DME Loan Closets and Medical Equipment Reuse in Nevada

Last updated: 27 May 2026

Bottom Line: Nevada still does not appear to have one simple state-run public list of every durable medical equipment loan closet. For most seniors, the fastest first call is CARE Chest programs. In the Las Vegas Valley, older adults should also call FAS equipment page for local equipment help. If you do not know where to start, use Nevada Care Connection or 211 equipment search to find the closest path.

Emergency help now

• Call CARE Chest first: Northern Nevada can call 1-775-829-2273. Southern Nevada can call 1-866-206-5242. Ask if the item is in stock today, where to pick it up, and whether delivery may be possible for a homebound person.
• If you are in Las Vegas, Henderson, or nearby: call Foundation Assisting Seniors at 1-725-244-4200. It serves many adults age 50 and older in the Las Vegas Valley.
• If discharge is happening now: tell the hospital, rehab center, or home health planner that the senior cannot go home safely without the right equipment. Ask for a bridge plan before discharge.
• If the equipment was lost in a fire, flood, or other crisis: call Nevada emergency help and Nevada 211 the same day. A loan closet may help with the item, but you may also need shelter, food, transport, or insurance help.

Quick help

• Most basic DME needs: start with CARE Chest.
• Las Vegas Valley seniors 50 and older: also call Foundation Assisting Seniors.
• Need a navigator: ask Nevada Care Connection for one-on-one help.
• Need a ZIP-code search: call Nevada 211 at 2-1-1 or 1-866-535-5654, or text your ZIP code to 898211.
• Need to try a device: contact NATRC before buying or renting.
• Need larger disability equipment: ask about Nevada’s AT/IL program if other funding is not available.

Nevada 211 says its call center hours are Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. Pacific Time, and closed on weekends and major holidays. The website and apps can still be used when the call center is closed.

Quick-reference table

Contents

• Emergency help now
• What this help is
• Best starting points
• Programs by region
• Equipment to ask for
• Paperwork and rules
• How to start
• Pickup and safety
• Insurance path
• Delayed or denied
• Donating equipment

What this help is in Nevada

Durable medical equipment, often called DME, means medical items made for repeated use at home. Common examples are walkers, wheelchairs, hospital beds, patient lifts, shower chairs, commodes, canes, crutches, oxygen equipment, and some safety items.

A Nevada loan closet or reuse program usually works in a simple way. A person donates equipment. The program checks, cleans, and repairs it if needed. Then it lends or gives the item to another person who needs it. Some items may be loaned for as long as needed. Other items may be short-term only. You must ask the program directly.

This is not emergency medical care. It is also not the same as Medicare, Nevada Medicaid, or private insurance. If a doctor says the item is medically needed, you may need to work on two tracks at once: get reused equipment for now, and also pursue the insurance path for the long-term need.

For broader help with food, housing, utilities, and state programs, use the main Nevada senior assistance guide. This page stays focused on medical equipment and reuse.

Best starting points for Nevada seniors

CARE Chest

CARE Chest is the closest thing Nevada has to a broad statewide reused medical equipment network. Its program page says it provides free medical resources to qualifying Nevadans at or below 138% of the Federal Poverty Level. It also says DME may be loaned for as long as needed, and people who do not qualify because income is too high may be able to use Club CARE Chest for an annual $50 membership.

CARE Chest has main locations in Reno and Las Vegas. It also runs mobile outreach. The outreach page says CARE Chest distributed 40,411 items last year, served 47 locations statewide, and provides outreach across many Nevada counties. Check CARE Chest outreach before a long drive because times and sites can change.

Who should call: seniors and caregivers who need a walker, wheelchair, commode, shower chair, bed, lift, incontinence supplies, or similar item. Reality check: the item must be available. Do not drive to Reno, Las Vegas, or an outreach site without calling first.

Foundation Assisting Seniors

Foundation Assisting Seniors is a strong Southern Nevada option. Its website says it offers free medical equipment and daily wellness checks for seniors in the Las Vegas Valley and welcomes people age 50 and older. Its equipment page lists canes, crutches, walkers, wheelchairs, shower chairs, shower benches, bedside commodes, knee walkers, medical beds, Hoyer lifts, adult diapers, and oxygen concentrators with a doctor’s prescription.

Who should call: older adults in Las Vegas, Henderson, and nearby communities who need equipment quickly. Reality check: medical beds and Hoyer lifts may require a small non-refundable donation, but the program says no one is turned away because they cannot give.

Nevada Care Connection

Nevada Care Connection is not a warehouse. It is a resource navigation network for older adults, people with disabilities, veterans, caregivers, and family members. The state says Nevada Care Connection Resource Centers provide one-on-one help so people can look at options, plan care, and connect with services.

This is useful when you do not know whether to call a loan closet, an Area Agency on Aging, Medicaid, transportation, home care, or disability services. The matching Nevada aging agencies guide can also help families understand the aging network.

