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DME Loan Closets and Medical Equipment Reuse in Oregon

Written & Reviewed by

Analic Mata-Murray
Analic Mata-Murray

Managing Editor

Yolanda Taylor
Yolanda Taylor

Senior Healthcare Editor

Last updated: 27 May 2026

Bottom line: Durable medical equipment, or DME, means items like walkers, wheelchairs, shower chairs, bedside commodes, hospital beds, and lifts. Oregon does not have one easy statewide senior-only DME loan closet. The best plan is to start with statewide help lines, then call the local programs that actually hold equipment near you. Community loan closets can help fast, but they are not the same as insurance. Medicare’s DME coverage and Oregon Health Plan rules have their own steps.

Emergency help now

  • If discharge is today or tomorrow: ask the hospital discharge planner, clinic, home health nurse, or therapist to help you call Oregon’s aging and disability system while you are still at the facility.
  • If you need a basic item today: call 211 or 1-866-698-6155 and ask for a nearby loan closet with the exact item, such as a walker, wheelchair, commode, or shower chair.
  • If Oregon Health Plan equipment is denied or badly delayed: call your coordinated care organization first. If you cannot solve it there, contact the Oregon Health Authority Ombuds Program.
  • If the item must be fitted: ask a physical therapist, occupational therapist, nurse, or doctor to check the size before regular use.

Quick help box

  • Best first call for older adults: ADRC of Oregon, 1-855-673-2372.
  • Best statewide directory backup: 211info, call 211 or 1-866-698-6155.
  • Best statewide reuse path: ATI Marketplace in Salem.
  • Best for communication devices: TDAP through the Oregon Public Utility Commission.
  • Best local plan: call the nearest program in the regional table below before you drive.

Quick reference table

Where Oregon seniors should start
Need Start here Why this path helps
Walker, cane, commode, shower chair, or wheelchair needed fast ADRC, 211info, and the closest local closet These are the most common donated items. Stock still changes daily.
Hospital bed, Hoyer lift, scooter, or lift chair Local closets plus ATI Large items are harder to store, clean, deliver, and find.
OHP or Medicaid delay Doctor, supplier, CCO, then Ombuds A loan closet can be a bridge, but insurance rules still control covered equipment.
Medicare-covered item Doctor and Medicare-enrolled supplier Medicare usually needs medical necessity and a proper supplier path.
Communication, hearing, vision, or speech device TDAP or assistive-technology programs These items often do not sit in basic medical loan closets.

Contents

What this help is, and what it is not

What it is: Oregon DME loan closets and reuse programs are local places that lend or give used equipment. Many are free. Some ask for a simple form, a waiver, a return date, or proof that you live in the area. They can be very helpful after surgery, after a fall, during hospice, during rehab, or while waiting for insurance.

What it is not: A community loan closet is not an insurance supplier. It usually does not bill Medicare, Medicare Advantage, the Oregon Health Plan, or private insurance. A borrowed wheelchair or bed may solve the short-term problem, but it does not replace a doctor order when the person needs a long-term covered item.

What Oregon really offers: Oregon’s reuse network is local. Nonprofits, churches, senior centers, independent living centers, service clubs, and assistive-technology groups do most of the work. This means the best answer can change by county, by week, and by the exact item needed.

Best statewide starting points in Oregon

Start wide, then go local. ADRC can help older adults, people with disabilities, family members, and caregivers find long-term support options. 211info can search community resources by ZIP code. ATI is the best statewide path when the item is more than a basic walker or shower chair.

Statewide Oregon contacts
Resource What it helps with Who may use it Reality check
ADRC of Oregon
1-855-673-2372		 Local aging, disability, caregiver, and long-term care resource referrals. Older adults, adults with disabilities, caregivers, and helpers. It may not know live inventory. Ask for several names, not just one.
211info
211 or 1-866-698-6155		 Community resource search by need and ZIP code. Oregon residents and helpers looking for local services. Listings can change. Call each program before driving.
Access Technologies, Inc. Assistive technology, reuse, a lending library, and used equipment leads. People with disabilities, older adults, and families who need technology or equipment options. Some options are loans or resale, not always free items.
TDAP No-cost communication equipment for eligible Oregon residents. People age 4 or older with hearing, vision, speech, mobility, or cognition disabilities. It is for communication tools, not normal bath or mobility DME.

When to use insurance instead of a loan closet

A loan closet is often best for a short-term need. Insurance may be better when the person needs the item for months or years, needs a custom fit, or needs repairs and replacement parts. If a doctor says the equipment is medically necessary for use at home, ask the doctor to write the order in clear terms.

