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Last updated: 27 May 2026
Bottom Line: Michigan does not appear to have one state-run public durable medical equipment (DME) loan closet for all residents. Most seniors get help faster by using the Michigan Loan Closets directory, calling Michigan 211, and then checking the closest county, city, aging, or disability program. Many closets are free or low cost, but the rules change by location. Always call before you drive.
Emergency help now
- If discharge from a hospital, rehab center, or nursing facility is today, ask the discharge planner to arrange needed equipment before you leave.
- Do not wait for a community closet if you need oxygen, CPAP, BiPAP, a custom power chair, or a device that must be fitted by a clinician.
- If the equipment is needed to prevent a fall today, call 2-1-1 and your local aging office. You can also use our Michigan emergency help guide for other urgent needs.
- If the item is covered by Medicare or Medicaid, ask the doctor for the order and supplier paperwork at once. A loan closet can be a backup, not the only plan.
Quick help box
- Start local: Search by county, then call the program to check stock, size, cost, and pickup hours.
- Need a person: Call 2-1-1 or use the 211 website and ask for medical equipment loan closets, senior services, and transportation help.
- Need senior services too: Use the Michigan AAA directory to find the Area Agency on Aging for your address.
- Need disability help: The Michigan disability guide may help if equipment is part of a larger mobility, housing, or home-care problem.
- Need wider benefits: The Michigan senior help page covers other state and local assistance options.
Quick reference table
| Need | Best first step | What to ask | Reality check |
|---|---|---|---|
| Walker, cane, commode, shower chair, or wheelchair | County loan closet or local aging office | Ask if the exact item and size are in stock today. | Most equipment is first come, first served. |
| Help finding a nearby closet | Michigan 211 | Ask for DME loan closets and transportation help. | 211 gives referrals. It does not control the inventory. |
| Assistive technology trial | Michigan AT lending | Ask about a demonstration and a short device loan. | This is not the same as a basic surgery-recovery closet. |
| Low-cost statewide backup | World Medical Relief | Ask what proof, prescription, fee, and pickup steps apply. | Pickup is in Southfield and a handling fee may apply. |
| Medically necessary equipment | Doctor, discharge planner, Medicare, Medicaid, or plan supplier | Ask if the item needs a prescription, prior approval, or approved supplier. | Some items need clinical setup and should not come from a closet. |
Contents
- What this help is
- Statewide starting points
- Regional programs
- Equipment you can find
- How loans work
- Pickup and transportation
- Phone scripts
- How to start
- Backup options
- Frequently asked questions
What this help is in Michigan
A DME loan closet is a local place that lends reused home medical equipment. It may lend walkers, canes, rollators, crutches, manual wheelchairs, transport chairs, shower chairs, bath benches, bedside commodes, raised toilet seats, and similar items. Most closets use donated equipment, so the stock can change from week to week.
This help is different from insurance. A loan closet may help when a senior needs a short-term item after surgery, a fall, or an illness. It may also help when insurance will not pay, when a person is waiting for a supplier, or when a caregiver needs a safer bathroom setup right away.
This help is not a repair shop, a guaranteed warehouse, or a medical supplier. It is also not the best path for equipment that needs a prescription, custom fit, oxygen setup, battery service, or training by a professional. For Medicare-covered items, the official Medicare DME page explains that durable medical equipment must meet medical and home-use rules. Keep that in mind before borrowing a used item.
Best statewide starting points
Michigan works like a patchwork. One county may have a free loan closet. Another may have a small fee. Another may only lend to local residents. Use the statewide tools to find the right local door, then call the local program.
Great Lakes Loan Closets
Great Lakes Loan Closets is often the fastest search tool for basic DME in Michigan. It is not a state agency, but it lists local programs that lend medical equipment for little or no cost. Search your county and at least one nearby county. If you live near Wisconsin, Indiana, or northern Illinois, check border listings too.
Michigan 211
Michigan 211 can help when you do not know which office covers your address. The site says you can dial 211, call 1-844-875-9211, text your ZIP code to 898211, or search online. Ask for medical equipment loan closets, senior services, and transportation help. Do not only say “free equipment,” because that may be too broad.