Nevada Assistive Technology Resource Center

The Nevada Assistive Technology Resource Center is different from a standard loan closet. It helps people learn about assistive technology, compare devices, and borrow some devices for a short test. The current page says short-term device loans are generally up to 14 days, or longer if necessary. It also says the center changed contact information recently, so call or email before you visit.

This is best when the question is not just, “Can I get a walker?” It is best when you need to test a communication device, vision tool, mobility tool, memory aid, or other assistive technology before buying it.

Nevada assistive technology programs

The state Nevada AT Collaborative ties together device loans, demonstrations, reuse, financial options, and protection and advocacy. For larger needs, the AT/IL program may help with home access changes, DME, vehicle changes, visual aids, mobility devices, or communication technology when other resources are not possible.

This path is for a person with a permanent disability that causes a major functional limit and who lacks other resources. Eligibility is not automatic. CARE Chest provides case coordination and works with the person on the AT/IL process.

Programs by region

Many rural towns may not have a local loan closet. CARE Chest lists outreach stops in places such as Elko, Ely, Fallon, Fernley, Laughlin, Mesquite, Pahrump, Tonopah, and Winnemucca. Call before you travel.

If the need is part of a wider disability issue, read Nevada disability help for more state paths that may fit.

What equipment to ask for

The best way to get help is to name the exact item. Do not only say, “medical equipment.” Say what the therapist, doctor, or hospital told you to get.

Paperwork, eligibility, and rules

CARE Chest says first-time consumers, and then yearly after that, should provide proof of identity, current Nevada residence, and current income. Examples include a driver’s license or state ID, a lease or utility bill, and Social Security, direct deposit, tax, or income documents. CARE Chest also says some supplies may require a prescription.

Foundation Assisting Seniors says oxygen concentrators require a doctor’s prescription. It also says equipment may be provided as long as needed, and in some cases may be kept permanently if that best supports the senior’s situation.

For the AT/IL program, the rule is different. The state says the person must have a permanent disability that causes a major functional limit, must lack other resources, and the service must help the person gain, improve, or keep independence with daily living. This is not a quick same-day warehouse pickup.

If you also need help with online benefits forms, the Nevada benefits portal guide explains Access Nevada and other common starting points. For paperwork, the documents checklist can help you gather proof before calls.

How to start without wasting time

1. Write the exact item name. Use the words from the hospital, therapist, doctor, or supplier.
2. Measure the person and home. Know height, weight, seat width, stairs, doorway width, and bathroom setup.
3. Call before going anywhere. Ask if the item is there now.
4. Ask about documents. Income, address, ID, and prescription rules can stop the process.
5. Ask about pickup and delivery. A hospital bed or lift is not a small item.
6. Start insurance too. If Medicare, Medicaid, or a health plan should cover it, do not wait for the loan closet result.

Phone scripts you can use

CARE Chest script: “Hi, I am helping a Nevada senior who needs a [exact item] for home use. Is that item available now? What documents do we need, and should we apply online, visit, or wait for an outreach stop?”

Foundation script: “Hi, the senior is age [age] and lives in [city]. We need a [exact item]. Do you have one available, and can you tell me the pickup or delivery steps?”

Hospital script: “We cannot safely discharge without [item]. Please document the need, help start the insurance order, and tell us what temporary equipment can be arranged today.”

Insurance script: “My doctor says I need [item] for home use. What order, prior approval, supplier, rental rule, and appeal rights apply to this item?”

Pickup, delivery, and safety checks

Transportation is one of the biggest barriers in Nevada. CARE Chest says delivery may be possible for homebound consumers. Foundation Assisting Seniors says it maintains clean, sanitized equipment in the Las Vegas Valley. Still, many reused equipment programs rely on pickup, outreach stops, or volunteer schedules.

Before you accept an item, do a quick safety check. This matters even when a program says it cleans and checks equipment.

• Do the brakes lock?
• Are rubber tips, wheels, and grips worn out?
• Are footrests, leg rests, cushions, rails, and chargers included?
• Does the seat width and weight limit fit the person?
• Can the item fit through the door and into the bathroom or bedroom?
• If it is powered, does the battery hold a charge?
• If it is a bed or lift, is someone trained to use it safely?

If the person also needs rides to appointments or pickup sites, the senior transportation help guide may help you look for ride options.

When Medicare or Nevada Medicaid should pay

A loan closet can solve a short-term safety problem. It does not replace insurance when an item should be covered. Medicare says Part B covers medically necessary DME for use in the home when ordered by a doctor or other health care provider. After the Part B deductible, the person usually pays 20% of the Medicare-approved amount if the supplier accepts assignment. Check Medicare DME rules before you rent or buy.

Nevada Medicaid billing guidance says the DME, disposable supplies, and supplements program covers medically necessary durable medical equipment, prosthetics, orthotics, disposable medical supplies, oxygen and related supplies, and nutrition items. Use Nevada Medicaid DME details if a supplier, doctor, or plan needs the rule path.

If you have both Medicare and Medicaid, the order of payment can be confusing. The dual eligible guide explains the broad idea. Nevada readers with low income can also check Nevada Medicare Savings because paying Medicare cost-sharing can affect the household budget.

