If you want to find free durable medical equipment in Los Angeles, this article will show you how, and where to do that. Some of this equipment may be brand new, and some of it will be used.
I have put together a long list of sources for free home medical equipment in Los Angeles, and where necessary, instructions on how to apply.
As this article is very long, I have included a table of contents with “quick links”, to allow you to jump to the section that interests you the most.
You can get free home medical equipment in Los Angeles from –
- the Ability Tools Assistive Technology Program
- AT Exchange
- reuse, recycling and refurbishing centers, such as “Dayle Mcintosh Center”, the “ALS Association, Los Angeles Chapter”, or “Convalescent Aid Society (CAS)”
- medical equipment loan closets, such as “Helping Hands, Los Angeles, Loan Closet” or “The Durable Medical Equipment Aid Society”
- independent living centers, such as the “Communities Actively Living Independent and Free (CALIF)”
- Medicaid
- Very cheap with Medicare, but not free
- the VA
- cheapish from Goodwill stores
- cheapish from Salvation Army stores
- cheapish from thrift stores, such as “Society of St Vincent de Paul Thrift Store” or “Assistance League Canoga Thrift Stores”
You can also find free medical equipment in Los Angeles, using online platforms and social media sites such as –
- Craigslist.com
- usedHME.com
- Freecycle.org
- Facebook.com
- Nextdoor.com
- OfferUp.com
CONTENTS - Overview & Quick Links
Free medical equipment from Ability Tools – the California State Assistive Technology Program
Free medical equipment from the California Assistive Technology Reuse Coalition
CATRC Reuse Programs in Greater Los Angeles
Ability Tools Device Lending and Demo Centers in Los Angeles
Independent Reuse Programs in Los Angeles
Centers for Independent Living in Los Angeles
Free Medical equipment loan Closets in Los Angeles
Free medical equipment for Veterans in Los Angeles
Veteran Centers in Los Angeles
Free medical equipment online near me in Los Angeles
- free used medical equipment near me in Los Angeles, on Craigslist.com
- free used medical equipment near me in Los Angeles, on Freecycle.org
- free used medical equipment near me in Los Angeles, on UsedHME.com
- free used medical equipment near me in Los Angeles, on Facebook.com
- free used medical equipment near me in Los Angeles, on Nextdoor.com
- free used medical equipment near me in Los Angeles, on OfferUp.com
Free medical equipment on Medicaid in California
Medical equipment with Medicare
Where to find out about free medical equipment in your neighborhood in Los Angeles
- Area Agencies on Aging
- Department of Social Service
- Lions Clubs
- Rotary Clubs
- Catholic Charities of Los Angeles
- Society of St. Vincent de Paul
- Lutheran Services of Los Angeles
- The Jewish Family Service of Los Angeles
- Your local church or faith Groups
Where to get cheaper medical equipment in Los Angeles
Free medical equipment from Ability Tools, the State Assistive Technology Program
The California Assistive Technology Program “ABILITY TOOLS” is responsible for development of the access of the community to “assistive technology devices”
As part of its programs, it does this with the assistance of a coalition of “Reuse Programs” called the CATRC – The California Assistive Technology Reuse Coalition.
The Reuse Centers/Programs are spread out across California.
The members of the coalition work with ABILITY TOOLS to collect and refurbish used medical equipment, and to then help to re-allocate it to those in need.
ABILITY TOOLS and the CATRC offer to those in need –
- free short term loans of new and used home medical equipment
- free long short term loans of new and used home medical equipment
- lend new or used medical equipment indefinitely for free
- give in certain cases used home medical equipment for free
- the opportunity to buy used home medical equipment at a very low cost, if they don’t qualify for it for free
The home medical equipment is loaned to those with the greatest need first.
The Ability Tools AT Exchange
Ability Tools maintains an online Assistive Technology Exchange on which participating organizations can post their inventories of used medical equipment and AT devices available.
The Assistive Technology Exchange website can be found by going here – http://abilitytools.org/services/at-exchange-transition.php
The reuse programs of the CATRC put up the refurbished equipment on the site for loan, and the other programs can see what is available for the individuals they are helping.
“The reuse programs accept donations of assistive technology devices and medical equipment, repair, and sanitize them, and then offer them to people with disabilities for free, or at low cost.” – Source here.
Free medical equipment from the California Assistive Technology Reuse Coalition
You will find the CATRC website is here.
One way to find out if you are eligible for any free, or low cost durable medical equipment on a loan or a permanent basis, is to contact the CATRC member reuse center in your area.
In the Greater Los Angeles area, there are 7 of the CATRC reuse centers/programs dealing with home medical equipment.
CATRC Reuse Programs in Greater Los Angeles
The different CATRC Reuse Programs may prioritize members of their communities in different ways, or not.
Some programs will loan medical equipment, or sell it at a very low cost, or give it away for free to those in need, or all three.
ALS Association, Los Angeles Chapter
The ALS Association (Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis) of Los Angeles runs a “loan closet” which can be used by their registered members.
