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Last updated: 27 May 2026
Bottom line: Mississippi has a real statewide path for borrowed and reused durable medical equipment (DME), but it does not have one simple public list of every local loan closet. Start with Project START for device loans and reuse, then call MAC, your Area Agency on Aging, and 211 for local leads. If the senior needs the item for long-term use, start Medicare, Medicaid, or MDRS paperwork the same day. A borrowed walker or chair can solve today’s safety problem while the formal coverage path moves.
Emergency help now
- If a fall, unsafe discharge, or breathing problem is happening now, call 911.
- If the senior is being discharged soon, tell the hospital discharge planner: “The home is not safe without this equipment.” Ask for a written DME order and help finding a supplier or short-term loan.
- If the need is urgent but not 911-level, call Project START at 601-853-5249 or 1-800-852-8328 and say the item is needed for safety at home.
- If you do not know where to start, call MAC at 1-844-822-4622 and ask for the nearest MAC center to search your county and nearby counties.
Quick help
- Best statewide equipment path: Project START.
- Best statewide navigator: MAC at 1-844-822-4622.
- Best county-level aging help: your Area Agency on Aging through MDHS.
- Fast local referral backup: 211 Mississippi.
- Strong north Mississippi backup: TAD Center in Oxford and Second Time Around in Tupelo.
- If pickup is hard: ask MAC, the AAA, a hospital social worker, or a local charity about transportation.
Quick-reference table
| Need | Best first call | What to ask |
|---|---|---|
| Borrowed walker, wheelchair, cane, crutches, or daily-living device | Project START | “Can this item be loaned, reused, or demonstrated near my county?” |
| You do not know which office handles the problem | MAC | “Can you search my county and nearby counties for equipment, waiver, and transportation options?” |
| Homebound senior, rural county, or pickup problem | Area Agency on Aging | “Can the aging network help with transportation, home support, or local contacts?” |
| Local charity, church, or community closet lead | 211 Mississippi | “Do you have any current medical equipment or disability support referrals near this ZIP code?” |
| Long-term medically necessary DME | Doctor plus Medicare or Medicaid path | “Can you write the order and notes needed for coverage?” |
Contents
- Best places to start
- What this help is
- Start without wasting time
- What to have ready
- Main Mississippi programs
- Regional hubs
- Equipment and pickup
- Coverage paths
- Phone scripts
- If help stalls
- Frequently asked questions
Best places to start
Start with more than one door. Equipment inventory changes fast. A single phone call may not be enough. For a Mississippi senior who needs equipment soon, the strongest plan is to call Project START, MAC, 211, and the local aging network on the same day.
The MAC service search can help families look for services by need and location, but a phone call is often faster when the need is urgent. For broader benefit help, the Mississippi benefits guide can help you place DME beside food, housing, utility, and health coverage options.
Use Project START for equipment. It is Mississippi’s main assistive-technology loan and reuse program. It accepts lightly used durable medical equipment, refurbishes devices, and provides them free to eligible Mississippians with disabilities or chronic health care issues when no other funding source is readily available.
Use MAC for navigation. The MAC center page says MAC centers provide free, objective information, help people compare long-term care choices, and screen for Medicaid waivers by phone, in the home, or at another convenient place on request.
Use the aging network for local barriers. The MDHS aging page says the Division of Aging and Adult Services works with Area Agencies on Aging across Mississippi and points readers to MAC as a good first call. If pickup, homebound status, caregiver strain, or transportation is the problem, the Mississippi AAA guide is a strong internal next step.
Use 211 for local leads. 211 Mississippi says it covers all 82 Mississippi counties and connects callers with health and human service resources. It may know local church, charity, or community referrals that are not easy to find online.
What this help is
DME means durable medical equipment. Common examples include walkers, wheelchairs, canes, crutches, bedside commodes, shower chairs, hospital beds, and patient lifts. Some items are easy to borrow. Others need a doctor’s order, fitting, supplier approval, or insurance review.
A loan closet is a bridge. It may lend or give used equipment to a person who needs it. It is useful when money is tight, insurance is slow, or a senior needs a safe way to get home after surgery, illness, or a fall.
A reuse program is not the same as insurance. It does not promise the exact item, a perfect fit, delivery, or long-term repair service. A reused wheelchair may work for a doctor visit, but a custom power chair, Hoyer lift, specialty cushion, or home ramp may need Medicare, Medicaid, MDRS, or waiver review.