Always ask the doctor for the right wording. A vague note may not work. Ask for the medical reason, the home-use need, and any special size or safety details.

What to do if delayed, denied, or overwhelmed

• If CARE Chest has no stock: ask when to call again, whether another warehouse or outreach stop may have the item, and whether a substitute item would be safe.
• If Foundation Assisting Seniors has no stock: ask if they keep a waitlist, accept referrals, or know another Southern Nevada source.
• If you cannot find a local closet: ask Nevada Care Connection for a resource navigator and use Nevada 211 by ZIP code.
• If the need is disability-related and permanent: ask CARE Chest whether AT/IL screening makes sense.
• If Medicaid denies or cuts a covered item: read the notice right away. Nevada Medicaid has a Medicaid fair hearing path, and deadlines may be short.
• If Medicare or Medicare Advantage denies DME: keep the denial letter, ask the doctor for stronger medical notes, and follow the plan’s appeal steps.

Some seniors also need food, rent, utility, or charity help while trying to get equipment. For local nonprofits, use Nevada charity help. If a family caregiver is missing work or paying out of pocket, the Nevada caregiver pay guide may also be useful.

Backup options if the first path fails

• Ask the discharge planner: hospitals and rehab centers often know which suppliers or nonprofits answer quickly.
• Ask a therapist: a physical or occupational therapist can help avoid the wrong size or unsafe device.
• Ask a senior center: do not use old senior-center URLs as your main guide, but local staff may know who currently lends items nearby.
• Ask hospice or home health: if the person is already enrolled, the agency may have a covered equipment path.
• Ask veteran services: older veterans may have extra routes through VA or state veteran offices. Start with Nevada veteran help if that fits.
• Ask housing or repair programs: when the problem is a ramp, doorway, rail, or bathroom access issue, Nevada housing help may point to a better track.

Donating unused equipment in Nevada

If your family has a walker, wheelchair, commode, shower chair, bed, lift, scooter, or other item after recovery or a death in the family, call before donating. Reuse programs often need equipment, but they may not be able to accept every item.

CARE Chest accepts gently used medical equipment and lists many high-demand items. Foundation Assisting Seniors says gently used medical equipment donations are welcome and help it serve seniors in the Las Vegas Valley. Large items like beds, lifts, and scooters should be cleared by phone before you load them.

Before donating, clean the item as well as you can, gather parts and chargers, and write down any known problems. Do not donate broken powered equipment without telling the program.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Waiting until the day of discharge to call.
• Asking for “medical equipment” instead of the exact item.
• Driving to a warehouse or outreach stop without checking stock.
• Forgetting seat width, weight limit, stairs, doorways, or bathroom size.
• Taking a bed, lift, or scooter without a transport plan.
• Assuming a loan closet is the same as Medicare or Nevada Medicaid.
• Not starting the insurance claim while waiting for reuse help.
• Keeping loaned equipment long after it is no longer needed.

Resumen en español

En Nevada, no parece existir un solo directorio estatal público de todos los closets de préstamo de equipo médico durable. Para muchas familias, el primer paso más útil es llamar a CARE Chest. Si la persona vive en Las Vegas, Henderson o cerca, también conviene llamar a Foundation Assisting Seniors, especialmente si tiene 50 años o más.

Antes de llamar, escriba el nombre exacto del equipo: andador, silla de ruedas, silla para ducha, inodoro portátil, cama médica, elevador Hoyer u otro artículo. Pregunte si está disponible, qué documentos necesita, si hay entrega, y si se requiere receta médica. Si el equipo debería estar cubierto por Medicare, Nevada Medicaid o un plan de salud, empiece ese trámite al mismo tiempo. Un préstamo puede ayudar hoy, pero no siempre reemplaza la cobertura del seguro.

Frequently asked questions

Does Nevada have one statewide DME loan closet directory?

Not one simple public state-run directory that covers every option. CARE Chest is the strongest statewide starting point for reused equipment. Nevada Care Connection and Nevada 211 can help you look for nearby options.

What is the fastest place to start for a walker or wheelchair?

Start with CARE Chest. If the senior is in the Las Vegas Valley and age 50 or older, call Foundation Assisting Seniors the same day too.

Can seniors get free medical equipment in Las Vegas?

Many can, depending on stock and the item. CARE Chest has a Las Vegas location, and Foundation Assisting Seniors serves seniors in the Las Vegas Valley. Call before you go.

Can rural Nevada seniors use these programs?

Yes, but rural access may depend on outreach dates and travel. CARE Chest lists many outreach stops. Nevada Care Connection and Nevada 211 can help map the closest option.

Do I need a prescription?

Sometimes. Oxygen equipment usually needs a prescription. CARE Chest also says some supplies may require one. Ask before pickup.

Are loan closets the same as Medicare or Medicaid?

No. Loan closets and reuse programs are community help. Medicare and Nevada Medicaid have their own doctor, supplier, coverage, and appeal rules.

Can I donate medical equipment?

Usually yes, if the program can use it and the item is safe. Call first before donating large items, powered devices, beds, or lifts.

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.