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Date of posting: 24-06-2026
Reading time: 11 min read
A practical guide to renting hospital beds, wheelchairs, oxygen concentrators, and more, what to choose, what to ask, and how to get started.
Renting medical equipment at home allows caregivers to acquire commercial, clinical-grade medical devices, including multi-function motorised hospital beds, portable oxygen concentrators, and customised wheelchairs, on a flexible subscription basis, easing post-hospital discharge transitions without large capital investments.
When a loved one comes home after a hospital stay, the discharge summary outlines their medical needs. It rarely tells you how to actually arrange it. A hospital bed. An oxygen concentrator. A wheelchair that fits through your hallway. Suddenly, you are a caregiver with a checklist you have never seen before, a patient who needs to be comfortable today, and no clear idea of where to begin.
The question for most families is not whether to rent but what to rent, and how to get it right the first time. This guide covers everything: which equipment is available, how to choose the right type, what to ask before you book, and how Apollo Homecare makes the process straightforward.
Why Rent Medical Equipment Instead of Buying?
For most caregiving situations, renting makes more sense than purchasing. Recovery periods are finite. A patient who needs a hospital bed post-surgery for six weeks does not need to own one permanently. Renting gives you access to the right equipment for the right duration without the upfront cost, storage problem, or resale hassle when the need ends.
Renting also means the equipment is maintained, sanitised, and serviced. You are not buying second-hand equipment of unknown condition. And if your patient's needs change during recovery, you can upgrade or swap.
What Medical Equipment Is Available for Rent?
A standard home bed is not designed for someone recovering from surgery, managing a neurological condition, or requiring frequent repositioning to prevent bedsores. A hospital bed for rent offers height adjustment (easier for caregivers to assist without back strain), backrest elevation (essential for patients who need to sit up for feeding or breathing), and side rails for safety.
Adjustable beds for patients go further, with motorised controls that let the patient manage their own position independently. This matters significantly for long-term recovery and patient dignity.
Manual and electric wheelchairs for rent are among the most commonly requested items for home care. The right choice depends on the patient's upper-body strength, your home's layout, and the duration of need.
Manual wheelchairs suit patients with good upper-body strength or those who will be pushed by a caregiver. Electric wheelchairs are better for patients with limited arm strength or those managing neurological conditions. Reclining and commode wheelchairs are available for patients who need additional support.
For patients requiring respiratory support, our home respiratory inventory features continuous-flow 5L and 10L medical oxygen concentrators, automatic CPAP machines, and dual-pressure BiPAP machines with integrated humidifiers, all precisely calibrated to match therapeutic prescriptions.
Always ensure the concentrator's flow rate matches your doctor's prescription.
4. BiPAP and CPAP machines
Prescribed for sleep apnoea, respiratory failure, or post-ICU care, BiPAP and CPAP machines are available on rent and are considerably more cost-effective to rent than to purchase for short or medium-term use.
Used to clear airways for patients who cannot manage secretions on their own, typically post-stroke, post-surgery, or for patients with neurodegenerative conditions. Usually part of a broader home nursing or long-term care setup.
For patients who are bedridden or have limited mobility, a standard mattress quickly becomes a bedsore risk. Air mattresses with alternating pressure cycles are a standard part of long-term home care for such patients and are widely available for rent.
Pulse oximeters, blood pressure monitors, and ECG devices are available for home use. For patients being closely monitored post-discharge, having these at home means fewer clinic visits and a faster response to any deterioration.
How Do You Choose the Right Equipment?
The treating doctor or hospital team will typically specify what equipment is needed. Do not guess. As noted by the National Institutes of Health, the home environment, including available space, utilities, and who will be operating the device, must all be factored into equipment selection to ensure it is safe and effective.
For families coordinating transfers from institutions such as Max Healthcare or Fortis in South Delhi, or Manipal Hospitals in Bangalore, prompt doorstep delivery of equipment like Fowler patient beds is essential for immediate post-discharge continuity. A portable oxygen concentrator prescribed at 2 litres per minute is not interchangeable with one set at a different flow rate.
A wide electric wheelchair that works in a hospital corridor may not fit through a bedroom door. Measure doorways, check for stairs, and think about where the patient will spend most of their time before confirming the equipment.