Address:
P.O. Box 565
Agoura Hills, CA 91376-0565
Phone: 818 865 8067
Website:http://webgw.alsa.org/
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DAYLE MCINTOSH CENTER (DMC) Reuse, Repair and Recycle Program DAYLE MCINTOSH CENTER (DMC) (Orange County)
The Dayle McIntosh Center’s reuse, recycle and repair program serves all the residents of Orange County living with disabilities.
Their equipment loan program website page is here.
The list of items available is always in flux, but it includes equipment such as –
- wheelchairs
- walkers
- canes
- crutches
- shower chairs
- commode chairs
- Hoyer lifts
Address:
501 N. Brookhurst Street, #102
Anaheim, CA 92801
Phone: 714 621 3300
Website: https://daylemc.org
You need to contact the program to if you are eligible for an equipment loan.
To see what equipment they have available, you can look on the Ability Tools AT Exchange.
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Southern California Resource Services for Independent Living (SCRS-IL)
The SCRS is a Center for Independent Living, which loans out used medical equipment, for free, to individuals with disabilities in the community.
The durable medical equipment loaned includes items such as –
- wheelchairs
- walkers
- crutches
- canes
- rollators
- portable commodes
- transfer benches
- sliding boards
For inquiries, you should call one of the following office numbers below, depending on where you live, and ask for the “AT Facilitator”.
Arcadia Office Address:
1165 Clark St,
Arcadia, CA 91006
Phone: 626 239 6012
Downey Office Address:
7830 Quill Drive, Ste D
Downey, CA 90242
Phone: 562 862 6531
Pasadena Office Address:
2023 Lincoln Ave,
Pasadena, CA 91103
Phone: 626 587 5010
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Communities Actively Living Independent and Free (CALIF)
CALIF finds new homes for assistive technology devices to individuals in need.
The equipment reassigned includes items such as –
- durable medical equipment
- communication devices
- vision products
- hearing products
- mobility products
- assistive devices
You can give them a call and make inquiries at the phone number below.
Address:
634 South Spring Street, 2nd Floor
Los Angeles, CA 90014
Phone: 213 627 0477
Website: https://califilc.webs.com
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Convalescent Aid Society – CAS
The free loan of wheelchairs, and other durable medical equipment for in-home use, is provided to residents in Pasadena and its neighboring communities, by the CAS.
CAS’s equipment loans are available to anyone in their service area, which you can see on the map here.
You have to go through an application process, which you can find about here.
CAS loans out medical equipment such as –
- hospital beds
- bed trapezes
- quad canes
- canes
- crutches
- bedside commodes
- raised toilet seats
- bath chairs
- transfer benches
- walkers
- rollators
- wheelchairs
- transport chairs
To make inquiries, you can call the number below, or use the website contact page.
Address:
3255 East Foothill Boulevard,
Pasadena, CA 91107
Phone: 626 793 1696
Website: https://www.convalescentaidsociety.com/
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Community Access Center (CAC)
The Riverside CAC runs an equipment reuse program and loan closet, which includes items such as –
- wheelchairs
- ramps
- rollators
- walkers
- hearing aids
- hospital beds
- suction safety grips
- visual aids for senior low vision program
To make inquiries about the equipment loans, call the CAC on the phone number listed below.
Address:
6848 Magnolia Avenue, Suite 150
Riverside, CA 92506
Phone: 951 274 0358 x103
Website: https://ilcac.org
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The Durable Medical Equipment Aid Society
The Durable Medical Equipment Aid Society supports individuals living in Los Angeles County who lack the financial resources or insurance, with loans of durable medical equipment for their rehabilitation, or recovery, from illness or injury.
The durable medical equipment loaned includes items such as –
- standard or bariatric manual wheelchairs
- standard or bariatric transport chairs
- front wheel walkers and rollator (seated) walkers
- standard and bariatric commodes
- raised toilet seats and risers
- wheelchair ramps
- patient lifts ie Hoyer lift type
- bath transfer benches
- shower/bath chairs
- shower or bath grab bars
- single point and quad point canes
- bed rails
- toilet rails
- crutches
You can contact them on the number below, or on their website.
Phone: 818 298 9893
Website: http://www.thedme.org
Ability Tools Device Lending and Demo Centers
A Device Lending and Demonstration Center program is run by Ability Tools across the whole of California, using a dozen agencies.
The agencies are contracted to provide short term loans lasting up to 30 days.
The agency in Los Angeles is the Center for Applied Rehabilitation Technology
Center for Applied Rehabilitation Technology
7601 East Imperial Highway,
Downey, CA 90242
Phone: 562 401 6813
Website: https://dhs.lacounty.govrancho/
City of Los Angeles, Department on Disability – Durable medical Equipment Program
“The City of Los Angeles, Department on Disability provides assistance to residents in need of durable medical equipment for in-home use at no charge.”
Independent medical equipment re-use programs in Los Angeles
Rolling Start, Inc. – Center for Independent Living
The Rolling Start Center for Independent Living receives AT funding for Hesperia and Apple Valley Residents.
The center provides a range of programs to “empower and educate” individuals in the community with disabilities.