Think in two tracks. Track one is the fast bridge: borrow or reuse a safe item now. Track two is the longer coverage path: doctor order, medical records, insurance, Medicaid waiver, or MDRS application. Families often need both.
How to start without wasting time
- Name the exact item. Say “two-wheel walker after hip surgery,” “bedside commode,” or “transport chair for appointments.” Do not just say “medical equipment.”
- Say how soon it is needed. Tell the office if discharge is today, if the senior already fell, or if the caregiver cannot transfer the senior safely.
- Call Project START first. Ask about device loan, device reuse, nearby partner sites, and appointment rules.
- Call MAC next. Ask the worker to search the senior’s county and nearby counties, not just the town.
- Call the AAA if pickup or home help is the barrier. Ask about transportation, caregiver support, home-delivered meals, or other help that may keep the senior safe at home.
- Call 211 for local leads. Ask for churches, charities, hospital programs, disability groups, and community loan closets near the ZIP code.
- Ask the doctor for paperwork the same day. If the item is medically necessary, request a written DME order, diagnosis, therapy notes, and home-use reason.
For seniors who also need food, rent, utility, or medicine help, the emergency help guide can help families avoid treating the equipment issue as the only problem.
What to have ready
Have the basic details ready before you call. This saves time and helps the worker decide whether the item can be loaned, donated, covered, or replaced with a safer option.
| Information | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Exact item needed | A shower chair, rollator, wheelchair, and transport chair are different requests. |
| Temporary or long-term need | A 30-day recovery need may fit a loan. A permanent need may need coverage. |
| Height and weight | Wrong sizes can cause falls, pain, or unsafe transfers. |
| Diagnosis or disability | Some programs need disability documentation or a doctor letter. |
| Home setup | Door width, steps, bathroom layout, and bed height can change the right equipment. |
| Pickup plan | Many programs do not promise delivery. Ask who can load and return the item. |
| Insurance cards | Medicare, Medicaid, or private insurance may be needed for long-term DME. |
For Project START, the Project START form asks for Mississippi residence, identification, disability documentation, funding source, and item details. It also asks for height, weight, and level of injury for wheelchair requests.
Main Mississippi programs
Project START
Project START is run by the Mississippi Department of Rehabilitation Services. It serves Mississippians of all ages and all disabilities. Its device reuse program accepts lightly used durable medical equipment and provides refurbished devices free to eligible Mississippians. Its device loan program can let someone borrow a device while funding is being secured, while a device is being repaired, or while the person tries a device before buying.
Who may qualify: The application says equipment applicants must live in Mississippi, have a documented disability, and have no other readily available funding source. It also requires a driver’s license or state ID and documentation of disability, such as a letter from a doctor, nurse, case worker, other certifying official, or an SSI letter.
Where to apply: Call Project START at 601-853-5249 or 1-800-852-8328. Ask whether you should use the online form, a PDF form, or an appointment. The Madison office is appointment-only, so call before driving.
Reality check: The online device database may show examples of items usually loaned, not exact live inventory. Loans usually run about 45 days, but the loan period can vary by device.
MAC and Area Agencies on Aging
MAC is the best statewide navigation call when the family does not know whether the need is a loan closet, Medicaid waiver, DME supplier, transportation problem, or home-care issue. MAC works as a “no wrong door” contact for long-term services and supports.
The aging network matters because many Mississippi supports are regional. A walker may be found in one county while the senior lives in another. The AAA may not own equipment, but it can point families to transportation, caregiver support, home-delivered meals, or county-level contacts.
Reality check: MAC and AAA staff can help you search and understand options. They cannot make a donated item appear in stock. Ask them to search nearby counties and hub cities.
LIFE of Mississippi
LIFE of Mississippi lists offices in Jackson, Tupelo, Indianola, Hattiesburg, McComb, and Gulfport. LIFE is a center for independent living and can be a good second call for referral help, advocacy, and local disability support. Its state office number is 601-969-4009 or 1-800-748-9398.
Reality check: LIFE is not a public live inventory board for equipment. Use it for independent living guidance, local referrals, and help thinking through disability-related barriers. The disability help guide can also help when equipment is part of a larger disability support need.
