Medical Equipment
Be sure to tell the physician and/or nurse about any problems you may be having with providing care to someone. They can recommend equipment to help with care giving. Medical equipment is available when needed from medical supply agencies or loan closets.
Most, but not all, equipment is rented or paid for by some insurance companies, Medicaid, or Medicare and requires a physician prescription. The following pictures are of medical equipment that might be needed in the home. See the Resource Page for local supply places in Fairbanks.
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Electric
Hospital Beds: The foot and head moves up and down with electric
buttons.
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Over-bed Table slides under any bed. They are adjustable and some have trays under the table for personal supplies and a mirror. | |||||
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| Wheelchairs come with regular leg rests and elevating leg rests. An oxygen tank holder and a pole for intravenous bags are available accessories | Privacy Curtains are movable from room to room. | |||||
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| Wheelchair ramps make it easier to move about the home and maintain independence. Ramps come in different sizes and materials. Family members with carpenter skills can build ramps to make the entire home accessible. | Ramps are build outside a home and can extend a distance depending on the height of the entrance from the ground. | |||||
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| Oxygen concentrators are machines that operate on electricity. It takes the oxygen in the air and concentrates it into a high percentage to deliver to the person. | Portable oxygen unit includes a cart, a oxygen tank, and a regulator. It is used when oxygen is needed outside of the home. | Nebulizer or aerosol compressor is a small portable unit that is electric. It is used to deliver different kinds of breathing medicine ordered by the physician. | ||||
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| Raised toilet seats fit on most home toilets. They help those person having difficulty standing from a sitting position. They come with and without rails. Rails are recommended. | Safety rails help those who need to push to lift themselves from a sitting to a standing position. | |||||
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| Reachers are hand-held devices to pickup things that are out of reach for those in wheelchairs or a bed. | Bathroom safety rails come in a variety of sizes. They must be installed into the walls studs. If renting, be sure to get permission to install them. | Tub safety rails can be used if studs cannot be located in a wall or permission to install safety rails cannot be obtained. | ||||
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| Shower chairs are placed in regular standing shower stalls. They allow for safe bathing while sitting down. A chair with a back is best for anyone who is weak. | Tub transfers benches help those who cannot get into the bath tub. They sit on the edge outside the tub, swing their legs in, and move to the middle to bathe. | Bedside commodes can be used in any room of the house. Most can also be used over the toilet. They must be emptied after each use. Using a few drops of a deodorizer in the bottom helps with odors. | ||||
| Hand-held shower nozzles are recommended. | ||||||
