Other Concerns

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My 2/1-2 year old granddaughter has a pediatric walker and stander through Early Intervention. My son lives with me and he is divorced from his wife. When my granddaughter stays with us, we don't have any equipment for her to use. It is at my ex-daughter-in-laws. Can you advise as to how we would go about getting or renting this equipment?

If your granddaughter is enrolled in early intervention, then the equipment is most likely on loan to her mother through whatever agency her physical therapist works with...I would consult with her PT first to see if additional loaner equipment is available through the early intervention provider by explaining your situation. At age 2.5 the walker should be easy to transport between your two households, but the stander would not be. Your PT could probably write a letter of medical necessity to order a stander through your grandchild's health insurance, unless her other stander was already ordered through insurance.

Unfortunately due to the very high cost of pediatric adaptive equipment (standers typically run upwards of $600) there are few places that rent/loan it. I know of a few resources in my area and one is the Variety Club Children's Charity and their On The Go Program which has a club in Illinois as well. They will fund adaptive equipment only if you can prove there is no other way of getting it (loan from early intervention or via insurance). I also found this resource for Illinois. If your granddaughter does receive a stander and/or walker for use at your home please be sure you have a physical therapist adjust the equipment properly and instruct you on using it. Adaptive equipment should only be used under the direction of a physical therapist since injuries can occur by using this type of equipment improperly.

Back to:  Therapist Questions & Answers - Other Concerns

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