Who Pays
Loan Closet Equipment Comes Without a Warranty. Check Condition, Fit, and Return Terms Before It Leaves the Building
Borrowed equipment can save a trip to the store, but its condition, its fit, and its return terms are yours to check on the spot.
A loan closet, a parish program, or a hospital lending shelf can put a useful piece of equipment in your house the same afternoon. The trouble starts a week later, when a part fails and nobody remembers what was agreed at the desk. The checks that matter happen before you carry the item out the door.
Local option: New Plan Care gives families in the St. Louis area in-home help so a parent can stay home: companionship, help with bathing and dressing, meals, and overnight care. Call (314) 405-0887.
Inspect it in the room where you picked it up
Look at the frame for cracks, bends, or loose joints. Press the brakes or stops and confirm they hold. Check the feet, tips, or wheels for wear, and check the seat, back, or arm pads for tears and stains. Ask whether the item was cleaned after its last user and who did it. If the answer is vague, wipe it down yourself before it goes near her.
Fit it to her, not to the chair in the catalog
Measure her height and the width you need, then compare them to the item's stated size. Ask whether the item is rated for her body size and whether there is a stated limit. Do not guess. If the fit is close but not right, ask whether there is a second size on the shelf before you accept the first one.
Get the paper before you leave
Ask for a sign-out sheet that lists the item by model or serial number, the name and phone number of the person who lends it, how long you may keep it, and what condition it must be in when it comes back. Photograph the item from two sides at pickup. A photo is cheap evidence if the return is questioned later.
Ask who fixes it
Find out who repairs loaned equipment, whether you may call them directly, and whether you are expected to pay for a part. Ask whether a replacement is available if the item fails in the first week. Write the answers on the sign-out sheet, not on the back of an envelope.
Ask what else is charged
Some lending programs ask for a cleaning fee, a late return fee, or a deposit. Others ask for nothing. Ask directly and write down the answer. Do not assume that a loan means nothing is owed later.
Where to start
If you do not yet know which lending programs serve your area, the Local Help for Husband Caregivers page lists places to ask. Call first, check the item in person, and do not accept a delivery you have not inspected.