programa estatal de tecnología de asistencia ofrece demostraciones y préstamos gratuitos de algunos dispositivos.
Llame antes de ir. Pregunte si el artículo está disponible, si hay cuota, cuánto dura el préstamo, si necesita vivir en el condado y si un cuidador puede recogerlo. Para oxígeno, CPAP, BiPAP, una silla eléctrica especial u otro equipo que necesita ajuste médico, hable primero con el médico, el plan de salud o un proveedor aprobado.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there one statewide public Michigan DME loan closet?
No. Michigan’s general reuse help is mainly local. Use the Michigan loan-closet directory, 211, aging offices, disability networks, and local nonprofits to find the program serving your area.
What medical equipment is easiest to borrow?
Walkers, canes, crutches, rollators, shower chairs, bath benches, commodes, raised toilet seats, manual wheelchairs, and transport chairs are commonly listed by Michigan loan programs. Stock is never guaranteed.
Are Michigan DME loan closets free?
Many are free, but not all. Some programs list a small processing fee or suggested donation. Ask about the full cost before pickup.
Can Medicare or Medicaid pay for DME?
Yes, some medically necessary equipment may be covered when program rules are met. Medicare Part B covers qualifying home DME ordered by a provider, while Michigan Medicaid and waiver programs have their own coverage and prior-approval rules.
Can I borrow oxygen, CPAP, or BiPAP equipment?
Do not rely on a general community closet for respiratory equipment that needs medical setup, supplies, monitoring, or fitting. Ask your doctor, health plan, or approved supplier for the safest route.
What if I live in rural Michigan or the Upper Peninsula?
Search your county and nearby counties, then call 211 and your Area Agency on Aging. Ask which programs are currently lending equipment and whether transportation or caregiver pickup can be arranged.
What if borrowed equipment feels unsafe?
Stop using it. Contact the program and ask for an exchange or return. If a clinician recommended the equipment, tell the clinician or supplier that the borrowed item does not feel safe or fit correctly.
About This Guide
Sources: This guide uses official federal, state, local, and other high-trust nonprofit and community sources linked in the article.
Editorial note
This guide is produced under the GFS Editorial Standards using official and other high-trust sources. GFS is not affiliated with a government agency and is not a substitute for official agency guidance. Individual eligibility outcomes cannot be guaranteed.
Corrections
Despite careful verification, errors may occur. Readers may email info@grantsforseniors.org with corrections.
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, funding, and availability can change. Readers should confirm current details directly with the responsible official program before acting.
Last updated: 26 September 2026 · Next review: 26 January 2027
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