One of the services is a Reuse Program, which conducts Assistive Technology Training and runs workshops and Group Presentations for the disabled members of the community.
The center also provides assistive technology devices to their consumers.
They offer devices which range from jar openers to wheelchairs.
Website : https://rollingstart.com/services-and-programs/
Rolling Start has two offices –
San Bernardino Office
1955 Hunts Lane #101
San Bernardino, CA 92408
Phone: 909 890 9516
Victorville Office
16519 Victor Street, #406
Victorville, CA 92395
Phone: 760 949 7626
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Free medical equipment from Centers for Independent Living in Greater Los Angeles
Centers for Independent Living provide services to assist people with disabilities to live independently in the community.
If you are disabled, you should contact the Center for Independent Living in your area to find out all the services, and to get access to the equipment in their loan closet – most centers have a medical equipment loan closet for their consumers.
Below is a list of all the Centers for Independent Living in Greater Los Angeles and their contact details.
Anaheim
Riverside
San Bernardino
Ventura
Free medical equipment loan closets in Los Angeles
The Camarillo Medical Supply Project
300 Mission Drive,
Camarillo, CA 93010
Phone: 805 491 1028
The Camarillo United Methodist Church, and has a free loan open to all members of the community and Ventura County.
Website: https://camarilloumc.org/medical-supply-project
The loan closet includes all types of durable medical equipment and home health supplies –
- walkers
- wheelchairs
- knee scooters
- rollators
- crutches
- canes
- bedside commodes
- shower chairs
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Helping Hands, Los Angeles Durable Medical Equipment Loan Closet
Website : https://www.helpinghandsla.org/how-we-help/care-coordination/medical-equipment/dme-loan-closet
Phone: 818 279 6580
Seniors can borrow used medical equipment from the community loan closet.
Examples of the type of equipment you will find in the loan closet are –
- wheelchairs
- power mobility equipment
- crutches
- canes walkers
- beds
- bathroom safety equipment
The loan closet serves the following counties – LA County, Orange County, Ventura County, Riverside County, San Bernardino County and San Diego County.
There are no listings on the website, so to find a loan closet near you to borrow equipment, you will need to phone them.
“Depending on particular the loan closet, the equipment may be loaned out for a set period of time, for as long as the person needs it or, in some cases it may even be given away.”
The source of the text above is here –
https://www.helpinghandsla.org/how-we-help/care-coordination/medical-equipment/dme-loan-closet
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Muscular Dystrophy Association
6167 Bristol PWKY Suite 325,
Culver City, CA 90230-6612
Phone: 310 390 6802
Website: https://www.mda.org/
The MDA agency in Culver City loans out wheelchairs, and helps with repairs, to individuals who have one of forty neuromuscular diseases.
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Simi Valley Seventh-Day Adventist Church Community Services Center & Medical Loan Closet
1636 Sinaloa Road,
Simi Valley, CA 93065
For any questions, call – 805 433 2384
Facebook Page – https://www.facebook.com/simivalleyadventistcommunityservices/
The loan closet carries items of used medical equipment, such as –
- Rollators
- wheelchairs
- walkers
- crutches
- bedside commodes
- raised toilet seats
- power wheelchairs
- patient lifts
- hospital beds
- knee braces
- ankle braces
- arm braces
- wrist braces
It also carries medical supplies such as incontinence pads
It is only open on Wednesday mornings from 10 to 12 noon.
For any questions, call – 805 433 2384
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Senior Centers in Greater Los Angeles
Senior Centers often have loan closets for their elderly members, and also sometimes for the community as well.
To see if a Senior Center near you has a loan closet, or maybe knows of one, all you have to do is make a phone call.
There are 180 “Multipurpose Senior Centers and Dining Centers” in the County and City of Los Angeles.
If you use the link below, you will find the locator tool, and the Senior Centers near you.
Here is the link – https://aging.lacity.org/
The image below is of the tool you are looking for.
Free medical equipment for veterans
The Department of Veterans’ Affairs has many grants, programs and forms of financial assistance which are available to cover the cost of DME’s and also Home Care Supplies for veterans.
Veterans receive their healthcare under the VA Medical Benefits Package.
By law, the VA must provide hospital and outpatient care services, that are “needed”, to eligible veterans, “needed” meaning a care, or a service, which promotes, preserves or restores health.
Here are just some forms of assistance for veterans –
- Tricare for life – a supplemental insurance policy which will cover the 20% coinsurance payment on DME with Medicare Part B
- Tricare – this will cover most DME for use in the home, so long as it is prescribed by a doctor as “medically necessary” – basic models
- Veterans Directed Home and Community Based Services – these programs are intended to help veterans to stay living independently in their own homes, and if any durable medical equipment is prescribed by a doctor as “medically necessary”, it will be covered by the program. Veterans participating in these programs get to direct the way their budget is spent themselves, and they have somewhat more flexibility in choosing which particular models of equipment they buy
- ChampVA for Life – this is for 65’s and over, who are family members of veterans who died in the line of duty, or were permanently disabled – it covers the beneficiary’s Medicare co-pays and deductibles
Veteran Centers in Greater Los Angeles
Here’s a list of Veterans Centers Clinic and Administrations in Greater Los Angeles, that you can contact if you have any questions.
VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System
11301 Wilshire Blvd,
Los Angeles, CA 90073
Phone: 310 478 3711
Website: https://www.losangeles.va.gov/
US Veterans Center
515 E 6th Street,
Los Angeles, CA 90021
Phone: 213 253 5188
Veterans Service Office
1816 S Figueroa Street,
Los Angeles, CA 90015
Phone: 213 744 4825
Downtown Los Angeles VA Clinic
351 E Temple Street,
Los Angeles, CA 90012
Phone: 213 253 2677
Free medical equipment online near me in Los Angeles
The internet makes it very easy to find home medical equipment for free in your area, using online platforms and apps.
But before we start, you need to be aware of a few things about using online listings, and picking up free items –
1) It is not a great idea to have anyone drop off an item at your home, especially if you are caring for an elderly, vulnerable person.
The best places to arrange to pick up items are coffee shops, a malls or public venues – you don’t know if the person has other motives.
2) Don’t go alone to pick up the free equipment, especially if you are at all vulnerable.
3) Spam can be a real problem on online listings which require your email, so get a new email just for use on sites like Craigslist, and you can avoid getting your main email full of spam emails.
4) Scammers – just be aware that there are people who offer items for free, in an attempt to pull you in, to sell you something.
You can find people offering free home medical equipment on –
- Craigslist.com
- Freecycle.org
- UsedHME.com
- Facebook Marketplace
- Nextdoor.com
- OfferUp
Free medical equipment near me in Los Angeles, on Craigslist
Craigslist is basically a local classified listing, which you can use to find free medical equipment near you in Los Angeles.
You do not have to join, you just contact the person with the listing.
It is available on mobile and desktop devices.
It has a particular category for the listings for “free stuff”
I have written a quick illustrated guide on searching for free used home medical equipment on Craigslist.com here – “How To Get Free Medical Equipment Near Me On Craigslist ? A Quick Illustrated Guide”
Screenshot of Craigslist listings page
Screenshot example of a Craigslist garage sale page
Free Medical Equipment near me in Los Angeles, on FreeCycle.org
Freecycle is another online platform that you can use to find free medical equipment near you in Los Angeles – it is a platform where groups of individuals gift items of all kinds for free to other members in the groups, and it is present all over the world.
Basically, for free, you join groups near to where you live in Los Angeles, and you have access to all the items being gifted in those groups.
Members can also list requests of wanted items in their groups.
You can join as many groups as will approve you as a member, and put up as many “wanted” posts for the used medical equipment as you wish.
I have a quick illustrated article on how to find free used home medical equipment near you in Los Angeles on Freecycle.org – “How To Get Free Medical Equipment Near Me On Freecycle.org ? A Quick Illustrated Guide”
Screenshot of Freecyle.org page
Free medical equipment, near me in Los Angeles, on usedHME.com
Used Home Medical Equipment is a website of listings, where you can search for free home medical equipment near you in Los Angeles.
Anyone can use the listings, and you do not need to be a member to use the service.
You can set the distance from your zip code in Los Angeles that you want your search, so you can increase your search area at any time.
There is a lot of equipment which is free.
To see how to search near to you in LA, you can read my quick illustrated guide here – “How To Get Free Medical Equipment Near Me On UsedHME.com ? A Quick Illustrated Guide”
Free medical equipment near me in Los Angeles, on Facebook
To find free medical equipment near you in Los Angeles, you will need a Facebook account.
With a Facebook account, you can free items –
- in buying and selling groups
- on the Facebook Marketplace
Facebook has different tools, which allow you to make a local search for free items.
II have an illustrated guide, if you wish to find out exactly how to get free used home medical equipment in Los Angeles with Facebook, – “How To Get Free Medical Equipment Near Me On Facebook ? A Quick Illustrated Guide”
Screenshot of Facebook Marketplace page
Free medical equipment near me in Los Angeles, on Nextdoor.com
Nextdoor.com is a social media platform, just like Facebook, but the members are your neighbors in Los Angeles, rather than friends and family – all the items you are looking at on Nextdoor are in your neighborhood.
For mobile there is an app, and the website for desktop.
If you want to learn how to use it to find free medical equipment in Los Angeles, you can find my illustrated guide, here – “How To Get Free Medical Equipment Near Me On Nextdoor.com ? A Quick Illustrated Guide”
Screenshot of Nextdoor.com “All Listings” page
Free medical equipment near me in Los Angeles, on OfferUp
OfferUp is a “mobile first” platform, with an app for mobile, where you can find free items which are being gifted in Los Angeles – it is also available on desktop.
Sellers on OfferUp have ratings to show they are trustworthy, and not scammers, so pay attention to that – be wary of people offering items who have no profile photo etc.
OfferUp is free to join and use.
To set it up on mobile, you will need to download the app.
As with the other platforms, you have the tools only search in your local area.
