# Borrow equipment after an injury: start with your municipality

Need a wheelchair, shower chair or crutches after an injury? Find municipal short-term loans, check local conditions and arrange collection and return.

Canonical: https://samfunnprep.no/en/articles/midlertidige-hjelpemidler-lane-kommunen
Language: en
Publisher: SamfunnPrep
Author: Hlib Suslov
Published: 2026-10-07T22:17:30.87+00:00
Modified: 2026-10-07T22:17:30.930152+00:00
AI use policy: https://samfunnprep.no/ai-policy.txt

## Key takeaways

- Under 2 years: start with the municipality Nav describes short-term equipment needs as a municipal responsibility.
- Crutches depend on local services Oslo no longer lends adult crutches, while other municipalities may offer different arrangements.
- Arrange collection and return Check the loan period, transport and instructions with the relevant loan service.

For a temporary need for assistive equipment, contact your municipality. You may be able to borrow a wheelchair or shower chair after an operation, for example. Equipment, loan periods and collection arrangements vary locally. Free crutches are not something you can expect everywhere.

## Municipality or Nav: where do you start?

Start with the municipality when your need is temporary. For a long-term need, the municipality can help you apply to Nav.

**Hjelpemidler** means assistive equipment that makes particular tasks easier. A walking frame can support you while walking. A shower chair lets you sit in the shower. Assess your needs according to what you need to do at home.

Nav, the Norwegian Labour and Welfare Administration, defines a short-term need as **less than two years**. Municipalities have their own equipment stores for these needs. For a long-term need, you normally apply to a Nav assistive technology centre, Nav hjelpemiddelsentral. This distinction was checked on **7 October 2026** in [Nav's information about equipment and municipal responsibilities](https://www.nav.no/samarbeidspartner/hjelpemidler).

A temporary injury therefore does not mean you must wait for an ordinary Nav application before asking about equipment. SamfunnPrep's [guide to assistive equipment from Nav](https://samfunnprep.no/en/articles/hjelpemidler-nav-norge) explains the long-term route.

## How do you find the municipality's short-term loan service?

Search the municipality's official website for «korttidsutlån», «hjelpemiddellager» or «hjelpemiddelformidling»: short-term loans, equipment stores or equipment provision. If you cannot find the service, call the municipal switchboard.

Nav recommends contacting municipal health services when you need equipment for everyday life. An occupational therapist or physiotherapist can help assess a suitable solution. An **ergoterapeut**, occupational therapist, is a healthcare professional who helps people manage everyday activities.

Explain where you live, why your need is temporary and what you need help doing. You could say:

> I am going home after an operation and need support in the bathroom. Does the municipality offer short-term equipment loans, and who can assess what would suit me?

This is a practical enquiry, not a specific application form. The municipality will explain its procedure. Some allow direct collection, while others want a professional to assess the need first.

Ask for contact details for the right service. That can save you having to repeat the whole situation when you call again.

## What can you borrow, and is it free?

The service depends on the municipality's equipment and conditions. Ask about the item, price and loan period before planning collection.

Municipalities may stock basic equipment such as wheelchairs, walking frames, raised toilet seats or shower chairs. They do not necessarily have every type available. Ask about a suitable alternative if the equipment you wanted is unavailable.

Two local examples show why you need to check:

| Municipality | Information checked on 7 October 2026 |
|---|---|
| Oslo | Residents can borrow selected equipment free of charge. Adult crutches are no longer lent out. |
| Os in Østerdalen | Offers basic equipment to residents and visitors according to need. Crutches are on its list. |

Oslo states that short-term equipment can be borrowed for **three months at a time, up to two years**. Os states loans of **up to three months**. These are local details, not one rule shared by all municipalities.

See [Oslo kommune's equipment provision service](https://www.oslo.kommune.no/helse-og-omsorg/tjenester-og-hjelpemidler-i-hjemmet/hjelpemidler-og-velferdsteknologi/hjelpemiddelformidlingen/) and [Os kommune's equipment information](https://www.os.kommune.no/tjenester/helse-og-omsorg/ergoterapi/hjelpemidler/). The Os in this example is in Østerdalen.

