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A Caregiver’s Guide to Home Medical Equipment
When someone you care about needs medical equipment at home, you may suddenly find yourself making decisions you never expected to make.
What equipment do they need? Will it fit in the house? Should you rent or buy? How quickly can it be delivered? Who sets it up? What happens if their needs change?
You Don’t Have to Figure Everything Out at Once
Caregivers often begin looking for equipment during a period of change.
A parent may be coming home from the hospital or rehabilitation. Someone's mobility may have declined. A spouse may need more assistance getting around the house. A temporary recovery may suddenly require equipment you have never used before.
Start with what you know.
Before calling an equipment provider, it can help to gather:
What has changed
What the person is having difficulty doing
Equipment recommended by their healthcare team
Any prescription or documentation you've received
Where the equipment will be used
When it is needed
How long you think it may be needed
Who will regularly be helping the person at home
If you don't know the exact model, size, or features you need, that's okay.
Understand the Different Types of Home Medical Equipment
The right equipment depends on what the person needs help with and how their home is set up.
Hospital Beds
Home hospital beds can provide adjustable positioning and a different caregiving environment than a traditional bed.
When arranging a hospital bed, consider the bed type, mattress, rails and accessories, room dimensions, caregiver access, and the path the bed will need to take into the home.
Lift Chairs
Powered lift chairs can provide supportive seating while assisting with the transition between sitting and standing.
Consider the person's size, comfort, positioning needs, controls, and how much space the chair will have to recline and lift.
Power Wheelchairs & Mobility Scooters
Powered mobility equipment can help someone move around more independently when walking has become difficult.
Power wheelchairs and mobility scooters serve different needs. Consider where the equipment will be used, maneuvering space, portability, charging, controls, and how the person will get on and off the device.
Oxygen & CPAP Equipment
Home oxygen and sleep-therapy equipment may include oxygen concentrators, CPAP or BiPAP machines, masks, tubing, humidifier components, and related supplies.
Because respiratory equipment can involve prescriptions and treatment settings, caregivers should follow the instructions of the person's healthcare provider and the manufacturer.
Wheelchair Ramps
Ramps can make it easier to enter and leave a home using a wheelchair, scooter, or other mobility aid.
The appropriate solution depends on the entrance, rise, available space, property layout, mobility device, and whether the need is temporary or long term.
Stair Lifts
When stairs become a barrier to using different levels of the home, a stair lift may provide another accessibility option.
Straight and curved staircases require different systems, so choosing a stair lift starts with understanding both the person's needs and the staircase itself.
Preparing for Someone to Come Home
If you're arranging equipment before a hospital or rehabilitation discharge, it helps to think about the person's first day home, not just the equipment list.
Walk through what they'll actually need to do.
Where will they enter the house?
Where will they sleep?
Which bathroom will they use?
Will they need to move between floors?
Understand the Cost Before You Commit
When you're arranging care quickly, it's easy to focus on the first price you see.
Try to understand the complete setup instead.
Depending on the equipment, cost can be affected by:
Equipment type and model
Features
Accessories
Rental duration
Understand Prosperity Health’s Self-Pay Model
Prosperity Health is a self-pay home medical equipment provider.
We do not currently bill Medicare, Medicaid, Medicare Advantage, or private health insurance for equipment rented or purchased through Prosperity Health.
If the person you're caring for wants to pursue insurance benefits, contact their plan directly to understand what equipment may be covered, what documentation is required, and which suppliers can be used.
Some families instead choose to obtain equipment directly through Prosperity Health and pay for it themselves.
Prepare for Delivery Day
Before equipment arrives, clear the intended location and the path leading to it.
Depending on the equipment, that might mean:
Moving furniture
Clearing hallways
Removing obstacles
Checking doorways
Making outlets accessible
Creating space around a hospital bed
Providing photos or measurements of an entrance or staircase
Making room for a delivery or installation team
If possible, have the person who will regularly help with the equipment present during setup.
For applicable equipment, Prosperity Health can demonstrate basic controls and operation. Having a caregiver there gives you an opportunity to see how things work and ask practical questions.
Learn the Equipment Before You Need It
The middle of the night isn't the ideal time to discover that you don't know what a button does.
After equipment is set up, take some time to understand its basic operation.
Know:
Where the controls are
How powered equipment is charged or connected
Which accessories are part of the setup
Where the manufacturer's instructions are kept
What normal operation looks and sounds like
Who to call if something isn't working correctly
You don't need to learn how to repair the equipment.
In fact, significant repairs or modifications should not be attempted unless the manufacturer specifically indicates they can be handled by the user.
Create a Simple Equipment Routine
Once the initial transition settles down, equipment becomes part of everyday caregiving.
A simple routine can help.
Keep important documentation together. Follow manufacturer cleaning and maintenance instructions. Pay attention to batteries and charging. Keep pathways around equipment clear. Replace applicable supplies when needed.
And notice when something changes.
Unusual sounds, damaged cords, charging problems, loose components, unexpected movement, or controls behaving differently can all be reasons to stop and investigate rather than simply continuing to use the equipment.
Expect Needs to Change
The equipment that makes sense today may not be the equipment someone needs six months from now—or even six weeks from now.
Recovery can progress. Mobility can improve or decline. Someone may move from one floor of the home to another. A rental may need to be extended. A temporary solution may become a long-term need.
Frequently Asked Questions for Caregivers
What if the hospital says we need equipment before someone comes home?
Ask the healthcare or discharge team exactly what equipment and specifications they recommend and whether any prescription or documentation is required. Then contact Prosperity Health to discuss available self-pay equipment and delivery options.
Do I need to know exactly which model to order?
No. Tell us what equipment has been recommended, how it will be used, where you're located, and any requirements you've been given. We can help explain the available options.
Should we rent equipment during recovery?
Renting can be practical when the expected length of use is temporary or uncertain. Availability depends on the equipment.
Will Prosperity Health deliver and set everything up?
Prosperity Health provides local delivery for applicable equipment. Setup or installation depends on the equipment being provided.
Should I be home when equipment is delivered?
When possible, it's helpful for a caregiver who will regularly interact with the equipment to be present so they can see the setup, understand basic operation, and ask questions.
Still Have a Question?
You don't need to understand every equipment type, feature, rental term, or measurement before contacting us.
Tell us what's going on, what equipment you're looking for, and where you're located. We'll help you understand the available options and the practical next steps.
Prosperity Health is a self-pay provider and does not currently bill or accept Medicare, Medicaid, Medicare Advantage, or private health insurance.