Written and maintained by CASRAI Editorial Board
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This page describes products and general use; it is not medical advice.
A medical equipment loan closet is a community program that lends used durable medical equipment, such as wheelchairs and shower chairs, to people who need it for a while. This guide is for people who may borrow from one, families helping them, and staff who run or refer to one. It explains how borrowing works and what to ask first, because each closet sets its own rules.
What is a medical equipment loan closet?
A loan closet is a program that lends durable medical equipment (DME) and assistive devices. The nonprofit directory Great Lakes Loan Closets describes loan closets as “also known as medical equipment loaning programs or re-use programs” and says most organizations get their equipment from community members who no longer need it. Staff or volunteers clean the equipment, check that it is in good condition, and lend it to people who need it (Great Lakes Loan Closets, checked 2026-10-30).
The same directory states that each loan closet is unique, with its own eligibility requirements, equipment and loan period. That one fact drives most of this guide: there is no single national rulebook, so the answers you need are specific to the closet you contact.
Who uses it: people recovering from an injury or illness, older adults, and family caregivers who need equipment for a short or uncertain time, plus discharge planners and healthcare providers who refer them.
How a loan closet works
- Equipment comes in. Closets mostly receive equipment donated by community members. For the donor side, see our guide to donating medical equipment.
- Equipment is cleaned and checked. Per Great Lakes Loan Closets, staff clean the equipment and check that it is in good condition before lending it.
- A borrower is approved. Some closets require a provider referral. Howard County, Maryland, for example, requires a healthcare provider to assess need and complete a Healthcare Referral Form, which confirms the client can safely use the equipment (Howard County Loan Closet, checked 2026-10-30).
- Pickup is arranged. In Howard County, if the item is in stock, staff call to schedule a pick-up appointment. Lisle Township, Illinois, asks borrowers to call to check availability and arrange pickup (checked 2026-10-30).
- The item is returned when it is no longer needed or when the loan period ends, depending on the closet’s terms.
What equipment loan closets lend
Great Lakes Loan Closets says closets typically have durable medical equipment such as wheelchairs, shower chairs and bedside commodes, and also walkers, crutches, canes and high-rise toilet seats; some have hospital beds or electric wheelchairs. Lisle Township lists its own inventory. Availability depends on what the community has donated, so a listed item is not a guarantee of stock.
| Item | Named by |
|---|---|
| Wheelchairs | Great Lakes Loan Closets; Lisle Township |
| Walkers and rollators | Great Lakes Loan Closets (walkers); Lisle Township (walkers, rollators) |
| Canes and crutches | Great Lakes Loan Closets; Lisle Township |
| Shower chairs and tub transfer benches | Great Lakes Loan Closets (shower chairs); Lisle Township (tub transfer benches or shower chairs) |
| Bedside commodes and high-rise toilet seats | Great Lakes Loan Closets |
| Hospital beds, electric wheelchairs | Great Lakes Loan Closets (some closets only) |
For what one common item is and how it is built, see our explainer on canes.
Who can borrow, and for how long
Two real government-run closets show how far the rules can differ:
| Question | Howard County, Maryland | Lisle Township, Illinois |
|---|---|---|
| Who is served | Howard County residents with any injury, illness or medical status, regardless of age | Township residents in need |
| Cost | No cost | Free of charge |
| Referral | Healthcare provider completes a Healthcare Referral Form | No referral requirement listed on its program page |
| Loan period | Not stated on its program page | Three months, renewable once |
| Getting the item | Pick-up appointment scheduled by staff if in stock | Call to check availability and arrange pickup |
Sources: Howard County Loan Closet and Lisle Township Medical Lending Closet program pages, checked 2026-10-30. Other closets may differ on every row.
Questions to ask before you borrow
Based on the rules the closets above publish, these are the points worth confirming by phone:
- Do I qualify by residence, or by another condition the closet sets?
- Is a provider referral or form required, and who sends it?
- Is the item in stock, and how is pickup scheduled?
- How long is the loan, and can it be renewed?
- Is there a fee? (Both closets above lend at no cost; others may not.)
- What happens when I return it?
Loan closet vs rental vs donation
A loan closet lends equipment, usually for free, from donated stock, under local rules. A rental or purchase goes through a supplier and is a different decision; see our rent vs buy guide for home medical equipment. Giving equipment you no longer need to a closet is donation, covered in donating unused medical supplies.
Common mistakes
- Assuming every loan closet has the same rules. Great Lakes Loan Closets states each has its own eligibility, equipment and loan period.
- Assuming an item is in stock because the closet lists the item type.
- Skipping the referral step where one is required: Howard County contacts the client only after it receives the completed Healthcare Referral Form.
- Assuming the loan period without asking. One closet’s three months, renewable once, is not a general rule.
FAQ
What is a medical equipment loan closet?
It is a community program, also called a medical equipment loaning or re-use program, that lends used durable medical equipment that community members have donated, after staff clean and check it (Great Lakes Loan Closets, checked 2026-10-30).
What is the difference between a loan closet and DME reuse?
Great Lakes Loan Closets uses the terms as alternate names for the same kind of program: loan closets are also known as medical equipment loaning programs or re-use programs.
Is borrowing from a loan closet free?
Howard County and Lisle Township both state that they lend at no cost, but a closet run by another organization may set its own terms, so ask.
Sources
- Howard County, MD, Loan Closet of Howard County, checked 2026-10-30.
- Lisle Township, IL, Medical Lending Closet, checked 2026-10-30.
- Great Lakes Loan Closets (nonprofit directory), What’s a Loan Closet, checked 2026-10-30.
