Why Durable Medical Equipment?

How Durable Medical Equipment Can Assist People With Impaired Mobility 

Written by Nancy McMahon Durable medical equipment is used to provide additional support and care to patients outside of the hospital environment and is designed to support both temporary and permanent conditions.  Durable medical equipment ranges from inexpensive items that can be bought from any good healthcare supplier (offline or online) such as walking sticks, basic blood pressure monitors and back supports, through to expensive specialist equipment that needs to be prescribed by a healthcare professional such as prosthetics or dialysis machines.  Durable medical equipment can offer a number of practical ways to support patients that are suffering from impaired mobility, whether this is a temporary affliction due to accident or post-surgery recovery, or a permanent condition resulting from a disability or ongoing illness.   Health insurance providers may be able to assist you with financing durable medical equipment and it is important that you check your policy carefully to see what you are entitled too. Help for getting around When you have mobility impairments even the simple process of getting around in your own home can become difficult and you may need round the clock assistance from a care giver.  There are a number of durable medical equipment products that can help you to move much more easily around your home, and these can give you a measure of independence and make normal, everyday tasks such as feeding your pets or going to the bathroom on your own much easier.  Grab rails and other lifting aids positioned at key areas around the home are ideal for those patients that are unsteady on their feet, and can assist people with difficulties rising from a sitting or prone position to get more easily out of bed and up from chairs.   Motorized lifting equipment can also be useful for patients with severe mobility issues, and can assist care givers in lifting the patient in and out of bed, and can also be used to modify bathrooms so that washing and using the toilet is easier.  Wheelchairs and walkers are other key items of durable medical equipment that can assist patients to become more mobile and independent, and there are a number of different designs available to suit a whole range of disabilities and physical impairments.  There are also some specialist types of equipment available for helping mobility impaired patients to travel outside of the home more independently such as mobility scooters and also adapted bikes, which are basically three wheeled pushbikes (that can be foot or hand driven), which are ideal for helping to encourage young children with physical impairments to become more mobile. Help around the home Mobility impairments can make even simple, everyday tasks much more difficult and time consuming, but there are a many different types of durable medical equipment available that can assist with these tasks and make day-to-day life much easier such as: Ramps – small steps between rooms can represent trip hazards and obstacles for patients with mobility impairments, but these can easily be modified with permanent or temporary ramps that come in all sizes, which can make the home much safer. Motorized chairs – people who have recently undergone hip replacements or who have other problems standing up from a sitting position can benefit from motorized chairs, which gradually lift up to a more upright position, making it much easier for patients to stand up without any assistance. Adjustable beds – physical impairments may mean that conventional beds are unsuitable, as you may not be able to lie down for long periods of time or find certain positions uncomfortable, and adjustable beds can be a practical solution allowing you to find a comfortable sleeping and resting position to suit your needs. Where to get durable medical equipment Specialist durable medical equipment such as prosthetics will have to be provided by your local hospital or healthcare provider, and they will also service these items for you and provide any replacements you need.  Other types of durable medical equipment such as walkers, crutches and wheelchairs can be sourced from any good medical suppliers and there are many different stores both online and offline stocking these kinds of products.  Durable medical equipment can provide ongoing support for patients suffering from illnesses, disabilities or injuries that restrict their mobility and normal daily functions, and come in a diverse range of products from self help tools such as crutches, walkers and grab rails through to complex and expensive devices such as prosthetics and respiratory apparatus. The range of durable medical equipment is diverse and costs can vary significantly depending on the individual person’s needs and the duration of their illness, but there is no doubt that durable medical equipment can significantly improve the lives of many patients and allow them to live at home with the minimum reliance of carers and family members. Types of durable medical equipment Durable medical equipment comes in many different shapes and varieties, and although the term ‘durable’ is used is can also cover disposable, non-durable items that are used in everyday, essential home healthcare.  Therefore durable medical equipment can be split into two main groups: Durable equipment – this includes long lasting essential items such as wheelchairs, beds, adaptive bikes, walkers, respiratory apparatus, nebulizers, hearing aids and more. Non-durable equipment – this includes disposable or non-permanent equipment such as gloves, rubber/plastic hose (used for equipment such as catheters and nebulizers that needs regular replacement), syringes and more. Costs of durable medical equipment Many items of durable medical equipment are inexpensive, and can be sourced easily from specialist stores and online providers and these can provide useful items that can help support patients to allow them to carry out everyday functions around the home.  For example grab rails can be fitted to steps, bathrooms and bedsides to provide additional assistance when moving around and getting up and down from a sitting or prone position, and these are easy to source and can be installed by a professional fitter or someone who is good at DIY and understands the need for secure, durable installation. More specialized forms of durable medical equipment such as hearing aids and prosthetics will need to be obtained through your healthcare provider in most cases, and will require a number of fittings and adjustments, and also ongoing maintenance and servicing.  These specialist items can be very expensive, but the benefits they can bring to the patient are vast and they can significantly improve quality of life and assist patients to be more independent in the home and when traveling. Help with choosing durable medical equipment If you are unsure what durable equipment would be best for you it is important to talk to your doctor or specialist healthcare provider about the different types of equipment that are available, and which would be most suitable for your individual circumstances.  Many charities can also provide support and assistance for patients that need durable medical equipment and can provide a lot of helpful advice on the different types of equipment available and also may be able to offer some funding towards assisting patients to purchase this equipment.