Equipment Loan Program | Muscular Dystrophy Queensland
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Equipment Loan Program

Muscular Dystrophy Queensland (MDQ) offers a free equipment loan program to help people living with neuromuscular conditions maintain comfort, independence and wellbeing at home.

Through this program, our clients can borrow essential specialist items, including electric adjustable beds and cough assist machines, tailored to support daily life and health needs.

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Cough Assist Short Term Loan Program

For people with weak breathing muscles, a cough assist machine helps clear mucus and secretions, including those caused by infection. It works by gently applying positive air pressure to the airway, then quickly shifting to negative pressure. This change creates a strong outward airflow that mimics a deep, natural cough.

MDQ offers a short-term loan program for Cough Assist machines to support recovery from acute respiratory infections.

Borrow a CoughAssist Machine

 

Enquire about accessing a loan

Watch the CoughAssist machine being used by a person living in France with Duchenne muscular dystrophy, presented by renowned specialist neuromuscular physiotherapist, Dr. Michel Toussaint, PhD.

Electric Bed Loan Program

For a person with muscle weakness, an adjustable electric bed can help with mobility and comfort and can reduce the need for assistance at night. It can also help with good posture, reduce pressure ulcers and improve breathing. For carers, by adjusting the bed’s height, an adjustable bed can reduce the risk of injuries that can be sustained during turning and transfers. 

MDQ offers adjustable electric beds on a long-term loan basis. Loans include:

  • A suitable bed. We consider your individual circumstances and take advice from your occupational therapist to make sure you receive a bed that meets your needs. Most often, this is a king single bed with a mattress, hand controls, side rails and a head and footboard.
  • Transport of the bed to the person’s home
  • Repairs and maintenance for the period of the loan

Through this program, a bed is placed on a long-term loan with our community members. We expect the equipment to remain in place for as long as it is required, often many years.

 

Equipment Loans FAQs

Who can borrow equipment?

Our equipment loan programs are available to people who have registered with us. Find out more about registering with us.

Are there limits to the cough assist loans?

This program provides cough assist machines on a short-term loan basis. Each machine is initially loaned for one month, with the option to renew for up to a total of three months if needed.

What if I need a cough assist machine for a longer time?

Some people benefit from using the machine as a preventative aid to regularly clear secretions and reduce the risk of infections. Having a cough assist machine permanently available can make a significant difference. We support individuals to access this equipment through their NDIS plan or other funding sources. Please make an enquiry via our Infoline if you’d like support in this way.

Are there limits to bed loans?

We source funding for this program from donors and charitable partnerships and so there may be a short wait before we are able to provide the equipment. We focus on supporting people who cannot access this equipment via an NDIS plan.

For those eligible for the NDIS, we have assisted people to obtain this equipment through their plan. If the item is suitable for your needs, our allied health professionals may help with an equipment prescription.

Do you have a question about our equipment loan program?

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