DME refers to Durable Medical Equipment. These are the items that are available to help keep your loved one safe and comfortable in his/her home. DME is included in the Hospice Benefit and there should not be any additional charge for this equipment.
Remember, the following regarding DME:
- DME is not yours to keep, but rather they are rented from a contracted DME company through your Hospice Agency
- The RNCM (Nurse) will order appropriate DME for your loved one
- DME will be delivered to your loved one’s home
- Different DME may be ordered and delivered/picked-up as your loved one declines in condition.
- DME is to help encourage independence, integrity, and safety of your loved one.
- Your Hospice Nurse will need to share information about your loved one with the DME company such as your address, contact phone number, loved one’s date of birth.
- You and the primary caregiver will be taught how to safely work each piece of DME brought into your loved one’s home.
- If you have questions or concerns about any DME brought into your home, contact your Hospice Agency and/or your Hospice Nurse.
- Examples of DME are listed below:
Safety
DME can be ordered to help maintain safety in your loved one’s home
- Walkers
- Wheelchairs (standard, high back, broda)
- Floor Mats (to prevent injuries from falls out of bed)
- Bolsters/Scoop Mattresses (these are to prevent falls out of bed)
- Bedside Commode
- Shower Chair
- Hoyer Lifts (special lifts for those that can no longer bear weight)
Comfort
DME can be ordered to help keep patient comfortable in his/her own home:
- Electric Hospital Bed (that can raise head of bed, or feet of bed, or lower/raise entire bed)
- Alternating Pressure Mattresses, Foam Gel Mattress, Low Air Loss Mattresses
- Oxygen concentrator and portable oxygen tanks
- Nebulizer machine (machine that provides “breathing treatments” to help provide comfort with breathing)
Prevention
DME can be ordered and delivered to prevent injury from falls and to prevent skin breakdown:
- Specialized mattresses
- Broda chair
Hospice-101.com: Hospice for your Loved One 
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