Regional hubs that matter
Mississippi families should think by region, not only by county. If the closest office cannot help, ask about the next hub city. This matters most for rural seniors and caregivers who cannot make many trips.
| Region | Useful hub | Best use |
|---|---|---|
| Central Mississippi | Project START in Madison, MAC Jackson, LIFE Jackson | Strong statewide intake and disability referral help. |
| North Mississippi | TAD Center in Oxford and Second Time Around in Tupelo | Best formal cluster for demos, loans, and hospital-based reuse. |
| Delta | MAC Greenville and LIFE Indianola | Useful when a rural family needs navigation more than a single closet. |
| Golden Triangle and East | T.K. Martin Center in Starkville | Project START partner support for assistive technology demos. |
| Pine Belt | MAC Hattiesburg and LIFE Hattiesburg | Good south-central starting point for disability and aging referrals. |
| Coast | MAC Gulfport, LIFE Gulfport, and IDS in Long Beach | Best coastal mix of navigation and assistive-technology support. |
| Southwest | LIFE McComb | Helpful when Jackson is far and local options are thin. |
The TAD Center in Oxford says it provides free evaluations, training, equipment demonstrations, and Project START equipment loans. North Mississippi Medical Center’s Second Time Around program in Tupelo accepts new and used durable medical equipment such as electric wheelchairs, shower chairs, walkers, canes, and crutches.
If the senior is a veteran, also check the veteran benefits guide. VA or veteran service officers may have separate paths for prescribed equipment, home safety, or transportation.
Equipment, pickup, and safety checks
The easiest items to find are often basic mobility and bathroom safety items. These may include canes, crutches, walkers, rollators, transport chairs, shower chairs, and bedside commodes. Wheelchairs may be available, but size and weight limits matter. Hospital beds, patient lifts, scooters, power chairs, and custom seating are harder and may need formal coverage.
Before you take any used item home, check it carefully. A fast pickup is not worth a fall.
- Test wheelchair brakes, footrests, wheels, armrests, and seat width.
- Check walker grips, rubber tips, folding locks, wheels, and height.
- Ask how the item was cleaned, checked, and refurbished.
- Ask whether the item is a loan, gift, trial device, or donation-based item.
- Ask for the return date, return place, and who to call if it breaks.
- Ask whether staff can show the caregiver how to use it safely.
Pickup can be the real barrier. Many official pages describe calls, appointments, referrals, or pickup. Do not assume delivery. Measure the car before you drive. Ask whether a family member, caregiver, church volunteer, hospital social worker, or AAA contact can help with pickup.
If the home itself is unsafe, such as steps, narrow doors, or a bathroom that cannot be used safely, equipment alone may not solve the problem. The housing help guide and caregiver pay guide can help when the need is bigger than one device.
When coverage may be better than reuse
A reuse program is often best for a short-term or emergency bridge. Coverage is usually better for long-term equipment that must fit the senior’s body, home, diagnosis, and care plan.
| Path | May help with | Reality check |
|---|---|---|
| Medicare DME | Medically necessary home-use DME ordered by a doctor, such as walkers, wheelchairs, hospital beds, and some lifts. | Suppliers must meet Medicare rules. Ask if the supplier accepts assignment before you get the item. |
| Medicaid DME | DME for people covered by Mississippi Medicaid when state rules and medical necessity are met. | Coverage rules, prior approval, and provider rules can change. Confirm with Medicaid or the provider. |
| Independent Living Waiver | Specialized medical equipment, supplies, personal care, and home accessibility support for eligible people age 16 or older with severe orthopedic or neurological impairments. | It is not a quick loan closet. It depends on Medicaid eligibility, medical criteria, assessment, and waiver capacity. |
| E&D Waiver | Home and community-based services for people age 21 or older who would otherwise need nursing-facility level care. | It is more about staying safely at home than grabbing one item today. |
| IL Grant | Durable medical equipment, assistive aids, home modifications, vehicle modifications, orthotics, and prosthetics for eligible people with severe impairments. | It does not duplicate other services and is not a universal senior equipment fund. |
If the senior is worried about Medicare costs, the Medicare Savings guide explains state help that may lower some Medicare costs for people who qualify.
Phone scripts
These short scripts can help when the caller is tired or worried. Fill in the blanks before you call.
Script for Project START
“Hello, I am helping a Mississippi senior in [county]. The person needs [item] because [reason]. The need is [urgent date or timeline]. Can Project START loan, reuse, or demonstrate this item? What documents do we need, and should we use the online form or make an appointment?”
