By Maurice
If you're looking for free wheelchairs, free mobility scooters, and other free mobility aids in Massachusetts, we've got you covered!
This page is a complete resource for free assistive devices (wheelchairs, scooters, and more) and independent living resources in the state of Massachusetts.
Check out the resources below, and if you have a resource to add, please contact us!
Free Wheelchairs & Assistive Devices in Massachusetts
1. Ayers Handicap Conversion Center
Houses and manages an equipment loan program for durable medical equipment (DME). Donated durable medical equipment (wheelchairs, crutches, walkers, canes, special bathroom equipment and other ambulatory healthcare aids) are available for loan for up to 3 months to residents of Quincy, Scituate, Hanover, Pembroke, Hull, Hingham, Norwell, Marshfield and Cohasset.
2. Boston Center for Independent Living
Picks up unwanted wheeled mobility (and other DME) in the Greater Boston area. Provides minor refurbishment (replaces batteries and tires) and delivers within BCIL’s service area.
Some repairs are done as well.
3. Compassionate Care ALS
CCALS receives more than $500,000 annually in donated durable goods. They maintain a number of storage facilities where we refurbish and keep this equipment until it is needed by a family. Our storage facilities have received generous support from two communities.
CCALS provides new equipment, in addition to equipment that was donated and refurbished. The items we offer include; wheelchairs, ramps, bath chairs, mattresses, voice amplifiers and speech augmentative equipment and communication boards.
4. Easterseals Massachusetts
Easterseals Massachusetts provides essential programs and services to children and adults with disabilities throughout the state. Their mission is to ensure that children and adults with disabilities have equal opportunities to live, learn, work and play.
The Massachusetts Alternative Finance Program offers Massachusetts residents with disabilities, veterans and their families access to low-interest cash loans for the purchase of assistive technology, devices, and services that will increase their independence and improve their quality of life.
The program also loans low-cost assistive devices through its Long-Term Device Loan Program. The devices cost under $500 and are available free of charge to qualified Massachusetts veterans or residents with disabilities and their families.
5. Freemason Friendship Lodge
Freemason Friendship Lodge is a faith-based organization. They have a medical equipment and wheelchair ramp construction project. Contact them to see if you are eligible for the programs.
6. Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission
MassMATCH is the Commonwealth of Massachusetts's initiative to Maximize Assistive Technology (AT) in Consumer's Hands. It is one of 56 state-level AT Act programs in the United States. They have a couple of programs to make assistive technology more assessable for people who can’t afford it. These programs include Assistive Technology Regional Centers, Massachusetts Alternative Finance Program, DMErequipment.org, and getATstuff. These programs provide used equipment to financing and everything in between. Feel free to go through these programs and see if you are eligible.
7. Home Modification Loan Program
Home Modification Loan Program by Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission provides no-interest loans to modify the homes of adults and children with disabilities. If you or a household member is disabled or an elder, the Home Modification Loan Program can provide a loan so you can make needed adaptations or modifications to your home. Modifications can help you remain in your home and live more independently.
9. REquipment, Inc.
REquipment is currently supported by a collaboration of public and private funding from the Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission's (MRC) MassMATCH program, the Massachusetts Department of Developmental Disabilities (DDS), the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) as well as private grants through The Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation. REquipment is a great way to obtain free, gently-used durable medical equipment (DME) in Massachusetts. Donated DME is sanitized, refurbished and made available in our inventory. Access to the equipment is easy, either online or by phone, and they also provide pick-up and delivery as needed.
10. Scituate Etrusco Associates
Scituate Etrusco Associates was established to provide a loan closet of medical and nursing equipment for the home use of residents of Scituate and the surrounding towns of Cohasset, Hanover, Hingham, Hull, Marshfield, Norwell, Duxbury, Pembroke, and Kingston. Items typically available to lend include walkers, canes, commodes, crutches, wheelchairs, transport/companion chairs, bedside tables, exercise bikes, and much more.