A hospital bed at the right height prevents back injuries for the person doing the lifting and repositioning. An electric wheelchair reduces the physical effort required to push. Caregiver fatigue is one of the leading reasons home care breaks down.
If you are unsure whether a manual or electric wheelchair is right for you, ask whether a short-term trial is possible before committing to a longer rental period.
If you are setting up home care for a senior family member, equipment rental is one part of a larger picture. You may also need nursing support, physiotherapy, and help with daily medical procedures. Read: Providing Exceptional Care for Elderly Patients at Home
What Should You Ask Before Renting?
Before confirming any rental, ask the following:
Is the equipment sanitised and certified before delivery? How quickly can it be delivered? Is a technician available to set it up and demonstrate its use? What is the process if the equipment malfunctions? Are consumables (masks, tubing, filters) included or charged separately? What is the minimum rental period and the notice required to return?
These are not bureaucratic questions. For a family managing a medical situation at home, equipment downtime is not a minor inconvenience.
How Apollo Homecare Can Help
Apollo Homecare's medical equipment service covers hospital beds, wheelchairs (manual, electric, and reclining), oxygen concentrators, BiPAP and CPAP machines, suction machines, air mattresses, and monitoring equipment, available for purchase or rent across major Indian cities.
Equipment is sanitised, maintained, and delivered with setup support. If you are unsure what you need, the care coordination team can help you match equipment to the patient's prescription and home setup. Available across Hyderabad, Bangalore, Chennai, Delhi NCR, Kolkata, Mumbai, and Pune.
Call 1800 108 8586 (toll-free) or visit apollohomecare.com to check availability in your city.
Conclusion
Setting up medical equipment at home is not complicated, but it does require the right information at the right time. Know what has been prescribed, match equipment to your home and your patient's actual needs, ask the right questions before renting, and work with a provider who backs the equipment with setup support and service.
The goal is simple: your loved one should be as safe and comfortable at home as they were in the hospital, and you should be able to care for them without running yourself into the ground. The right equipment makes both possible.
For a full range of medical equipment available for rent or purchase, visit Apollo Homecare's medical equipment page or call 1800 108 8586.
1. Do I need a doctor's prescription to rent medical equipment at home?
For most equipment, such as wheelchairs and hospital beds, a prescription is not mandatory but is strongly recommended, especially for medical devices like oxygen concentrators, BiPAP, and CPAP machines, where settings must match a doctor's order.
2. How quickly can medical equipment be delivered at home?
Delivery timelines vary by city and equipment type. Apollo Homecare typically offers same-day or next-day delivery for most standard equipment across its service cities.
3. What is the minimum rental period for medical equipment?
This varies by equipment. Most providers offer weekly or monthly rental plans. Speak with the care coordinator to find a plan that matches your expected recovery timeline.
4. Is the rented equipment sanitised before delivery?
Yes. All equipment rented through Apollo Homecare is sanitised and checked before delivery. A technician will also set it up at your home and demonstrate how to use it.
5. Can I upgrade or change the equipment mid-rental if the patient's needs change?
Yes. If the patient's condition changes and a different type or specification of equipment is needed, Apollo Homecare's team can arrange a swap. It is best to flag this early so there is no gap in care.
6. What happens if the equipment breaks down or malfunctions at home?
Apollo Homecare provides service support for rented equipment. Call 1800 108 8586 immediately if there is a malfunction, and the team will arrange repair or replacement.
7. Where can I find medical equipment for rent near me?
Apollo Homecare provides express home delivery and professional technician installation across prominent metro territories, including South Delhi (GK, Saket, Vasant Kunj), West Delhi (Dwarka), South Bangalore, and central areas of Mumbai, Chennai, and Hyderabad.
Written by:
Apollo HomeCare is a trusted name in home healthcare, dedicated to delivering world-class medical care to patients in the comfort of their homes. With a team of expert doctors, nurses, and therapists, Apollo HomeCare provides personalized healthcare solutions, from post-surgical care and chronic disease management to physiotherapy and elder care. As a thought leader in the healthcare industry, Apollo HomeCare shares insightful blogs on home healthcare trends, wellness tips, and expert medical guidance to help individuals and families make informed health decisions. Our mission is to ensure quality healthcare is accessible, convenient, and compassionate.
