Nearly half of all Assist ME clients are working-age adults or children — a clear reminder that mobility equipment isn’t just for older adults. It’s for the construction worker recovering from an accident, the mother managing MS, and the child who has already outgrown their first chair or sit-to-stand lift.

In Mecklenburg County, 15% of residents — more than 188,000 people — lack health insurance, leaving many with little or no coverage for medically necessary mobility equipment. National data shows that 8–12% of adults experience mobility limitations each year, and 2–6% require wheelchairs, walkers, or rollators. Applied locally, that means 25,000 to 75,000 Mecklenburg County residents will need mobility equipment this year — and 4,000 to 11,000 of them will face that need with no insurance coverage at all.

Women in Mecklenburg County experience higher poverty rates across nearly every racial group, and they make up a significant share of the adults who turn to Assist ME for support.

Medicaid’s structure leaves many behind: adults who earn too much to qualify yet still live below the poverty level, and those who do qualify but face weeks-long authorization delays and strict five-year replacement rules. These gaps leave patients without the equipment they need to recover safely — increasing fall risk, prolonging hospital stays, and delaying independence. The system also fails people in crisis, like Larry, a homeless man denied replacement of his stolen power chair because he could not meet the requirement for a home evaluation.

Assist ME bridges these health equity gaps — and we need your help to keep the MOVE (Mobility Opportunity & Vital Equipment) Program rolling smoothly.  Consider donating time, funding, or gently used mobility equipment to ensure every neighbor has the safety, dignity, and mobility they deserve.