Area Agencies on Aging
The MDHHS aging page says older adults can contact their local Area Agency on Aging for caregiver, community, in-home, nutrition, transportation, and other services. Your aging office may not run a loan closet, but it may know which senior center, church, disability network, city office, or nonprofit has stock now.
Michigan Assistive Technology Program
The state assistive technology program is useful when the need is broader than a basic walker. It can help with demonstrations and device loans for communication, daily living, employment, education, and community living. The AT Xchange also lets Michigan residents exchange, donate, or sell used assistive technology. This can help with harder-to-find items, but it is not a normal same-day loan closet.
Regional and local Michigan programs
The table below keeps the most useful local examples in one place. These are examples, not the full Michigan list. Always call first because hours, stock, fees, and pickup rules can change.
| Program | Area served | What it may help with | Key rule to check |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lending Hands | Allegan, Calhoun, Cass, Kalamazoo, St. Joseph, and Van Buren counties | Free loans of many DME items, usually up to seven months. Knee scooters are shorter. | Ask about county service area, item size, and pickup. Do not assume delivery. |
| Disability Network Eastern | Huron, Lapeer, Macomb, Oakland, Sanilac, St. Clair, and Tuscola counties | No-cost DME such as rollators, wheelchairs, commodes, and some supplies. | Items must be picked up and dropped off at the Troy office. |
| Novi DME Closet | Novi area | Bath aids, commodes, canes, walkers, rollators, wheelchairs, knee scooters, and daily-living aids. | No charge is listed, but availability varies greatly. Call before pickup. |
| Macomb loan closet | Macomb County seniors | Walkers, wheelchairs, and canes at no cost on a first-come basis. | Macomb County residency and a mobility limitation are listed 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 is usually a three-month loan. |
| Otsego loan closet | Otsego County | Walkers, rollators, wheelchairs, bath benches, shower chairs, commodes, canes, crutches, and some adult undergarments. | A $5 total processing fee is listed for all items checked out at one time. |
| Oceana loan closet | Oceana County seniors | Canes, commodes, raised toilet seats, shower seats, walkers, and wheelchairs. | The listed suggested donation is $3 per month per item. |
| Cass loan closet | Cass County | Temporary use of gently used wheelchairs, commodes, walkers, canes, and shower chairs. | The program says it is no charge, but stock depends on availability. |
| DNWML loan closet | Washtenaw, Monroe, and Livingston area | No-cost disability-related equipment such as wheelchairs, commodes, shower chairs, tub transfer chairs, walkers, canes, and rollators. | Brand, color, type, and availability may vary by donation stock. |
| ALS of Michigan | Michigan residents with ALS | Ramps, lifts, wheelchairs, communication devices, and other ALS-related equipment. | This is diagnosis-specific. It is not a general public loan closet. |
These programs show why Michigan seniors should call first. One program may be free. Another may ask for a fee or donation. Another may require local residency. Some serve all ages. Some are senior-only or disability-focused.
What equipment you can usually find
Basic mobility and bathroom safety items are the easiest to find. Larger equipment is harder because it needs storage space, cleaning, repair, and sometimes special setup.
| Item type | How common | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Walkers, canes, crutches, rollators | Common | Height range, hand grips, brakes, rubber tips, and weight limit. |
| Wheelchairs and transport chairs | Often available | Seat width, brakes, footrests, cushions, weight limit, and whether it fits in your car. |
| Commodes and raised toilet seats | Common but variable | Bucket, splash guard, seat height, armrests, and cleaning rules. |
| Shower chairs and tub benches | Common | Bathroom size, tub height, rubber feet, rust, and safe fit. |
| Knee scooters and hip kits | Less common | Loan length, size, brakes, and whether your doctor says it is safe. |
| Hospital beds, lifts, ramps, power chairs | Harder to find | Delivery, setup, batteries, chargers, measurements, and clinical safety. |
| Oxygen, CPAP, BiPAP, tubing, sterile supplies | Usually not a closet item | Use your doctor, supplier, or health plan because these items may need medical setup. |
If the item must fit your body or home, measure first. A wheelchair that is too narrow, a walker set at the wrong height, or a bath bench that does not fit the tub can create a fall risk.
