Pooling system of mobility products in the Long-term care act (WLZ) 

A significant part of L&M’s wheelchairs are used in rehabilitation centers, nursing homes or care homes, for people who need intensive care throughout the day. This target group consists largely of elderly people who use the wheelchair on average for less than a year. In the Netherlands, the ‘pooling system’ has been developed to provide this target group with a suitable and sustainable solution. 

The wheelchair has been used by one user for less than 1 year

The wheelchair is used by one user for less than 1 year. Within this system, the user of the wheelchair is central. With every new request for a wheelchair, the availability of a suitable wheelchair in the depot is first checked. It is then adapted based on the individual wishes and needs of the respective client. A quality check is also performed, allowing the assistive devices to be reused in a safe manner. Through a defined indication process and a central depot, a suitable and adequate wheelchair is provided for everyone who qualifies. 

From a circular perspective, this is what it looks like: 

Explanation of the illustration: 

Each participant in the chain is responsible for a pillar.

• The dealer is responsible for maintenance and adjustments to the wheelchair.
• The depot performs the inspection and assembly of the wheelchair during reintegration.
• The manufacturer adds usable parts back into the production process (remanufacturing).
• Producers of parts recycle the raw materials of rejected parts.