For Oregon Health Plan members, the state posts OHP DME rules and related policy links. Most OHP members work through a coordinated care organization, or CCO. Use the official CCO contact list if you do not know which plan to call.

If the plan delay is hurting the person’s health or discharge plan, keep notes. Write down dates, names, order numbers, supplier names, and what each office said. If you tried the CCO and still cannot solve the problem, the OHP Ombuds Program can take member concerns.

Major local and regional Oregon programs

These programs are useful starting points, but they are not the only closets in Oregon. A church, Lions club, senior center, hospice group, or county disability group near you may have a smaller closet that is not easy to find online.

Oregon DME loan and reuse programs to check
Area Program What it may help with Who may qualify Reality check
Rogue Valley ACCESS Free short-term loans such as walkers, wheelchairs, bath aids, commodes, beds, and more. Rogue Valley residents with short-term equipment needs. Items are first come, first served. In-stock items may be held for a short time.
Grants Pass and Southern Oregon HASL Temporary loans of wheelchairs, walkers, bath aids, scooters, beds, lifts, and smaller aids. Community members who need a temporary bridge while seeking a permanent solution. Initial loans are usually three months. Large items may have a waiting list.
Eastern Oregon Clearview Medical loan closet help, disability resources, and transportation support in the Pendleton area. Seniors and people with disabilities who can use the local program. Call first to check current hours, stock, and pickup rules.
Klamath Basin Klamath Center No-cost assistive-equipment loans. People who need assistive equipment and can work with the senior center. The page lists no term limits, but stock depends on donations.
Yamhill Valley Sue’s Closet Free medical equipment and supplies, including common home-care items. Families in need in Yamhill County and nearby areas. Call or text first. Hours and inventory can change.
South Lincoln County coast South Lincoln Used DME such as beds, wheelchairs, walkers, bath seats, commodes, toilet risers, and canes. People in Seal Rock, Waldport, Yachats, Tidewater, Five Rivers, and nearby south county areas. Warehouse hours are limited. Some urgent needs may be handled by appointment.
Bandon and nearby coast St. John’s No-charge temporary mobility equipment, bath aids, toilet risers, commodes, and transfer benches. People recovering from illness, surgery, accidents, end-of-life needs, or insurance delays. Appointments are required. Caregivers may check out equipment for a client.
Portland metro AT Lab Free two-week loans for assistive technology, daily-living tools, communication, and accessibility devices. People who want to try assistive technology before choosing a device. It does not stock wheelchairs, commodes, or personal care DME.
Southwest Portland Avraham’s Closet Free medical equipment such as walkers, wheelchairs, canes, shower chairs, and other aids. People with medical needs who can contact the closet and arrange pickup. Confirm stock before going. Small volunteer programs can change hours.
Portland area Wheels of Power Power mobility help for people who cannot use manual wheelchairs. People in the Portland area who fit the program’s focus. This is not a general bath-aid or walker closet.

What equipment is easiest and hardest to find

Most closets can help more often with small, simple items. Large or powered equipment is harder because it takes more space, cleaning, repair, and safe transport.

What Oregon borrowers usually find fastest
Often easier Often harder Why it matters
Walkers, canes, crutches, manual wheelchairs, transport chairs, shower chairs, bath benches, bedside commodes, raised toilet seats, bed rails, and transfer benches. Hospital beds, Hoyer lifts, scooters, power chairs, lift recliners, bariatric equipment, oxygen equipment, CPAP or BiPAP devices, diabetic supplies, tubing, and wound-care supplies. Harder items may need a prescription, a supplier, repairs, special cleaning, a charger, a sling, a mattress, or safe delivery.

Do not take an item just because it is free. A walker set at the wrong height can increase fall risk. A wheelchair without working brakes is not safe. A lift without the right sling can be dangerous.

How loans usually work in Oregon

Availability: Donation-based programs can change inventory every day. A closet may have five walkers in the morning and none by the afternoon.

Pickup: Many closets expect you to pick up the item. Ask if a family member, friend, caregiver, church volunteer, or case manager may pick it up for the senior. For large items, ask if the program offers any delivery, but do not assume it.

Loan length: There is no single Oregon rule. Some programs lend for weeks. Some lend for about three months. Some allow extensions. Some may let a person keep low-cost used items. Ask before you borrow.