There is a video on using OfferUp, which explains everything, so I have no need to write a guide this time. Just watch the video !
Getting free medical equipment with Medicaid in Los Angeles
Medi-Cal is the state Medicaid program in California.
Medi-Cal provides medical coverage to those with the lowest incomes.
For many the coverage is free, and for others it is low-cost health coverage.
The lead agency for Medi-Cal is the Department of Health Care Services – here.
If you qualify for Medi-Cal coverage, one of the 10 “essential health benefits”, for which you are covered, is physical and occupational therapy plus “devices” i.e. medical equipment.
Your equipment will be covered if –
- it is medically necessary
- it is prescribed by a licensed medical practitioner
- it meets your medical needs
The durable medical equipment covered by the Medi-Cal program includes wheelchairs, canes, crutches, grab bars, walkers, hospital beds oxygen therapy equipment and more.
There is more about the equipment in “Obtaining Assistive Technology through Medi-Cal” here and also in “An Advocate’s guide to Medi-Cal Service”, January 2020, here.
Medi-Cal Programs for the elderly and the disabled
The Department of Health Care Services has a number of programs called Medi-Cal waivers providing home and community based services.
These waivers typically will cover the purchase of an even broader range of durable medical equipment if prescribed as “medically necessary” by the beneficiary’s medical provider, for free.
These waivers are primarily designed to help the participants to maintain their independence living in their own home, rather than in a nursing facility.
The programs all have a limited number of places, if a person is eligible they will be placed on a waiting list.
The Medi-Cal waivers that I am referring to are the following –
Home and Community-Based Alternatives Waiver – you can read more about that here.
Self-Determination Program – you can find out more about this here.
The Multipurpose Senior Services Program (MSSP) Waiver – you can read more about that here.
All three waivers will allow for the purchase of equipment and devices which will allow the program participant to continue living in their own home.
Sources on Medi-Cal –
Obtaining Assistive Technology Through Medi-Cal – https://www.disabilityrightsca.org/system/files/file-attachments/558301.pdf
Medi-Cal waivers – https://www.dhcs.ca.gov/services/Pages/Medi-CalWaivers.aspx
The California Department of Health Care Services – https://www.dhcs.ca.gov/
Can you get free durable medical equipment if you have Medicare Part B ?
Firstly, I realize that there is nothing free about Medicare.
Secondly, I have to make it clear that you cannot just go buy items, and expect Medicare Part B to cover them.
Note: Prior to any purchase of an item which you are hoping to have covered by Medicare Part B, you must make sure –
- it is prescribed as “medically necessary” by a Medicare-enrolled Physician”, or treating provider (such as a nurse practitioner, physician assistant, or clinical nurse specialist)”
- certain DME may demand extra documentation of the medical necessity of the equipment. Source : https://www.medicare.gov/Pubs/pdf/11045-Medicare-Coverage-of-DME.PDF
- the equipment must also be acquired (purchased or rented), through a Medicare-enrolled supplier to qualify for coverage
- after obtaining the signed prescription from a Medicare-enrolled physician, you must use a medicare-approved equipment supplier to buy or rent your equipment
If you do qualify for coverage, and have done everything according to the Medicare Part B guidelines, to get the lowest prices you still need to get your equipment from a Medicare-approved supplier, who is a “Participating Supplier” who accepts “Assignment”.
The Participating Suppliers have agreed to only charge the Medicare-approved price of the equipment.
In cases where Medicare Part B accepts to cover an item, you will pay 20 % of the Medicare-approved price, and any extra amount the supplier has added to that price.
Now, I realize that if you have not already paid your annual deductible ($233.00 in 2022), you will have that to pay as well, so that on cheaper items it would be ridiculous to use Medicare Part B coverage to pay for those.
On an item such as a hospital bed, or anything over $500.00, it may be worth trying to get coverage from Medicare Part B, even if you have to pay your annual deductible.
Do remember that this is only viable if you use a Medicare-approved “Participating Supplier” who accepts “assignment”.
Let’s do the math –
$500.00 item (Medicare-approved price) – when you have to pay the annual deductible + your co-insurance of 20% of the Medicare-approved price.
You pay Medicare = $233.00 annual deductible
You pay the 20% co-insurance of the Medicare-approved price of $500.00 = $100.00
The total you will pay = $233.00 + $100.00 = $333.00
Your saving will be = $167.00
Even in a case where an item costs $400.00, and in which you also have to pay your annual deductible, you will save $87.00.
And of course, once you have paid your annual deductible, on any further equipment which is approved for coverage by Medicare Part B in the same year, you do not have to pay a deductible again.
If you have already paid your Medicare Part B annual deductible in the given year, then it is usually worth using Medicare Part B coverage (if you are enrolled), to pay for durable medical equipment, as Medicare will cover 80% of the cost of your item, and you will just cover the co-insurance.
In that case the $500.00 bed, if approved by Medicare Part B will only cost you $100.00
Finally, if you have Medicare Part B and a Medigap policy, or supplemental policy, which pays your 20% co-insurance payment, it gets much more interesting.
What medical equipment does Medicare cover ?
