Join us for an informative presentation on hearing loss and learn about the No Cost CapTel Captioned Telephone designed for people with hearing loss.

Lending Closets 2025 

Lending closets rely on medical equipment donations. Equipment availability constantly changes. Please call first for availability and the donations they accept. The equipment available column is a guide, not a guarantee, of items being available or accepted. The length of a loan can be on a case-by-case basis. Some lending facilities will extend the loan if there is not a waitlist/demand for that item. If your doctor gives you a prescription for Durable Medical Equipment (DME), Medicare usually covers the costs for you to order the equipment. Elderwerks can also refer you to DME companies. If there is no Lending Closet near you or you want equipment for longer than what is loaned, you might be able to purchase equipment at a discounted price at thrift shops such as Savers, Salvation Army, Good Will, or other resell shops throughout your local area.

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Medical Lending Closet Lists of Providers 

Are you in need of a cane, walker or wheelchair? Would you like to borrow one? Please check out the list provided to find your local lending closet.

PCs for People is a national nonprofit social enterprise working to get low-cost quality computers and internet into the homes of individuals, families, and nonprofits with low income. By recycling and then refurbishing computers, PCs for People provides a valuable service to businesses, families, and the planet by keeping computers out of landfills and repurposing them to advance digital inclusion. Click to find out more and if you're eligible for a PC.

Captioned Telephones 

With your personal doctor/audiologist’s certification, you qualify for a NO-COST CapTel Captioned Telephone. The phones will be delivered and installed for you. CapTel is a provider of captioned telephones. These phones are free to the hearing impaired by Medicare. Please fill out this form and fax back to 847-919-4773

Presented by Jim Whittington, Marketing Director/Accessibility Specialist, Extended Home Living Services Inc./Lifeway Mobility (EHLS)

Benjamin Surmi, Social Gerontologist, MsG, Director of People & Culture at Koelsch Communities for Elderwerks Senior Fair. Now, more than ever, anyone serving seniors must understand how to embed video conversation into everyday life. And, while picking up a tablet and installing Skype may seem like the best choice, innovations available today are often easier to use, include accessibility solutions, and expand video-chat for in-home use with people living with dementia. Join us as we explore the evidence for video chat, discover the range of tools at our fingertips, and take away 7 key strategies regardless of the tools we choose.

Technology is helping seniors connect to the world. It’s impacting the way they live their lives and how they communicate with loved ones.

As a senior citizen, you have a variety of housing options available to meet your needs. Active and independent older adults sometimes choose to live in adult retirement communities that provide recreational and social activities, while seniors who might need some extra help at home may benefit from assisted living facilities.