## Can you borrow crutches without a medical certificate?

Ask whether your municipality actually offers crutches and whether it needs to assess your situation first. There is no single loan procedure you can use everywhere.

According to Oslo's current guidance, adults must buy crutches from a pharmacy or online. The municipality still lists children's crutches among its short-term equipment. Os lists crutches among the equipment it lends.

One municipality no longer lending adult crutches does not mean you must buy all other equipment. Ask about help for your particular difficulty, such as walking, showering or using the toilet.

Also clarify whether the municipality needs a professional assessment. Do not pay for a medical certificate before knowing it is required. If you already have information from the hospital, ask how it should be used.

SamfunnPrep's [guide to physiotherapy in Norway](https://samfunnprep.no/en/articles/fysioterapi-egenandel-norge) explains treatment and payment. Equipment loans and physiotherapy treatment are two different tasks, although both may be relevant after an injury.

## How do you arrange collection and safe use?

Clarify who will collect the equipment, how it will be transported and who will explain its use. Equipment should suit both the person and the home.

Oslo says you can attend without an appointment for a simple equipment loan. If you cannot collect it yourself, a relative, among others, can collect it. These arrangements concern Oslo; ask your own municipality about its procedure.

Before collection, clarify:

- Where and when you can collect the equipment.
- Which personal details the municipality needs.
- Whether someone else can collect it for you.
- How its height or size will be checked.
- Whom to contact if something is wrong.

Mention stairs, narrow doorways or limited space. A wheelchair available in the store will not necessarily solve the whole problem of entering your home. Ask the professional to help assess this.

Do not make technical modifications to borrowed equipment without asking. Request an explanation if you are unsure about brakes, adjustments or use. Keep the loan information with the service's phone number.

## What should you do before leaving hospital?

Discuss your equipment needs before going home. Ask your treatment provider and the municipality to clarify equipment and further follow-up if your home requires a solution.

Describe what you will not be able to manage alone, rather than just requesting a specific product. For example, explain that you cannot stand for long in the shower or move between the bed and a chair.

**Example:** You will be at home with reduced mobility for a while. You enquire about short-term loans before discharge. The municipality clarifies available equipment, and a relative checks collection arrangements. You also find out who will explain its use.

If the need arises in the evening or at a weekend, check the municipality's local contact route. Os directs people to its home care service for urgent equipment needs outside ordinary hours. This is not a nationwide out-of-hours equipment service.

## When must you return the equipment?

Return the equipment when the loan or need ends. If you still need it, contact the loan service before the agreed return date.

Ask about extensions and who assesses a need lasting longer than initially expected. The municipality can then also clarify whether the Nav route is appropriate. Do not assume the loan will be extended automatically.

Agree on a return location and any cleaning requirements. Ask what to do if anything is damaged or missing. SamfunnPrep's [practical tools](https://samfunnprep.no/en/verktoy) can help with other tasks when you return home. For equipment, your first step is to find the municipality's current loan service.

## FAQ

### Should I apply to Nav for a short-term need?

Start with your municipality. Nav defines needs lasting under two years as short-term and directs people to municipal equipment stores.

### Do all municipalities lend crutches free of charge?

No, services vary. Oslo no longer lends adult crutches, for example, while Os in Østerdalen includes crutches on its loan list.

### How long can I borrow the equipment?

Check municipal conditions. Oslo states three months at a time up to two years, while Os states up to three months.

### Can someone collect equipment for me?

Ask your municipality about its requirements. Oslo says a relative, among others, can collect it when you cannot attend yourself.

## Sources

- [Hjelpemidler](https://www.nav.no/samarbeidspartner/hjelpemidler)
- [Lån hjelpemidler](https://www.oslo.kommune.no/helse-og-omsorg/tjenester-og-hjelpemidler-i-hjemmet/hjelpemidler-og-velferdsteknologi/hjelpemiddelformidlingen/)
- [Behov for hjelpemidler](https://www.os.kommune.no/tjenester/helse-og-omsorg/ergoterapi/hjelpemidler/)

Citation: Hlib Suslov, "Borrow equipment after an injury: start with your municipality", SamfunnPrep, 2026-10-07T22:17:30.87+00:00, https://samfunnprep.no/en/articles/midlertidige-hjelpemidler-lane-kommunen