Medicare Part B covers durable medical equipment for use in the home.
Medicare only covers equipment which is “medically necessary”, and typically will not cover items which it calls “comfort items”.
Many items used for bathroom safety, such as raised toilet seats and grab bars, are unfortunately categorized as comfort items by Medicare Part B, and so are not covered by their policy.
If you wish to see which durable medical equipment is typically covered by Medicare Part B, you can find my article “List Of Durable Medical Equipment Typically Covered By Medicare”, which is exhaustive and pretty much self-explanatory.
Where to ask about free medical equipment in your neighborhood
If nothing has helped you so far, you may want to inquire at some following locations in your neighborhood, as these organizations all work with those in need, providing numerous services and programs –
- Greater Los Angeles Area Agency on Aging I have listed all the different agencies for Greater Los Angeles below
- Los Angeles Department of Public Social Services
- Lions Clubs
- Rotary Clubs
- The Catholic Charities of Los Angeles
- Society Of St. Vincent de Paul, Los Angeles
- Lutheran Social Services, Los Angeles
- Jewish Family Services of Los Angeles
- Local church communities and faith groups
Greater Los Angeles Area Agencies on Aging
Area Agencies on Aging are contracted agencies responsible to provide public services and support, to elderly adults their carers.
You can contact the agencies below and find if they know of any medical equipment loan closets in your neighborhood.
Los Angeles City
221 N. Figueroa Street, Ste 500
Los Angeles, CA 90012-4390
Phone: 213 482 7252
Website: https://aging.lacity.org/
County of Los Angeles Workforce Development, Aging and Community Services
3175 West 6th Street,
Los Angeles, CA 90020
Phone: 213 738 4004
Website: https://wdacs.lacounty.gov/
County of Orange Office on Aging
1300 South Grand Avenue,
Building B, 2nd Floor,
Santa Ana CA 92705-4434
Phone: 714 480 6450
Website: https://www.officeonaging.ocgov.com/
Riverside County Office On Aging
3610 Central Ave, 5th Floor
Riverside, CA 92506
Phone: 951 867 3800
Website: https://www.rcaging.org/
San Bernardino County Department of Aging and Adult Services
686 East Mill Street, 2nd Floor
San Bernardino, CA 92415
Phone: 909 891 3900
Website: http://hss.sbcounty.gov/daas/
Ventura County Area Agency on Aging
646 County Square Drive, Suite 100
Ventura, CA 93003-9086
Phone: 805 477 7300
Website: https://www.vcaaa.org/
Lions Clubs
The Lions run many charitable programs, and many run community loan closets for home medical equipment.
You can find a club near you, and ask if they have a loan closet, or if they know of other clubs in your area who have one.
I have an illustrated guide explaining how to very quickly find a Lions Club near you, which you can read here.
Rotary Clubs
The Rotary organization, just like the Lions organization, does a huge amount of charity work, and runs many programs through its clubs.
It’s a good idea to locate a club near you and ask if they know of clubs, or other organizations, in your area that have free loan closets for medical equipment.
To do so, you can use their club locator tool.
I have an illustrated guide on how to locate a Rotary Club near you, that you can read here – it’s a very quick and easy read.
The Catholic Charities of Los Angeles
In Greater Los Angeles, the Catholic Charities have quite a number of services and locations, and may well know of community medical equipment loan offices in your area.
So, if you wish to contact them to find out about free medical equipment, you should go to their website to contact them.
Here is the website page to go to – https://catholiccharitiesla.org/where-we-are/
Society of St. Vincent de Paul, Los Angeles
210 N. Avenue 21,
Los Angeles, CA 90031
Phone: 800 974 3571
Website: https://svdpla.org/
The society has chapters all over the US, with charitable programs helping individuals and low income families.
If you have a chapter in your area, you can always approach them to ask if they know of any community used medical equipment loan closets.
Lutheran Social Services – Los Angeles
Lutheran Social Services in Los Angeles are part of the Lutheran Social Services of Southern California, which run programs to help families and individuals in need.
The programs for Greater Los Angeles are listed below by county. You just pick your county and go to the website.
You can contact them and to ask if they are aware of any community loan closets of durable medical equipment where you can borrow equipment for free.
Central City Lutheran Mission – San Bernardino
https://www.lsssc.org/location/cclm/
Los Angeles County San Fernando Valley
https://www.lsssc.org/location/san-fernando-valley-canoga-park/
Los Angeles County San Gabriel Valley
https://www.lsssc.org/location/san-gabriel-valley-pasadena/
Los Angeles County Long Beach/South Bay
https://www.lsssc.org/location/south-bay-long-beach/
Orange County
https://www.lsssc.org/location/orange-county/
Riverside County
https://www.lsssc.org/location/riverside-county/
San Bernardino County
The Jewish Family Service of Los Angeles
The Jewish Family Service of Los Angeles, coordinates and runs a number of programs and services, which you can see on their website – https://www.jfsla.org/our-services/aging/
You can contact them and ask if there are any community loan closets in the area.
