{"id":88541,"date":"2026-06-29T18:00:46","date_gmt":"2026-06-29T22:00:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wheelchair-users-left-waiting-for-repairs-as-private-equity-tightens-industry-grip\/"},"modified":"2026-06-29T18:00:46","modified_gmt":"2026-06-29T22:00:46","slug":"wheelchair-users-left-waiting-for-repairs-as-private-equity-tightens-industry-grip","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wheelchair-users-left-waiting-for-repairs-as-private-equity-tightens-industry-grip\/","title":{"rendered":"Wheelchair Users Left Waiting for Repairs as Private Equity Tightens Industry Grip"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1\" height=\"1\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/news-1782770446395.png?resize=1%2C1&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-88540\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n<p>For many wheelchair users, a broken chair is not just an inconvenience \u2014 it can mean being completely cut off from the outside world. Now, those who rely on wheelchairs are speaking out about what they say is a growing crisis in getting their equipment repaired.<\/p><p>The problem, according to wheelchair users, stems from private equity firms buying up companies in the industry. As ownership has consolidated into fewer hands, repair options have dwindled \u2014 and wait times have grown longer.<\/p><p>Those affected say the delays are not just frustrating. They describe being isolated from their communities and facing real dangers to their physical health while they wait for fixes that can take weeks or even longer to complete.<\/p><p>The situation highlights a broader concern about what happens when essential medical equipment services become concentrated under private equity ownership, leaving vulnerable people with little recourse when something goes wrong.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>People who depend on wheelchairs for mobility say they are facing dangerously long wait times for repairs. They point to private equity-driven consolidation in the wheelchair repair industry as the root cause. These delays, they say, leave them cut off from daily life and put their health at serious risk.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":88540,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[837],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-88541","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-health"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/news-1782770446395.png?fit=1%2C1&ssl=1","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pbtNqq-n25","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":35583,"url":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/delaware-paralympic-curler-steve-emt-seeks-first-team-usa-wheelchair-medal\/","url_meta":{"origin":88541,"position":0},"title":"Delaware Paralympic Curler Steve Emt Seeks First Team USA Wheelchair Medal","author":"Admin","date":"March 12, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"Delaware's Steve Emt is competing in his third Paralympics, this time in the new mixed doubles wheelchair curling event alongside partner Laura Dwyer. The duo is vying to bring home Team USA's first-ever wheelchair curling medal after defeating Italy in Sunday's competition.","rel":"","context":"In &quot;News&quot;","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/category\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":57530,"url":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/museums-worldwide-expand-tours-for-visitors-with-disabilities\/","url_meta":{"origin":88541,"position":1},"title":"Museums Worldwide Expand Tours for Visitors with Disabilities","author":"Admin","date":"April 26, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"Cultural institutions across the globe are developing specialized tours and programs to better serve travelers with disabilities. From sign-language guides to sensory-friendly experiences, these barrier-free options aim to make tourism more inclusive for people with both visible and invisible disabilities.","rel":"","context":"In &quot;World News&quot;","block_context":{"text":"World News","link":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/category\/world-news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/news-1777178437040.jpg?fit=1000%2C666&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/news-1777178437040.jpg?fit=1000%2C666&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/news-1777178437040.jpg?fit=1000%2C666&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/news-1777178437040.jpg?fit=1000%2C666&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":7389,"url":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/federal-trade-commission-the-department-of-justice-department-and-the-department-of-health-and-human-services-launch-cross-government-inquiry-on-impact-of-corporate-greed-in-health-care\/","url_meta":{"origin":88541,"position":2},"title":"Federal Trade Commission, the Department of Justice Department and the Department of Health and Human Services Launch Cross-Government Inquiry on Impact of Corporate Greed in Health Care","author":"jhenderson2","date":"March 5, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"The Federal Trade Commission, the Department of Justice\u2019s (DOJ) Antitrust Division, and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) jointly launched a cross-government public inquiry into private-equity and other corporations\u2019 increasing control over health care.Private equity firms and other corporate owners are increasingly involved in health care system\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;News&quot;","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/category\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":7395,"url":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/federal-trade-commission-the-department-of-justice-and-the-department-of-health-and-human-services-launch-cross-government-inquiry-on-impact-of-corporate-greed-in-health-care\/","url_meta":{"origin":88541,"position":3},"title":"Federal Trade Commission, the Department of Justice and the Department of Health and Human Services Launch Cross-Government Inquiry on Impact of Corporate Greed in Health Care","author":"jhenderson2","date":"March 5, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"The Federal Trade Commission, the Department of Justice\u2019s (DOJ) Antitrust Division, and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) jointly launched a cross-government public inquiry into private-equity and other corporations\u2019 increasing control over health care.Private equity firms and other corporate owners are increasingly involved in health care system\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;News&quot;","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/category\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":83419,"url":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/private-equity-firm-eqt-acquires-berlin-space-company-that-partners-with-spacex\/","url_meta":{"origin":88541,"position":4},"title":"Private Equity Firm EQT Acquires Berlin Space Company That Partners With SpaceX","author":"Admin","date":"June 18, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"Stockholm-listed private equity fund EQT is purchasing Berlin-based space company Exolaunch, which helps satellite operators reach orbit through partnerships with rocket companies including SpaceX. The deal marks EQT's first private equity investment in the space sector. Exolaunch has launched more than 790 satellites across 47 missions for over 200 clients\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Business&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Business","link":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/category\/business\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/news-1781767001915.png?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/news-1781767001915.png?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/news-1781767001915.png?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/news-1781767001915.png?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/news-1781767001915.png?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":70406,"url":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/jpmorgan-seeks-to-transfer-risk-on-4b-in-private-equity-loans\/","url_meta":{"origin":88541,"position":5},"title":"JPMorgan Seeks to Transfer Risk on $4B in Private Equity Loans","author":"Admin","date":"May 22, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"Major Wall Street bank JPMorgan is reportedly working to shift risk on over $4 billion in loans tied to private equity funds. The move comes as investor confidence in private credit has declined amid concerns about lending practices and potential market disruptions.","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Business&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Business","link":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/category\/business\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/news-1779427388879.jpg?fit=450%2C300&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/88541","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=88541"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/88541\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/88540"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=88541"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=88541"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=88541"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}