How loans usually work
Most Michigan loan closets follow the same basic path. You call, ask if the item is in stock, give your name and location, ask about cost and loan length, and set a pickup time. A caregiver may be able to pick up for you, but the program may need your name, phone number, and signature.
Loan periods vary. Some programs use a set time, such as three months. Some let you keep items as long as needed. Some ask you to return items quickly if there is a waitlist. If you are recovering from surgery, ask if the loan can be extended if your recovery takes longer than planned.
Fees also vary. Some closets are free. Some ask for a small processing fee or suggested donation. Some low-cost reuse programs charge a handling fee. A fee does not always mean the program is unsafe. But you should know the total cost before you drive.
Pickup, delivery, and transportation
Delivery is uncommon in Michigan. Plan as if you will need to pick up and return the item. This is a major issue for seniors who no longer drive, live alone, or need a large item such as a wheelchair or tub transfer bench.
Before pickup, ask the program whether a caregiver, neighbor, church volunteer, or family member can pick up for you. Ask what car size is needed. A standard wheelchair may fit in many trunks, but a hospital bed, lift, or large power chair usually will not.
If transportation is the problem, ask your aging office about local ride help. Our senior transportation guide explains common ride options, but the local office is still the best place to check what is running near you today.
Insurance, Medicaid, and home safety
A loan closet is useful, but it should not replace a covered medical order when the item is medically necessary. If a doctor says you need DME for use at home, ask whether Medicare, Medicaid, a Medicare Advantage plan, or another plan should pay through an approved supplier.
For low-income seniors, the Medicaid for seniors guide can help explain the wider Medicaid path. Michigan seniors who struggle with Medicare costs may also want the Michigan MSP guide, especially if medical bills make it hard to pay for basic needs.
Some equipment needs are really home safety needs. A senior who keeps falling in the bathroom may need grab bars, a safer shower setup, better lighting, or home repairs. Our home repair help guide may help when the problem is the home, not only the equipment.
Housing can also matter. If a rented home or apartment cannot be entered safely, equipment may not solve the whole problem. The Michigan housing guide may be useful when accessibility, rent, or safe housing is part of the need.
Phone scripts that save time
Use simple words when you call. Staff and volunteers are often busy. A clear script helps them know what you need.
Script for a loan closet
“Hello, I am looking for a [walker, wheelchair, commode, shower chair]. I live in [city or county]. Do you have one in stock today? Is there a fee, loan period, size limit, or residency rule? Can my caregiver pick it up for me?”
Script for 211
“I need help finding a medical equipment loan closet near [ZIP code]. The item needed is [item]. Please also check senior services, disability networks, churches, and transportation help if pickup is required.”
Script for a hospital discharge planner
“Before discharge, can you confirm what equipment is medically necessary at home? Please tell me which items you can order through a supplier and which short-term items I should try to borrow locally.”
Script for an aging office
“I am helping an older adult in [county]. We need [item] and may need a ride to pick it up. Do you know which local closets are open now, and is there any transportation or caregiver support?”
How to start without wasting time
- Write down the exact item needed. Do not just say “equipment.” Say “standard walker,” “transport chair,” or “tub transfer bench.”
- Measure the person and the home setup. Note height, weight, seat width, stairs, bathroom size, and car space.
- Search your county and one nearby county. If you live near a state line, check nearby border areas too.
- Call before pickup. Ask about stock, cost, loan length, pickup hours, cleaning rules, and return rules.
- Ask if a caregiver can pick up. Get the address, parking instructions, and any form needed.
- Check the item before leaving. Look at brakes, tips, screws, rust, cracks, missing parts, chargers, and seat condition.
- Keep a backup plan. If the item is unsafe or the size is wrong, do not use it just because it was free.