11. SMD-HELP Foundation Inc.
HELP is an equipment loan program that lends equipment at no cost to people who are in need. Equipment can include but not limited to canes, blankets, supports commodes, four-prong canes over-the-bed tables toilet supports, crutches rollators toilet seat extensions, forearm crutches sides for beds whirlpool for foot or arm, walkers, wheelchairs, Hoyer lifts tub seats, exercise bikes, transfer benches, electric lift chairs, tub rails, and others.
12. Small Mass
Small Miracles in Life Exist (SMILE Mass) is a 501 C3 non-profit organization dedicated to helping families raising children or adults with disabilities enjoy happy, healthy memories through vacation and recreation experiences.
They have several pieces of equipment for families to borrow and take anywhere with them. Our current inventory includes: floating beach wheelchairs, Rifton bath chair, basic white bath chair with back, high-performance Hoyt running chair, blue Freedom running stroller, adapted bike (delivery not available, pick up only), Hoyer lift (provide your own sling) and a portable ramp.
13. Stavros Center
Stavros in partnership with DME REquipment maintains donated medical equipment, which is loaned free of charge for a specified period of time. Stavros is not responsible for subsequent repairs and asks that the equipment be returned in the same condition that it was received.
The types of equipment we generally have in stock: power wheelchairs, crutches, walkers, bath chairs, hoyer lifts, and grab bars.
14. Sudbury Senior Center
The Sudbury Senior Center Medical Equipment Loan Closet has quite an assortment of “durable medical equipment” on hand at all times, ready to lend for a few days, a few weeks, or as long as you have a need.
15. The Town of Concord
At the Council on Aging, The Town of Concord maintain an extensive lending closet for durable medical equipment. Whether you need a transport chair to get through a busy weekend, a handy cane for everyday use, or any other equipment need, consider checking out our lending closet before purchasing equipment on your own. Items can include Canes, Commodes, Grabbers, Clothing Hooks, and Shoe Horns, Raised Toilet Seats, Shower Chairs, Sock Assists, Tub Transfer Benches, Walkers and Rollators, and Wheelchairs.
16. The Boston Home
Accepts donations of used wheeled mobility and other DME for REquipment. Offers the B.Mobile! Mobility Enhancement Center in Boston. It will provide evaluation, adjustment and
modifications to mobility equipment. Also has the ability to do repairs on a fee for service basis. Works in concert with Mass Health DME vendors.
17. UCP of western Massachusetts
UCP’s durable medical equipment reuse program provides free refurbished equipment to people with disabilities and seniors in Western MA. This durable medical equipment can be used short or long term and insurance is not necessary. They encourage people who take part in this program to return the durable medical equipment if they no longer need it.
18. Association of Blind Citizens
The Association of Blind Citizens operates the Assistive Technology Fund. The Assistive Technology Fund (ATF) will provide funds to cover 50% of the retail price of adaptive devices or software. The ABC board of directors believes that this program will allow blind and visually impaired individuals access to technology products that will have a significant impact on improving employment opportunities, increase the level of independence and enhance their overall quality of life.
The products covered by this program must retail for a minimum of $200 with a maximum retail price of $6,000.
Dear Maurice,
I am hoping to contribute to your charitable outreach with a few tips. If you click on the link below you can see several ways existing wheelchairs can easily and inexpensively be modified to function as safe patient-administered therapy/gyms designed to lift user’s spirits while getting them back on their feet.
CLICK GLOVER GEAR>https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLh6BGybZxQqintpZ1gY9jGB3AVOwPW0ih
Marvin Glover – Inventor of US Pat. #11,331,232 B1
“Wheelchair Improvement Kit And Manual Wheelchair”
marvinglover@yahoo.com
At your service
Please note that this invention has so far passed the patent issued stage and the working prototypes stage. It has only been tested under short term controlled conditions so unknowns remain as to long term user preferences and safety. I think that I have taken it as far as I can. I can’t afford the time or money it would take for me to carry this any further on my own. I do however understand this idea better than anyone in the world and am full of advice if you want to make a difference together.