Community resources directory: After knee replacement surgery

After your knee replacement surgery, certain equipment can make your recovery go a little easier and increase your independence. If available, you might want to borrow the items from friends or family.

Places where you can purchase or borrow equipment

The following is a list of places where you can purchase or borrow such items. Your health care team can help you get the items when you're being discharged from the hospital. If you can get the items before your surgery, your discharge will go smoothly.

Allina Home Oxygen & Medical Equipment

Call Home Oxygen & Medical Equipment at 651-628-4800 or 1-800-737-4473 for information about rehabilitation and mobility equipment, specialty beds as well as other equipment, supplies and services.

Goodwill Easter Seal Equipment Loan Program

Call the Goodwill Easter Seal Equipment Loan Program before your surgery at 651-379-5922, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Loans of donated medical equipment are based on availability.

Equipment that may be available for a maximum of 6 months includes wheelchairs, tub seats, walkers, bedside commodes and temporary tub rails. You must pick up the items at the Goodwill office, located at 553 Fairview Ave. N., St. Paul, Minn., 55104. Delivery service is not available. There are also offices in St. Cloud, Rochester and Willmar, Minn.

Crutches are given away upon request. Walkers and crutches should be checked by a professional to make sure they are adjusted properly before using.

You will need to sign a liability release form. It is your responsibility to return the equipment within the 6 month period loan period or sooner (if you are finished using it) so the equipment is available for others to use.

This program relies on donated equipment. Please consider donating any of the equipment you buy. Power scooters and power wheelchairs are also needed. Equipment donations are accepted at all Goodwill stores.

Aids for Daily Living Program

Call the Minnesota Multiple Sclerosis Society at 612-335-7900 or 1-800-582-5296 for information about the Aids for Daily Living Program.

This program may help with the entire cost of program items up to $100 a year (such as October 2008 to October 2009), if you have multiple sclerosis and are (or will be) registered with the Multiple Sclerosis Society.
Also, ask about the society's equipment subsidy program, which operates on a sliding fee scale. The Minnesota Multiple Sclerosis Society is located at 2344 Nicollet Ave., Suite 280, Minneapolis, Minn., 55404-3381.

Other community resources

Call your local American Legion, VFW or Lions Club. They often have health care equipment you can borrow if you are a member.

Call your local drugstore to see what selection of equipment that store carries.

Look in your Yellow Pages under "handicapped services or equipment" or "home care services."