Script for MAC
“Hello, I need help finding medical equipment and support for an older adult in [county]. Can you search my county and nearby counties for loan closets, Project START partners, transportation, Medicaid waiver options, and local disability help?”
Script for a doctor or discharge planner
“The home is not safe without [item]. Can you write a DME order today and include the diagnosis, home-use need, height, weight, and therapy notes? Also, do you know a supplier or reuse program that can help while coverage is pending?”
Script for 211 or a local charity
“I am helping a senior near [ZIP code] who needs [item]. Are there any current medical equipment loan closets, churches, charities, or hospital programs nearby? We can travel to [nearby towns] if needed.”
If local charity help is needed, the charity help guide can help families make more targeted calls.
What to do if help stalls
- Do not wait a week for one callback. Move from Project START to MAC to 211 to the AAA and local disability offices the same day.
- Ask for nearby counties. In Mississippi, the right equipment may be closer to a hub city than the senior’s county seat.
- Ask for a safe bridge item. A transport chair, walker, or bedside commode may help while the ideal item is pending.
- Ask what documentation is missing. A doctor note, diagnosis, height, weight, proof of disability, or insurance denial may change the answer.
- Ask about appeal or complaint routes. If an MDRS decision seems wrong, ask about the Client Assistance Program. If the issue involves a nursing home or long-term care resident, ask MDHS about the State Long-Term Care Ombudsman.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Driving to Madison without calling Project START first.
- Requesting “a wheelchair” without giving size, weight, transfer, and home-use details.
- Assuming a loan closet item is cleaned, complete, or safe without checking it.
- Waiting for insurance before borrowing a safe bridge item.
- Using reuse as a replacement for a doctor order when long-term equipment is needed.
- Ignoring pickup, loading, return date, and caregiver training.
- Calling only your town instead of asking about nearby counties and hub cities.
Where to donate equipment
Donation keeps reuse programs working. If you are cleaning out a parent’s home, start with Project START and Second Time Around. Call before you bring anything. Ask if the item is accepted, whether it must be cleaned first, whether all parts are required, and where to drop it off.
Good donation items often include walkers, canes, crutches, shower chairs, transport chairs, and some wheelchairs. Items with missing parts, unsafe brakes, broken chargers, or heavy wear may not be accepted. Never drop equipment outside a building without permission.
Resumen en español
En Mississippi, la mejor primera llamada para equipo médico reutilizado es Project START. Este programa puede prestar equipo por corto plazo y también reutiliza equipo donado para personas elegibles. Si no sabe qué oficina llamar, llame a MAC al 1-844-822-4622 y pida que busquen opciones en su condado y condados cercanos.
Si el adulto mayor está saliendo del hospital, pida al médico o trabajador social una orden escrita para el equipo. Si el equipo se necesita por mucho tiempo, revise Medicare, Medicaid o un waiver de Medicaid. Antes de recoger cualquier equipo usado, confirme tamaño, limpieza, piezas incluidas, frenos, límite de peso y fecha de devolución.
Frequently asked questions
Does Mississippi have one statewide DME loan closet list?
No single official public list appears to cover every local DME loan closet in Mississippi. The best statewide path is Project START, with MAC, Area Agencies on Aging, and 211 as backup search points.
Who can use Project START?
Project START serves Mississippians of all ages and all disabilities. For equipment, the application says the person must live in Mississippi, have a documented disability, and have no other readily available funding source.
What equipment is easiest to find?
Basic mobility and bathroom safety items are usually the most realistic requests. Examples include canes, crutches, walkers, shower chairs, transport chairs, and some wheelchairs. Large or custom items are harder.
Can Medicare or Medicaid pay instead?
Yes, when the rules are met. Medicare Part B may cover medically necessary DME used in the home when ordered by a provider. Mississippi Medicaid and waiver programs may also help eligible people.
Do Mississippi programs deliver equipment?
Do not assume delivery. Many programs use pickup, appointments, referrals, or supplier delivery rules. Ask who can load the item, whether someone else can pick it up, and how returns work.
What if my first call does not work?
Call the next door the same day. Try Project START, MAC, 211, the AAA, LIFE of Mississippi, the doctor, and nearby county or hub-city options. Ask what document or detail is missing.
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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