Phone: 877 275 4537
Address:
Jewish Family Service of LA
330 N. Fairfax Ave
Los Angeles,
CA 9oo36
There are a number of centers in Los Angeles, which you can see on this page of their website – https://www.jfsla.org/locations/
Your local church or faith groups
You should be able to get lots of information about charitable programs and activities, from your local churches, and the communities that they build around them –
- food banks
- clothes loan closets
- medical equipment loan closets
Churches also have their own independent loan closets offering DME loans for free to the local community, and which may only be advertised in small bulletins put out by those churches.
Where to get cheaper medical equipment in Los Angeles ?
The following section outlines where to get “cheaper” DME, and if you can’t find any free DME, this may be the only other option.
The equipment won’t be new, but it will be cheaper than buying new equipment.
Cheaper used medical equipment in Goodwill Stores in Los Angeles
There are 164 Goodwill stores and donation locations in Los Angeles County, one per 24 sq miles.
Not all have home medical equipment, so you may want to call the stores near you and ask if they have any durable medical equipment – or you can check their policy for donations on their website – these will always say what items they do and don’t accept.
Goodwill Stores in Greater Los Angeles
You can use the Goodwill Southern California Organization website locator to store in your area, which you will find here –
Cheaper used medical equipment in Los Angeles at Salvation Army stores
The Salvation Army has over 100 stores in Los Angeles County alone, and although the stores don’t all sell used durable medical equipment, some do.
Try their store locator to find some Salvation Army thrift stores near you, and give them a call to see if they have any equipment.
The store locator is on the website page below –
https://satruck.org/ThriftStore
If you enter your zip code, both a map view, and list of stores in your area will load to your screen.
Cheaper used medical equipment in thrift stores in Greater Los Angeles
All the following thrift stores may have used medical equipment for sale – you are best advised to call in case they don’t have any items at the time you are looking.
Los Angeles County
American Veteran Thrift Store
7830 Balboa Blvd,
Van Nuys, CA 91406
Phone: 818 912 5423
You can find used DME such as –
- walkers
- shower chairs
- crutches
- safety frames
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Amvets Thrift Store
Amvets Department of California Service Foundation has a thrift store in Long Beach.
The stores sell medical equipment – on the store’s Facebook pages you can see for sale –
- adjustable/hospital bed
- bedside commode
- rollators
- walkers
- patient lift
Address:
33315 E South St,
Long Beach, CA 90805
Phone: 562 272 7300
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/Teamamvetslongbeach/
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Assistance League Canoga Park Thrift Store
22335 Sherman Way,
Canoga Park, CA 91303
Phone: 818 710 1888
Website: https://www.assistanceleague.org/sfv/thrift-shop/
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Deseret Industries Thrift Stores
2720 E 11th St
Los Angeles, CA 90023
Phone: 323 268 7281
You can donate home medical equipment which is gently used.
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Society of St Vincent de Paul of Los Angeles Thrift Store
210 N. Ave 21
Los Angeles, CA 90031
Phone: 323 224 6280
Website: https://svdpla.org/
You can find the usual basic durable medical equipment, such as canes crutches, walkers and bedside commodes.
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3310 N Eastern Ave
Los Angeles, CA 90032
Phone: 323 2271808
You can find items like bedside commodes, crutches and walkers here.
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Super Thrift Store, North Hollywood
13422 Saticoy Street,
North Hollywood, CA 91605
Phone: 818 474 1291
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Super Thrift Store Reseda
18344. Sherman Way,
Reseda, CA 91335
Phone: 818 654 4806
Website: https://sfvrescuemission.org/thrift/
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The East LA Auction Company
3535 San Gabriel River Parkway,
City of Industry, CA 90601
Phone: 563 646 7653
Website: https://www.theeastlaauction.com/
This is a 5000 sq foot warehouse full of items of every kind.
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Orange County
American Cancer Society Discovery Shop
803 E Katella Ave,
Orange, CA 92867
Phone: 714 538 5605
You can find gently items such as –
- walkers
- crutches
- canes
- rollators
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Arcos Thrift Store
138 E Taft Ave,
Orange, CA 92865
Phone: 714 618 8397
This is a family owned business, but you can find used medical equipment such as –
- wheelchairs
- walkers
- bedside commodes
- crutches
- rollators
- patient lifts
- shower chairs
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Assistance League of Newport-Mesa Thrift Shop
2220 Fairview Road, # 3
Costa Mesa, CA 92627
Phone: 949 645 5536
Website: https://www.assistanceleague.org/newport-mesa/thriftshop/
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Assistance League of Tustin
445 El Camino Real,
Tustin, CA 92780
Phone: 714 544 2612
The webpage for donating items is here – https://www.altustin.org/?page_id=26
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Chucks Reserve the Thrift Store
12946 Main St,
Garden Grove, CA 92840
Phone: 714 584 7438
The thrift store sells DME including –
- walkers
- raised toilet seats
- crutches
- bedside commodes
- grabbers
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Zion Thrift Shop
1109 E Commonwealth Ave,
Fullerton, CA 92831
Phone: 714 879 1147
Website: http://www.zionthrift.com/
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Riverside County
Assistance League Riverside Thrift Store
3707 Sunnyside Drive,
Riverside, CA 92506
Phone: 951 682 3445
The Assistance League sells all kinds of gently used equipment , except for larger items such as hospital beds.
