About AHDnet
An independent, plain-language reference to health and wellness at home, with a focus on home medical equipment.
AHDnet is an independent information guide about living safely and comfortably at home when health, age, injury or disability make everyday things harder. Most of the site is about home medical equipment, from canes and walkers to bath benches, care beds and hoists, and about the small changes to a home that make the biggest difference. It also covers caregiving basics and the practical side of coming home from hospital.
What we publish
The site has three parts. Browse by need holds longer guides, organised into six departments, that explain what a type of equipment is for, how it is usually fitted and what to ask before relying on it. The notes are shorter, seasonal and practical pieces. The Bloomington section describes real venues in Bloomington, Minnesota, with notes on visiting them with a walking aid or wheelchair: a worked example of the questions worth asking anywhere.
Independent and neutral
AHDnet does not sell products, take commissions, accept sponsored content or recommend brands, suppliers or clinics. We do not publish prices, because they vary widely and change often. We have no connection with any manufacturer, health provider, insurer, government agency or venue mentioned on the site, and nothing here should be read as an endorsement.
General information, not medical advice
Everything on AHDnet is general information. It is not medical advice, it is not a diagnosis, and it cannot take account of your health, your home or your circumstances. Talk to a qualified professional, such as a doctor, nurse, physical or occupational therapist or pharmacist, before you choose, change or stop using any equipment, and follow the instructions supplied with it. In an emergency, call your local emergency number.
For that reason the guides deliberately avoid treatment recommendations, dosages and claims about curing or preventing disease. Where a topic needs individual clinical judgement, such as pressure care, swallowing or how to use a hoist sling, we say so and point you to a professional.
How pages are written
Pages are written in plain English for people who are new to a topic: someone leaving hospital with a walker for the first time, or a family member suddenly helping with care. We try to explain the vocabulary, describe the main options neutrally and list the practical questions to raise. Pages are reviewed and updated as we find ways to make them clearer.
Photographs
Photographs come from Wikimedia Commons and are used under free licences such as Creative Commons and the public domain. Each image is credited on the photo credits page. Equipment shown in photographs is illustrative only.
Corrections
If you spot something unclear, out of date or wrong, the contact page explains how to tell us. We cannot answer personal medical questions.