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Last updated: 27 September 2026
North Dakota has several strong ways to borrow, reuse, or buy lower-cost durable medical equipment (DME). The best choice depends on whether you need a basic item quickly, a free used device to keep, a home-safety device, a custom fit, or equipment covered through Medicare or Medicaid.
Bottom Line
For a walker, wheelchair, commode, shower chair, transfer bench, or small ramp needed quickly, start with the NDAD HELP program. For free reused assistive technology, wider device searches, or try-before-buy loans, use North Dakota Assistive. For larger or harder-to-fit equipment, contact the state’s Grafton adaptive-equipment team. If one route has no match, call the Aging and Disability Resource Link the same day.
Need Equipment Today?
If hospital discharge is today, tell the discharge planner or therapist exactly what is needed before the person leaves. Ask them to start the regular DME supplier route while you also call loan and reuse programs. A borrowed item can solve a short-term gap, but oxygen equipment, wound systems, feeding pumps, CPAP/BiPAP equipment, and other medical machines usually need a medical order and an enrolled supplier.
Start Here
- Call NDAD first for common equipment. Ask the nearest office to check the exact item, size, weight limit, and pickup rules.
- Check North Dakota Assistive next. Search ND AT4ALL and ask staff about free reuse or a short-term device loan.
- Use a second path immediately. If the equipment is medically necessary or needed long term, ask the doctor or clinic to begin Medicare, Medicaid, or other insurance paperwork at the same time.
Quick Reference
| Need | Best first route | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| Common item for up to 90 days | NDAD HELP | No-charge loans; availability changes by office. |
| Free used device to keep | ND Assistive Device Reuse | Inventory is donated and changes often. |
| Try a device before buying | ND Assistive device loan | Loans are generally for a few weeks. |
| Large or custom adaptive equipment | Grafton Adaptive Equipment | State staff can assess, modify, fit, deliver, and train. |
| Home-safety device for age 60+ | Senior Safety Program | Limited funding; standard walkers and wheelchairs are excluded. |
| No match or rural backup | ADRL | Statewide referral help can identify local options. |
What Has Changed
The main 2026 clarification is the boundary between home-safety help and regular DME. North Dakota Assistive’s current Senior Safety Program still helps eligible North Dakotans age 60 or older with items such as grab bars, shower chairs, toilet safety frames, threshold ramps, and medication reminders. However, it specifically lists standard DME such as canes, walkers, rollators, and wheelchairs as ineligible under that program.
North Dakota Medicaid’s current member guidance also points readers to the Life Skills and Transition Center for no-cost reused DME and to HERO in Fargo for lower-cost donated equipment. That makes these reuse routes useful backups even for people who are also using Medicaid.
Main Loan and Reuse Programs
North Dakota does not have one single official list of every loan closet in every county. Instead, several statewide and regional programs cover different needs. The national DME loan closet guide explains how these programs generally work; the North Dakota routes below are the places to start locally.
| Program | Best for | Key rule | Contact path |
|---|---|---|---|
| NDAD HELP | Fast short-term DME | No charge for up to 90 days. Longer needs require an application and approval. | NDAD office finder |
| ND Assistive Device Reuse | Free used devices to keep | Available devices are free; pickup is preferred because shipping funds are limited. | Device Reuse program |
| ND Assistive Loans | Trying a device first | Free demonstrations and loans let a person test equipment where it will be used. | device demonstrations and loans |
| Adaptive Equipment Services | Custom or harder-to-fit needs | Pre-owned adaptive equipment can be loaned at no cost for any length of time. | Adaptive Equipment Services |
| ADRL | Local referrals and backup | It is a referral service, not a loan closet. | ADRL directory |
NDAD HELP
NDAD’s Healthcare Equipment Loan Program is the best first call for many common items. It currently lists manual and power wheelchairs, scooters, shower chairs, transfer benches, portable ramps, canes, commodes, grab bars, toilet safety equipment, rollators, walkers, crutches, gait belts, and other home-health equipment. The user must sign a loan agreement before equipment is released. If the person cannot easily sign in person, ask the local office what accommodation is available.
NDAD has offices in Grand Forks, Bismarck, Dickinson, Fargo, Minot, and Williston. Inventory can differ by office. Call before driving, especially for wheelchairs, scooters, ramps, or any item with a size or weight limit.
North Dakota Assistive
North Dakota Assistive runs several separate programs. Its free Device Reuse inventory is for working assistive technology that becomes the recipient’s device. Its demonstration and loan program lets people try devices for a few weeks before deciding whether to buy. ND AT4ALL also lists equipment from participating agencies, businesses, lending programs, and individuals, so one search can show items for loan, sale, rent, giveaway, or donation.
This route is especially useful when the need is broader than a basic walker or commode. Examples can include bath lifts, scooters, low-vision devices, communication tools, smart-home equipment, memory supports, and other assistive technology.
Adaptive Equipment Services in Grafton
The Life Skills and Transition Center can do more than hand out used equipment. Its statewide team can assess a person at home or another community setting, modify or build equipment, deliver it, fit it, and show the person how to use it. Its loan inventory can include wheelchairs, walkers, standers, shower chairs, toilet risers, mechanical lifts, and hospital beds.