Website: https://www.assistanceleague.org/riverside/thrift-shop/
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Deseret Industries Thrift Stores
1197 Calimesa Blvd,
Calimesa, CA 92320
Phone: 909 795 0670
You can find gently used home medical equipment.
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GHH Ministries Thrift Stores
There are 4 GHH Ministries thrift stores in Riverside County sells items of used home medical equipment.
The website page is here – http://www.ghhministries.com/
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Moreno Valley, GHH Thrift Store
13958 Old 215 Frontage Road,
Moreno Valley, CA 92553
Phone: 951 653 2529
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Perris, GHH Thrift Store
115 Ramona Expressway,
Perris, CA 92571
Phone: 951 443 3701
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Perris, GHH Thrift Store
21366 Harvill Ave,
Perris, CA 92570
Phone: 951 291 8136
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Homeland, GHH Thrift Store
31316 Highway 74,
Homeland, CA 92548
Phone: 951 657 3041
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Lyft Up Lives Nonprofit Thrift Store
1390 W 6th Street, Suite 136
Corona, CA 92882
Phone: 951 454 3208
The store has items of used medical equipment such as
- crutches
- canes
- rollators
- walkers
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Savers
3900 Tyler Street,
Riverside, CA 92503
Phone: 951 509 0817
Savers has items of gently used DME.
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Semi and New Thrift
12607 Perris Blvd,
Moreno Valley, CA 92553
Phone: 951 247 6633
You can find items such as –
- shower chairs
- crutches
- walkers
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San Bernardino County
American Cancer Society Discovery Shop
1534 Barton Rd,
Redlands, CA 92373
Phone: 909 307 8900
You can find items such as –
- walkers
- crutches
- canes
- rollators
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Deseret Industries Thrift Stores
16593 Valley Blvd,
Fontana, CA 92335
Phone: 909 854 3946
You can find lightly used home medical equipment.
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Golden Oaks Thrift Shop
31961 Hilltop Blvd,
Running Springs, CA 92382
Phone: 909 867 2112
You can find items such as –
- walkers
- rollators
- crutches
- bedside commodes
- shower chairs
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Mini Mega Thrift store
2066 W Redlands Blvd, Unit A,
Redlands, CA 92373
Phone: 909 317 4266
You can find items such as –
- crutches
- walkers
- shower chairs
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UReach Thrift Store
24871 Redlands Blvd,
Loma Linda, CA 92354
Phone: 909 796 4400
Website: http://ureachlluc.com/ureach-thrift
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Ventura County
Allsorts Thrift Shop
2211 Ventura Blvd,
Camarillo, CA 93010
Phone: 805 460 8633
You find equipment such as –
- crutches
- walkers
- shower chairs
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Arc Foundation Thrift Store
265 E Main Street,
Ventura, CA 93001
Phone: 805 485 6690
Website: https://thearcvc.org/thrift-stores/
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Assistance League Conejo Valley Thrift Store
2853 E. Thousand Oaks Blvd.,
Thousand Oaks, CA 90032
Phone: 323 2271808
The website says that the Assistance League will accept donations of all kinds of gently used equipment as long as it is clean.
Website: https://www.assistanceleague.org/conejo-valley/donate/thrift-shop/
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CAAN – Thrift Store
340 E Main St,
Ventura, CA 93001
Phone: 805 643 5956
Website: http://www.caanthriftstore.com/
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CARL Boutique Thrift Store
2750 E Main St, Ste b
Ventura, CA 93003
Phone: 805 677 9111
Website: https://carldogs.org/about-us/c-a-r-l-boutique-thrift-store/
The thrift store has walkers, canes and crutches.
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Mission Bargain Center
125 South Harrison Ave,
Oxnard CA 93030
Phone: 805 201 4341
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Oxnard Super Thrift
815 N Oxnard Blvd
Oxnard, CA 93030
Phone: 805 201 3750
Website: https://www.erescuemission.org/thrift-stores/
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Simi Thrift
1492 E Los Angeles Ave,
Simi Valley, CA 93065
Phone: 805 577 9959
You find equipment such as –
- transfer benches
- walkers
- crutches
- rollators
- bedside commodes
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Span Thrift Shop
110 N Olive St B,
Ventura, CA 93001
Phone: 805 641 1170
Website: https://www.spanonline.org/
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In conclusion
There are many options here, and hopefully you will find something that will help you out.
I know that of course Medicare is not free, but I included it just to say how much of a reduction you would get on the price of any durable medical equipment covered by Medicare, and if it was worth your while to do so.
If you don’t qualify for free equipment through ability tools, or have a loan closet near you in, then I would start either the online platforms such as Freecycle.org, or a thrift store.
I’m Gareth, the author and owner of Looking After Mom and Dad.com
I have been a caregiver for over 10 yrs and share all my tips here.