Paperwork: Expect a simple intake form, release, or liability waiver. Some programs ask for a phone number, address, emergency contact, and return agreement.

Cleaning: Programs may clean items before lending, but you should still inspect the equipment. Look for rust, cracks, loose legs, worn wheels, missing footrests, broken brakes, or fabric that cannot be cleaned.

What to ask before pickup

  • Is the item in stock today? Ask the person to check before you drive.
  • Can you hold it? This matters in rural Oregon and on the coast.
  • What size is it? Ask about seat width, height range, weight limit, bed size, or lift rating.
  • Does it include all parts? Ask about footrests, charger, sling, mattress, straps, rails, wheels, and brakes.
  • How long can we keep it? Ask how extensions work.
  • What is the return rule? Ask whether it must be cleaned, bagged, or returned during certain hours.
  • Can a caregiver pick it up? Ask what information the caregiver must bring.
  • Can someone show us how to adjust it? If not, ask a therapist or nurse to check it.

Phone scripts you can use

For ADRC or 211info: “I am helping an older adult in Oregon who needs a [item] by [date]. The person lives in [ZIP code]. Can you search nearby DME loan closets, churches, senior centers, and disability groups? Please include nearby counties if nothing is close.”

For a local loan closet: “Do you have a [item] in stock today? The user is [height] and [weight]. We can pick it up on [day]. Do you require a form, waiver, ID, or appointment?”

For a hospital discharge planner: “We cannot safely bring my parent home without [item]. Can you help us contact a supplier, ADRC, 211info, and any local loan closet before discharge?”

For an OHP plan or CCO: “A provider ordered [item] on [date]. The supplier is [name], if known. The delay is causing [problem]. What is the current status, what is missing, and how do I request urgent review?”

How to start without wasting time

  • Step 1: Write down the exact item, size, and date needed.
  • Step 2: Call ADRC and 211info the same day. Ask both to search by ZIP code and nearby counties.
  • Step 3: Call the closest local programs from the table above. Ask about live stock before you drive.
  • Step 4: If the item is large, ask about pickup, loading help, delivery, and whether you need a truck.
  • Step 5: If insurance is involved, call the doctor and supplier. Ask what paperwork is missing.
  • Step 6: If nothing works, widen the search to assistive technology, independent living centers, churches, Lions clubs, and adjacent counties.

What to gather first

  • The exact item needed, or the best plain-English description.
  • The senior’s height and weight.
  • Home details, such as stairs, narrow doors, bathroom size, and bed height.
  • Whether the need is short-term, long-term, or end-of-life care.
  • Doctor, therapist, clinic, hospital, or home health contact information.
  • Insurance type: Medicare, Medicare Advantage, OHP, private insurance, or no insurance.
  • Discharge date, surgery date, or date the item is needed.
  • Whether someone can pick up, load, clean, and return the equipment.

Reality checks for Oregon families

  • Free does not mean in stock. Donation-based closets can run out quickly.
  • The best program may be two counties away. This is common in rural Oregon.
  • Delivery is not guaranteed. Many programs do not have drivers or trucks.
  • Large items take more planning. Beds, lifts, scooters, and power chairs may require space, parts, chargers, or a trained helper.
  • Insurance may still matter. A borrowed item can help now, but long-term equipment may need a doctor order and supplier.
  • Safety comes first. The right fit is more important than getting the first free item available.

Common mistakes to avoid

  • Waiting until discharge day to start calling.
  • Driving a long distance without confirming stock and hours.
  • Assuming every program serves the whole state.
  • Taking a wheelchair without checking brakes, footrests, and seat width.
  • Taking a walker without checking height and weight limits.
  • Confusing a community loan closet with Medicare or OHP coverage.
  • Keeping donated equipment for years after the need ends.
  • Donating broken, dirty, fabric-heavy, or unsafe equipment without asking first.

What to do if denied, delayed, or overwhelmed

If a local closet says no: ask whether they know another closet, church, Lions club, senior center, independent living center, hospice group, or county aging office. Also ask when to call back.

If the item is not available nearby: call ADRC and 211info again with a wider search area. Say you are willing to check nearby counties if someone can pick up the item.

If Medicare or OHP is involved: ask the doctor and supplier whether the order has the right diagnosis, item details, and medical need. Ask the plan what step is missing. Keep notes on each call.

If OHP is the problem: start with the CCO or plan. If the issue still blocks care, use the Ombuds route. A loan closet can help for a short time, but it may not solve the insurance decision.

