At home medical equipment probably wasn’t ever on your shopping list before now. Why would it be? Providing mesothelioma home care is something no one ever foresaw having to do. Mesothelioma is a sneaky disease; it lies dormant for years following the asbestos exposure that caused it. But when mesothelioma emerges, it does so with swift merciless force.
As mesothelioma progresses, you may find yourself and your loved one in need of at home medical equipment to make home care easier for you as a caregiver and for your mesothelioma patient.
According to the caregiver resource book The Comfort of Home: A Complete Guide for Caregivers, before you buy or rent any special at home medical equipment, contact your insurance carrier to check if the equipment is covered and follow the procedure for pre-authorization. “With appropriate doctor’s orders and documentation, some at home medical equipment is covered by Medicare or private insurance,” the authors state. Hospice organizations also sometimes may be able to loan equipment free of charge.
Equipment recommended for the bedroom:
- Hospital bed –allows positioning not possible in a regular bed and aids in resting and breathing more comfortably as well as getting in and out of bed more easily.
- Alternating pressure mattress –minimizes stress on skin tissue from pressure
- Egg carton pad – a foam mattress pad shaped like an egg carton that reduces pressure and improves circulation
- Over-the-bed table – provides surface for activities such as eating, reading, writing and playing cards or board games
- Trapeze bar – provides support and secure hand-hold when changing positions
Equipment recommended for the bathroom:
- Toilet frame –a free-standing unit that fits over the toilet and provides support one either side to ease in getting up or sitting down
- Raised toilet seat – a seat used to help a person who may have difficulty getting up or down on a toilet
- Grab bars for tub and shower – properly installed wall-mounted safety bars that hold a person’s weight
- Safety mat and strips – rough vinyl strips that adhere to the bottom of the tub and shower to prevent slipping
- Hand-held shower hose – a movable shower hose and head that allows the flow of water to be directed to all parts of the body
- Bath bench – aid for a person who cannot stand independently in the shower or who cannot sit down or get up on their own from the tub
- Bathtub safety rails – support for getting in and out of the tub