A doctor’s referral is not required just to request Adaptive Equipment Services. For a person who has unusual positioning, transfer, seating, or home-access needs, this is often a better first call than taking an unfitted used item.
Choose the Right Route for the Item
| Equipment need | Good first route | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Walker, rollator, manual wheelchair, commode | NDAD | Common short-term equipment is part of the HELP inventory. |
| Grab bars, shower chair, toilet frame, threshold ramp | Senior Safety | These can fit the age-60+ home-safety program when eligibility and funding rules are met. |
| Hospital bed, lift, special seating | Grafton AES | Staff can address fit, modification, delivery, and training. |
| CPAP, oxygen, wound-vac, feeding equipment | Medical supplier | These usually require medical oversight and insurance rules. |
| Low-cost used equipment in Fargo | HERO | HERO sells donated DME and supplies at lower prices, with some assistance through HERO Cares. |
If the equipment need is part of a larger disability problem, the GFS North Dakota disability help guide can help with other state and community supports. For broader senior services and benefits, use the North Dakota benefits guide.
Medicare and Medicaid DME
Loan closets and reuse programs are separate from insurance. They are often useful when a person needs something quickly, temporarily, or cannot get coverage. For long-term medically necessary equipment, start the insurance route too.
North Dakota Medicaid
North Dakota Medicaid lists covered DME categories that include bathing and toileting chairs, breathing devices, oxygen equipment, hospital beds, pressure-reducing mattresses, incontinence supplies, walkers, wheelchairs, gait trainers, standers, and lifts. Coverage depends on medical need, the item’s policy, and use of an enrolled DME provider. Some items need authorization or have limits. The state’s North Dakota Medicaid DME page is the best current starting point.
The current Medicaid member handbook also explains that waiver programs may cover some equipment not covered under ordinary Medicaid DME rules. It specifically identifies the Grafton reuse program and HERO as other ways to get equipment.
Medicare
Medicare Part B may cover medically necessary DME ordered for use in the home. Examples include walkers, wheelchairs, hospital beds, oxygen equipment, CPAP equipment, and commode chairs. The current Medicare DME coverage page explains the basic rules. Before accepting equipment, confirm that the supplier is Medicare-enrolled and ask whether it accepts assignment. The Medicare supplier directory can help you find enrolled suppliers.
Senior Safety Is Not Regular DME
The Senior Safety Program is useful, but it has a narrow job. It is for eligible North Dakota residents age 60 or older who do not live in a nursing facility. It can provide certain home-safety devices, but the current ineligible list includes walkers, rollators, wheelchairs, canes, CPAP equipment, blood-pressure monitors, braces, and several other ordinary DME items. Use NDAD, reuse, Medicaid, Medicare, or a supplier for those needs instead.
Fargo, Rural, and Tribal Options
HERO in Fargo is a practical option when a free loan is not available. Its current HERO product list includes used mobility equipment, bathroom-safety items, hospital beds, scooters, wheelchairs, lifts, and supplies at listed price ranges. Inventory and price depend on condition and availability, so use the HERO contact page or call before traveling.
For people outside the larger cities, the Aging and Disability Resource Link can search by location and service need. GFS also maintains a guide to North Dakota aging agencies, which can help when the equipment need is tied to meals, transportation, caregiver support, in-home services, or another aging issue.
People living in tribal communities can also use North Dakota HHS’s tribal human services directory to find the correct local human-services contact. A tribal office may not run a loan closet itself, but it may know the closest workable program or transportation option.
How to Start Without Wasting Time
- Name the exact item. “Wheelchair” is not enough. If possible, know manual or power, seat width, user weight, footrest needs, and whether the person can self-propel.
- Measure the home. Measure doorways, tub width, step height, bed height, and the space where the item will be used.
- Call before driving. Ask staff to confirm the item is still available and whether it can be held for pickup.
- Ask about paperwork. A loan agreement, brief intake form, medical order, or insurance documentation may be needed depending on the program.
- Use two paths at once. For a medically necessary long-term need, start the insurance/supplier process while you look for a temporary loan.
Information Checklist
- Exact item and date needed
- Person’s height and weight
- Wheelchair seat width or walker height, if known
- Doorway, tub, step, and threshold measurements
- Whether the person can stand, pivot, or transfer
- Whether a caregiver can pick up and return the item
- Doctor, therapist, or discharge-planner contact
- Medicare, Medicaid, or insurance information
- Photos of the space if fit may be difficult
Check Fit and Safety Before Use
A free item is not automatically a safe item. A wheelchair that is too narrow can damage skin. A walker set too low or high can increase fall risk. A ramp can be dangerous if it is too short for the rise. A transfer bench can fail if it does not fit the tub or the user’s weight.
Before taking a used item home, ask about the weight limit, size, brakes, tires, batteries, charger, footrests, cushions, slings, mattresses, and missing parts. Ask how the item was cleaned and whether it was inspected. If the person is weak, dizzy, confused, recovering from surgery, or unable to transfer safely, ask a physical therapist, occupational therapist, nurse, or other qualified professional to check the fit.