What to gather before calling
- Full name, phone number, city, county, and ZIP code
- Exact item needed and how soon it is needed
- Height, weight, seat width, or bariatric need
- Bathroom or doorway measurements if the item must fit
- Doctor order or discharge paperwork, if you have it
- Medicare, Medicaid, or health plan card if insurance may cover it
- Caregiver name and phone number if someone else will pick up
- Vehicle size and pickup availability
- Small fee or donation money if the program asks for it
Reality checks
- Inventory changes fast: A closet may have three walkers today and none tomorrow.
- County rules matter: Some programs require local residency, age, disability need, or a short intake call.
- Free does not mean fitted: Used equipment still needs to fit the person and the home.
- Large items are harder: Beds, lifts, ramps, bariatric equipment, and power chairs are less common.
- Pickup is common: Delivery is rare, so ask about transportation early.
- Some items should not be borrowed: Respiratory equipment, custom power devices, and sterile supplies may need a medical supplier.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Driving to a closet without calling first
- Searching only one county
- Taking the wrong size because it is available
- Not checking brakes, rubber tips, rust, or missing parts
- Waiting until discharge day to ask for equipment
- Assuming every program is free, open to all counties, or able to deliver
- Using AT Xchange like a same-day loan closet when it is an exchange site
What to do if the first path does not work
If the first closet has no stock, ask when donations usually come in and whether staff know another nearby program. Many volunteers know the local network better than a web search.
Call 211 again with a wider search area. Ask for senior centers, county councils on aging, disability networks, churches, service clubs, and hospital social workers. For a statewide aging fallback, the federal Eldercare Locator can help connect older adults and caregivers to local aging services.
If the need is linked to disability, home care, or caregiver strain, ask about an assessment instead of only asking for equipment. A paid family caregiver, home-care, or respite path may also matter. The Michigan caregiver guide may help families who are doing daily hands-on care.
Resumen en español
Resumen rápido: Michigan no parece tener un solo programa estatal de préstamo de equipo médico para todos los residentes. La forma más rápida de empezar suele ser buscar por condado, llamar al 2-1-1 y contactar a la oficina local de envejecimiento.
Los programas pueden prestar andadores, bastones, sillas de ruedas, sillas de baño, bancos de tina, cómodas y otros artículos usados. Las reglas cambian según la ciudad o el condado. Algunos programas son gratis. Otros piden una cuota pequeña o una donación. Muchos no entregan el equipo a domicilio.
Llame antes de ir. Pregunte si el artículo está disponible, si hay un costo, cuánto tiempo puede tenerlo, si necesita vivir en el condado y si un cuidador puede recogerlo. Si necesita oxígeno, CPAP, una silla eléctrica especial o equipo urgente al salir del hospital, hable primero con el médico o el trabajador social de alta.
Frequently asked questions
Is there one official statewide Michigan DME loan closet?
No. As of 27 May 2026, we did not find one state-run public DME loan closet for general use across Michigan. Use county directories, 211, aging offices, disability networks, and local nonprofits.
What items are easiest to borrow in Michigan?
Walkers, canes, crutches, rollators, shower chairs, bath benches, commodes, raised toilet seats, manual wheelchairs, and transport chairs are usually easier to find than beds, lifts, ramps, or powered equipment.
Are Michigan medical equipment loan closets free?
Many are free, but not all. Some charge a small fee or ask for a suggested donation. Ask about the total cost before pickup.
Do Michigan loan closets deliver?
Usually no. Most programs expect pickup and return. Ask if a caregiver can pick up the equipment and what vehicle size is needed.
Can I borrow oxygen, CPAP, or BiPAP equipment?
Do not rely on a community closet for oxygen, CPAP, BiPAP, tubing, or other respiratory equipment. Ask your doctor, health plan, or approved supplier because these items may need medical setup and safety checks.
What if I live in rural Michigan or the Upper Peninsula?
Search your county, nearby counties, and border areas. Then call your Area Agency on Aging and ask which towns have open closets or transportation help.
What if the equipment I borrow feels unsafe?
Do not use it. Call the program and ask to return or exchange it. If the equipment was ordered by a clinician, tell the clinician or supplier right away.
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
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