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Wheel It Forward, a Connecticut-based organization provides an invaluable service — they are a durable medical equipment (DME) library! You can borrow durable medical equipment (Hospital Beds • Wheelchairs • Commodes • Walkers • Knee Scooters • Canes • Crutches • Shower Tub Seats • Toilet Risers • Rollators • Hoyer Lifts • Portable Wheelchair Ramps) from them for free and they accept donations of gently used equipment. Now this local organization has taken a huge step and launched a website that lists other organizations that provide similar services across the country — GotDME? The DME Library goes national!
Imagine an Uncluttered Garage
If you’ve been in the caregiving business for a while, I’m certain you have accumulated equipment that’s no longer in use for one reason or another. Personally, I have multiple manual wheelchairs, several walkers & rollators, shower seats, and other stuff that I can’t even identify. Some of it is broken and likely unrepairable — which means I need to dispose of it, but most of it is stuff we either “outgrew” or was replaced by a newer model. This equipment is certainly usable and is taking up nearly 1/3 of my garage. I’ve been working with Wheel It Forward to arrange the transfer of this equipment, and now, thanks to GotDME?, you can do the same regardless of where you are located. Just search for an organization in your area that accepts donations!
Imagine Travelling and Having What You Need Waiting for You!
The most exciting aspect of GotDME? is the ability to plan a trip and have what you need available at your destination. For example, a shower tub seat is critical on a week-long trip, and friends, rental housing, and even many hotels don’t have them. No worries with GotDME? — just search for organizations local to your destination and borrow one! Brilliant! A truly useful service that makes travelling a bit less stressful.
And the best part is that the site is has information about organizations in every state including , Puerto Rico, Guam, and American Samoa. The site itself is all done simply and beautifully. It’s is clean, easy to understand, and easy to use. Wheel It Forward says that GotDME? is a beta website meaning that you may experience problems and they are actively building and improving the site, but my experience so far is that it is ready for prime time. My only suggestions would be to make the site accessible to people with disabilities, and add a community function allowing users to rate their experience with the listed organization.
Wheel It Forward Has Done Something Remarkable!
Finding and compiling information about programs across the United States is no easy feat. Heck, it’s difficult to even find out what programs are available in your local area – just try it. I don’t know the secret behind Wheel It Forward’s success but they deserve high praise, and supporting donations. I plan to make regular use of their GotDME? and I hope you will to, and share this article to help spread the word!
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