Equipment & Supplies

You’re the consumer

• price
• reliability
• warranty
• looks
• service record
• how you feel about the equipment.

• what the warranty covers
• if there is a charge for replacement parts
• the cost of servicing.

• knowing what you need and why
• taking advantage of advice and assistance from your peers, agencies and professionals
• expecting accountability from funding agencies and suppliers
• evaluating your equipment and the process of acquiring it.

Getting Your Equipment and Supplies

• Know your funding source and what they will cover. As an inpatient, the social worker can help you with this.
• Find out if your funding provides for servicing.
• Trial various models of equipment with your therapist. As for details. Know all of the options available with that model, and what the standard features are.
• Speak to other consumers for their suggestions and their evaluation of equipment.
• Know the specifics of each item required and the names of the items desired.
• Find out about the warranty of each piece of equipment.
• Be aware of how your equipment will work with the rest of your equipment, e.g., will the wheelchair fit in the van?
• Find out from where your equipment is being ordered.
• Call the dealer and try to find a contact person with whom you can keep track of the status of your order.

Bowel and bladder supplies

• It is best to store supplies in a vertical closet. Organization that makes it easy to see and select items will assist you and others to find what you need easily. 
• A closet that is close to the bed for efficiency, yet discrete enough for comfort is best. Distilled water, bladder care and bowel care supplies are best kept near the bed and/or bathroom.
• Keep supply areas tidy. It can be frustrating looking through three layers of supplies to find one thing. The items you use the most should be kept easily accessible and the things you don’t use often should be the least accessible.
• If hiring assistants, always do a thorough initial orientation to the storage area.

Ordering Supplies

• This task is simpler than you think. Keep a board on one of your cupboard doors that lists all your supplies. When an item is running low, it gets marked on the board.
• Running low could mean the last box, the last 10 or the last 2. This will depend on how much of each item you use in a given period of time. Many people record how much of each supply they use in one month.
• You may choose to order three months of supplies each time you order. If you have a lot of space, you may want to order more.
• If hiring assistants, they should let you know when any supply is low. This is a good time to not only order that supply but also review all of your supplies and see what else you should order. This will ensure you don’t run out and will make ordering more efficient.
• In the beginning, adjustments may be required. You may be short of one item and not another. Alter your numbers according to your need. It is helpful to work together with an assistant to order supplies.
• Always put away a small supply of essentials that you keep for emergencies just in case you forget to order something.
• You can order over the phone. Usually, people have one dealer they go through for their supplies. Try to have a consistent contact to make the process easier.
• Delivery is usually set by the supplier. For “special” not commonly used items, it is wise to always keep a certain supply. For example, if you use two sheets of a special dressing material at a time for pressure sores and usually have 10 sheets of it, buy 2 sheets as soon as you use them and keep your stock at 10.
• You may want to develop a relationship with your local drug store or pharmacy to see what they stock that you might access in an emergency.

Trying new products

• If a product is not working for you, investigate other options. Your regular dealer is a good place to start asking about other options. You can usually get a trial supply.
• There is also a network of resources you can use to find other options, such as CPA, peers and community agencies.
• Don’t forget that when you evaluate a new supply, think about:
  • what you liked about the regular supply
  • why you searched for a new product
  • what you want out of a new product

Travelling

• Make a list! Think about everything you need. Your clipboard that lists all your supplies will come in handy.
• Add up everything you need (including back-up). For example, you’re going to 7 days. You have 3 bowel routines to plan for, you need 6 gloves, 2 suppositories, 6 blue pads per routine. Therefore, you need 18 gloves, 6 suppositories and 18 pads.
• If you’re going on a plane, carry your back-up supplies in your hand carry-on baggage just in case the airline loses your luggage.
• Any time you are leaving your primary residence, you have to think about back-up:
  • back-up manual wheelchair
  • back-up ventilator
• Depending on where you are going, having a broken down wheelchair or ventilator can be complicated.
• Find out who can service your equipment at the place you are going. Most wheelchair dealers would know or could find out who would be best to call for wheelchair repairs where you are going. They may also find out that there is no one to call at that location and this may affect how you prepare.
• Take extra fuses for the charger, ventilator and wheelchair. This can save you time and frustration.
• Find out the type of electrical outlets used if you are travelling outside North America. Sometimes the socket adapters you can pick up work adequately and sometimes they do not. Your equipment dealer may be able to help you with this.
• At your destination, you may be able to rent or borrow some equipment that you may not be able to take with you, such as a commode, bath seat or floor lift.

Financial problem solving/networking

You will be involved in buying equipment now and periodically in the future. Some of the questions you may ask yourself are:

• How do I pay for the equipment?
• Who can I approach for funds?
• Who can help me to find out about funding for equipment?

1. Identify the problem. Examples:

• I need funds for an electric wheelchair
• I would like to get a lift to assist with transfers, but my funding agency will not provide it.

2. Define the problem.
When defining the problem, answer 4 questions:

• What?
• How?
• Where?
• Who?

3. List the options you see for solving the problem.

4. Choose one option to try, and decide on who can help you find a solution for funding sources.
5. Decide on a specific plan of action. If you are not sure where to begin, contact some of these people:

• CPA counsellor
• Workers’ Compensation Board
• Local equipment dealer
• Local health unit
• Person with a disability
• Spinal Cord Program staff at Rehab Centre.

• Before you contract an agency, have access to some method of recording the name and title of the person and information that is given to you.
• Phone early in the day if possible.
• Clearly state your request.
• Have access to personal information that may be requested of you.
• If the agency cannot assist you, ask if they can refer you to others who may be of assistance.

• What are the eligibility criteria to apply for funds?
• How do you apply for funds?
• How can you pursue an appeal process if your eligibility and/or funding is denied on questionable grounds (Remember the appeal process varies with each agency.)

In the future, you may continue with the supplier who has provided you with good service or contact other vendors/suppliers in your yellow pages/yellow media.