Hiring and buying medical equipment for home care: how to choose it and how we look after it
The discharge sheet says "oxygen 2 l/min at night" and "bed rest, pressure sore prevention", while in the shop the family sees ten models and does not know whether 5 litres is enough or 10 are needed, a manual bed or an electric one, a foam mattress or one with a pump. This page explains the logic of the choice starting from the prescription, not the catalogue, sets the line between hiring and buying by duration, and shows what happens after delivery: training, faults, replacement and disinfection for the next patient.
-
Model from the prescriptionFlow, regime and mobility decide the equipment, not the price
-
Replacement, not on-site repairA faulty unit in Tbilisi is replaced on the same or the next day
-
Documented disinfectionEvery item has a card with the record of its previous cycle
Oxygen concentrator: flow, regime and a backup source
A concentrator separates nitrogen from room air and delivers 90-95% oxygen. Unlike a cylinder it never runs empty, but it depends on mains power, and these two properties are what drive the choice.
| Type | Flow | Who it is for | What we add |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stationary 5 l | 0.5-5 l/min continuous | Chronic respiratory failure, post-COVID, night-time oxygen | Humidifier, 15 m tubing so the patient can move around the room |
| Stationary 10 l | 1-10 l/min continuous | High-flow prescription, two users, fibrosis | Flow splitter, backup cylinder on the doctor's advice |
| Portable | Pulse, equivalent to 1-5 l/min | Going out, appointments, travel; not for a patient on continuous flow | Second battery, car charger |
A pulse oximeter comes with every concentrator, so the family can monitor oxygen saturation and give the doctor a number, not an impression. Only the doctor sets the saturation thresholds and changes to the flow.
Hospital bed and pressure-relief mattress: what decides the choice
-
Manual bed
The head and leg sections are adjusted with a crank and the side rails fold down. It is cheap and needs no power, but every adjustment is made by the caregiver. It works when the patient can sit up on their own and the caregiver is always close by.
-
Electric bed
The patient changes position on their own with a handset, and the height adjusts for transfers to a wheelchair and to protect the caregiver's back during care. For prolonged bed rest this is not a matter of comfort but of independence and safety.
-
Profiled foam mattress
For a low risk of pressure sores: the patient changes position on their own several times a day. The mattress spreads pressure through the shape of its surface and needs no pump.
-
Pressure-relief mattress with a pump
The patient cannot turn over or already has a pressure sore. The cells inflate alternately and the pressure shifts every few minutes. The pump must run continuously; we teach the family how to check the pressure and what an alarm means.
The bed is assembled on the spot in the room in 1-2 hours; at the family's request we store the old bed. Carrying it up to a fourth floor with no lift is possible, but we need to know before the order so that the right crew comes.
Wheelchairs, walking aids and bathroom safety
Mobility equipment is most often bought in the wrong size. A wheelchair that does not fit through the door and a walking aid that is taller than the patient do not increase safety, they reduce it.
-
A wheelchair sized to the patient and the door
The seat width is the patient's hip width plus 2-3 cm, and the overall width must be less than the narrowest door in the flat. A manual wheelchair for temporary needs, a transit wheelchair (narrow, pushed by the caregiver) for moving around the flat, an electric one for long-term independence.
-
Walking aids and walking frames set to height
The handle at wrist level when the patient stands upright with arms hanging down. A wheeled walker for those who cannot lift a frame, with two wheels at the front and rubber feet at the back so it does not slip away.
-
Bathroom: chair and grab rails
A shower chair with a backrest and armrests, a bath board for transferring, grab rails on the wall or with suction cups if the tiles cannot be drilled. We choose them from a photo of the family's bathroom so that the chair fits in the shower.
Hire or buy: where the line falls
The rule is simple: if you need the equipment for less than three months, hiring is cheaper and maintenance is our job; if the doctor talks about a permanent need, buying pays for itself in three to four months. In between, we show you the two figures side by side and the decision is yours.
- Hire: a daily or monthly rate, a deposit refunded on return, delivery and assembly in Tbilisi included in the price, free replacement if the unit fails, new consumables (cannula, mask, filter) for every patient.
- Purchase: the price per the supplier's invoice, a warranty period and a service centre in Georgia, which we check before recommending a model; our fee for selection and set-up is a separate line.
- Either way: on delivery we teach the family how to switch the equipment on, clean it and read the alarms, and leave instructions in Georgian; in the first week we call to check that everything is in order.
Frequently asked questions about medical equipment
A 5-litre or a 10-litre concentrator, stationary or portable?
The answer is in the doctor's prescription, not in a catalogue. The prescription states the flow in litres per minute and the regime (continuous, or only at night and on exertion). A 5-litre stationary unit delivers up to 5 l/min and is enough for most patients; a 10-litre unit is needed for a patient on high flow or when there are two users. A portable concentrator runs on a battery and makes it possible to go out, attend appointments and travel, but most models work in pulse mode, delivering oxygen only on inhalation, and will not suit a patient on continuous flow. That is why two units are often needed at the same time: a stationary one at home and a portable one for going out. We confirm the right combination with the doctor and only then deliver.
How does a manual hospital bed differ from an electric one, and which mattress does a bedridden patient need?
On both beds the head and leg sections are adjustable, but a manual bed is cranked by the caregiver, while an electric bed is operated by the patient with a handset, which preserves their independence and spares the caregiver's back. An electric bed often has height adjustment too, which makes transfers from bed to wheelchair and care easier. The choice of mattress depends on the risk of pressure sores: if the patient changes position on their own several times a day, a profiled foam mattress is enough; if they cannot, they need a pressure-relief mattress with a pump that inflates the cells alternately and redistributes pressure every few minutes. The pump runs quietly but must stay switched on continuously; we teach the family this as well.
What happens if the machine breaks down at night?
For an oxygen-dependent patient this is the most important question, and we answer it on three levels. First: every concentrator is checked with an oxygen concentration analyser before delivery, and we show the family what each message on the display means. Second: for a patient on continuous flow we recommend a backup source, an oxygen cylinder with a regulator or a second, smaller unit that covers a few hours; this is a separate line in the quote if the doctor considers it necessary. Third: if a unit fails, we replace it rather than repair it on site, in Tbilisi on the same or the next day. If even a few hours without oxygen would be dangerous for the patient, that points to inpatient care, and we ask the doctor about this directly before the hire.
How is hired equipment reprocessed after the previous patient?
Every returned item goes through a documented cycle: in a concentrator the filters and the humidifier bottle are replaced; the cannula and mask are new for every patient, in sealed packaging, and are never reused; the casing and display are cleaned with a medical-grade disinfectant and the unit is re-checked with the analyser. The bed frame and side rails are dismantled and the surfaces are treated one by one, the mattress cover is washed at a high temperature or replaced, and the cells and tubes of a pressure-relief mattress are disinfected and checked for leaks. On a wheelchair the surfaces and wheels are treated and the seat cushion is replaced. We record the cycle on the equipment card and show it to the family on delivery.
What often goes with the equipment
- Clinical cleaning after surgery The room where the bed and concentrator will stand is disinfected first.
- Caregiver and rehabilitation The person who operates the bed, checks the mattress and records the saturation.
- ICU ambulance from the clinic to home When the patient returns on oxygen or on a stretcher and an ordinary car will not do.
Send us the prescription and let us choose the model
Tell us what the doctor prescribed and how long you need it for. You will receive the offer with hire and purchase figures side by side, and in Tbilisi the equipment will arrive on the same or the next day.