Phone Scripts
NDAD
“I am helping an older adult in [city]. We need a [exact item] by [date]. Do you have one available, and what size or weight limit is it? Can a caregiver pick it up?”
North Dakota Assistive
“Can you check Device Reuse and ND AT4ALL for a [exact item]? We can travel to [cities] if needed. Is the item free to keep, a short-term loan, or something for sale?”
Grafton adaptive equipment
“A standard item may not fit safely. Can your team review whether used adaptive equipment, fitting, modification, or delivery could help? What measurements or photos should we provide?”
ADRL backup call
“We tried the main equipment programs and still need a [item]. What local senior, disability, tribal, health, or nonprofit resource serves our county? Is there any help with transportation for pickup?”
Reality Checks
- Inventory changes fast. A bed, lift, ramp, scooter, or power chair may be gone before the next day.
- Distance matters. A free item several hours away may cost more in fuel and transport than a local used item.
- Some devices need professional fitting. Do not use an unsafe size just because it is available.
- Home-safety funding is limited. Senior Safety is not an entitlement and gives preference to priority groups.
- Insurance is not instant. Medical orders, enrolled suppliers, and authorization rules can take time, so a temporary loan may still be useful.
- Reuse and coverage are different. A device that is not covered by one program may still be available through reuse, a waiver, a nonprofit, or another funding route.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Calling only one program and then stopping.
- Waiting until discharge day to ask for equipment.
- Taking a wheelchair without checking seat width or weight limit.
- Assuming Senior Safety pays for walkers or wheelchairs.
- Assuming Medicare or Medicaid covers every home-safety item.
- Forgetting to ask whether a charger, sling, cushion, footrest, or mattress is included.
- Using broken or poorly fitted used equipment because it was free.
Denied, Delayed, or No Match?
If a program has no item, ask when inventory is usually updated and whether another office can check. If insurance denies a medically necessary item, ask for the written reason and the appeal or reconsideration instructions. Do not assume a loan closet can replace every denied medical device.
For assistive technology that cannot be covered another way, North Dakota Assistive has a financial loan program with a current advertised 2% fixed rate, subject to availability and change. It also has a Possibilities Grant application for last-resort assistive technology funding. These are not same-day equipment programs, so use them when the need can wait.
If the equipment need is part of a broader financial crisis, use the GFS North Dakota emergency help guide. Community groups can sometimes help with pickup, small purchases, or donated supplies; the North Dakota charities guide gives additional local starting points.
Related Equipment and Supply Needs
Loan closets are strongest for reusable equipment. They are less useful for disposable or personal supplies. If the main problem is briefs, liners, or other continence products, use the GFS incontinence supply help guide. If hearing is the main barrier, the hearing aid help guide explains coverage and assistance routes that are different from ordinary DME reuse.
Resumen breve en español
En Dakota del Norte, llame primero a NDAD si necesita por poco tiempo un andador, silla de ruedas, silla para ducha, inodoro portátil u otro equipo común. NDAD presta equipo sin costo por hasta 90 días, según disponibilidad. Para equipo usado gratis, búsquelo con North Dakota Assistive y ND AT4ALL. Para equipo grande, adaptado o difícil de ajustar, contacte a Adaptive Equipment Services en Grafton.
El programa Senior Safety ayuda a residentes de Dakota del Norte de 60 años o más con ciertos artículos de seguridad para el hogar, pero no cubre equipo DME común como andadores, rollators o sillas de ruedas. Antes de recoger cualquier artículo, confirme tamaño, límite de peso, piezas, limpieza y reglas de devolución. Si no encuentra el equipo, llame a ADRL al 1-855-462-5465 para pedir recursos cercanos.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where should I call first for a walker or wheelchair?
Call NDAD first for a common short-term item. Its HELP program loans many types of home healthcare equipment at no charge for up to 90 days. Ask the nearest office to check the exact size and availability.
Can I keep free reused equipment?
North Dakota Assistive says items from its Device Reuse program become yours after a short intake process. Other programs have different rules, so ask whether an item is a loan, a giveaway, or for sale before pickup.
Does Senior Safety cover walkers and wheelchairs?
No. The current Senior Safety Program lists standard DME such as walkers, rollators, wheelchairs, and canes as ineligible. It can cover certain home-safety devices such as grab bars, shower chairs, toilet safety frames, and threshold ramps for eligible applicants.
Can North Dakota Medicaid cover DME?
Yes. North Dakota Medicaid covers many DME categories when medical-necessity and program rules are met. Members generally need an appropriate medical order and an enrolled DME provider, and some equipment has limits or authorization rules.
What if I need a hospital bed or lift?
Call Adaptive Equipment Services in Grafton early. Its free reused-equipment loan program can include hospital beds and mechanical lifts, and staff can help with assessment, fitting, delivery, modification, and training when needed.
What if no free equipment is available?
Widen the search the same day. Try another NDAD office, North Dakota Assistive, ADRL, HERO, and the insurance or Medicaid supplier route. For assistive technology that cannot be funded elsewhere, ask North Dakota Assistive about its financial loan and last-resort grant programs.
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: 27 September 2026 · Next review: 27 January 2027
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