If you are too tired to manage calls: ask the hospital social worker, clinic care manager, Area Agency on Aging, home health agency, or a trusted family member to make calls with you.

Backup options if no closet has the item

  • Ask about used equipment sales: ATI and some local programs may know resale or reuse options.
  • Ask the therapist for a safer substitute: a transfer bench may work when a shower chair is not safe, or a transport chair may work for short trips.
  • Ask the supplier about rentals: this may be costly, but it can bridge a short gap after surgery.
  • Ask hospice or home health: some services can arrange equipment tied to the care plan.
  • Ask local charities: churches, service clubs, and senior centers sometimes help with pickup, transport, or one-time costs.

These related guides may help when the equipment problem is part of a bigger care, housing, or benefits issue.

Resumen en español

Resumen rápido: Oregon no tiene un solo programa estatal para prestar equipo médico duradero a personas mayores. Lo más útil es llamar a ADRC de Oregon al 1-855-673-2372 y a 211info al 211 o al 1-866-698-6155. Pida ayuda para buscar closets de equipo médico cerca de su código postal y también en condados cercanos.

Los artículos más fáciles de encontrar suelen ser andadores, bastones, muletas, sillas de ruedas manuales, sillas para ducha, bancos de transferencia, cómodos y elevadores de inodoro. Las camas de hospital, grúas Hoyer, scooters, sillas eléctricas y equipo bariátrico pueden tardar más.

Si el problema es una demora o negación del Oregon Health Plan, llame primero a su CCO o plan. Si no se resuelve, use el programa Ombuds de la Oregon Health Authority. Si el equipo es para comunicación, audición, visión, habla o cognición, revise TDAP y los programas de tecnología de asistencia.

Frequently asked questions

Is there one statewide Oregon DME loan closet?

No. Oregon has statewide starting points, but most actual equipment is held by local nonprofits, churches, senior centers, independent living centers, and community programs.

What is the fastest first call?

Call ADRC at 1-855-673-2372 and 211info at 211 or 1-866-698-6155. If discharge is happening now, also ask the hospital or clinic to help before the person leaves.

Can seniors borrow a hospital bed for free in Oregon?

Sometimes. Beds are harder to find than walkers or commodes. Some programs list beds, but stock changes fast and delivery may not be available.

Will Medicare or OHP pay for a loan-closet item?

Usually no. Community loan closets usually work outside insurance. Medicare and OHP use separate coverage rules, provider orders, and supplier steps.

What if no one nearby has the item?

Ask ADRC and 211info to search nearby counties. Then try senior centers, churches, Lions clubs, independent living centers, and assistive-technology programs.

Can I donate used medical equipment in Oregon?

Yes, many programs accept clean, working, reusable equipment. Call first. Some programs refuse broken items, fabric-heavy items, CPAP or BiPAP machines, oxygen equipment, or supplies that cannot be safely cleaned.

Are borrowed items cleaned and safe?

Programs often clean or inspect items, but you should still check brakes, legs, wheels, seat size, missing parts, rust, cracks, and fit before use.

What if the need is a communication device?

Use TDAP, ATI, or the AT Lab instead of a basic loan closet. Communication devices often follow a different path than walkers, commodes, or shower chairs.

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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About the Authors

Analic Mata-Murray
Analic Mata-Murray

Managing Editor

Analic Mata-Murray holds a Communications degree with a focus on Journalism and Advertising from Universidad Católica Andrés Bello. With over 11 years of experience as a volunteer translator for The Salvation Army, she has helped Spanish-speaking communities access critical resources and navigate poverty alleviation programs.

As Managing Editor at Grants for Seniors, Analic oversees all content to ensure accuracy and accessibility. Her bilingual expertise allows her to create and review content in both English and Spanish, specializing in community resources, housing assistance, and emergency aid programs.

Yolanda Taylor
Yolanda Taylor, BA Psychology

Senior Healthcare Editor

Yolanda Taylor is a Senior Healthcare Editor with over six years of clinical experience as a medical assistant in diverse healthcare settings, including OB/GYN, family medicine, and specialty clinics. She is currently pursuing her Bachelor's degree in Psychology at California State University, Sacramento.

At Grants for Seniors, Yolanda oversees healthcare-related content, ensuring medical accuracy and accessibility. Her clinical background allows her to translate complex medical terminology into clear guidance for seniors navigating Medicare, Medicaid, and dental care options. She is bilingual in Spanish and English and holds Lay Counselor certification and CPR/BLS certification.