Mon Health Equipment & Supplies host Mobility Expo

MORGANTOWN — This weekend marks the first Mobility Expo at the Morgantown Mall.
It will run from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday.
Jeanette Lancaster, executive director of Mon Health Equipment & Supplies, said that in 2010, they held a small expo at Middletown Mall in Fairmont.
This year there are 14 vendors confirmed.
She said there are tradeshows held throughout the country for patients and physical therapists to see what is available. However, most people don’t have the time to travel or be away from family and work. This is why they are bringing an expo to Morgantown.
“There is a large demand for complex rehabilitation and mobility products in our community. One way for patients and physical therapists to keep up with new innovations is to rely on their equipment company to stay on top of and introduce the items when the need arises,” Lancaster said.
She mentioned the more people know about medical equipment, the better they will be at making informed decisions about what works best for them. She said mobility equipment has come a long way. There is always competition for better and more innovative items to use. Some things that people look for are materials that are lighter weight, easier to fold and transport, more stabile and durable.
The expo will have a plethora of devices and vendors with things like power and manual wheelchairs, pediatric devices, standing frames, gait trainers, car seats, vehicle lifts and more, Lancaster said.
Trial opportunities will also be available from vendors of the equipment. They can help determine correct sizes, available options and even personalized preferences, such as color and accessories. On-site mobility evaluations will also be performed.
“This is independence, quality of life, medical necessity — whether it’s to get from room to room in your home or get back to work after an injury. There are so many benefits to having mobility equipment when you have a limitation preventing you from being independent,” Lancaster said.
She said the event is free, easy to locate and access, and has plenty of accessible parking.
People will also have the opportunity to meet their local equipment provider and be able to ask any questions they might have about insurance coverage and product availability.
“We are a full-line durable medical equipment provider and offer so much more than just mobility equipment. We are familiar with the struggles and challenges of caring for loved ones and can help make the transition from hospital or rehab to home a little more comfortable,” Lancaster said.
She said Mon Health Equipment and Supplies works with most insurances and will work with other funding if needed.
“If participants take only one thing away from this day, I would like for them to know it’s available and that Mon Health Equipment and Supply or Fairmont Home Medical will be the best choice for helping them get it,” she said.