Exhibit 99.1

                                                           Investor Inquiries:
                                                           Robert K. Gudbranson
                                                           (440) 329-6001

NEWS RELEASE

INVACARE ANNOUNCES ISSUANCE OF $100 MILLION IN SENIOR NOTES

ELYRIA,  Ohio - (October 1, 2003) - Invacare  Corporation  (NYSE: IVC) announced
today that it has  completed  the sale of an aggregate of $100 million of senior
notes, which consist of three series of maturities. The Series A notes represent
$50 million of the total issuance,  bear interest at 3.97% and mature on October
1, 2007. The Series B notes  represent $30 million of the total  issuance,  bear
interest  at 4.74% and mature on October 1, 2009.  The Series C notes  represent
$20 million of the total issuance,  bear interest at 5.05% and mature on October
1, 2010.  Effective October 1, 2003, the Company entered into swap agreements to
exchange the fixed rate debt for variable rate debt at rates which are currently
between 1.2% and 1.5%.

The company  will utilize the proceeds of the issuance to repay a portion of its
current borrowings  outstanding and for general corporate  purposes.  Gregory C.
Thompson,  Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer stated "Invacare is
extremely  pleased to negotiate the sale of these notes at favorable  terms. The
company's  private debt offering was very well received by the investors,  which
reflects  Invacare's  strong  financial  condition and market  leadership in our
industry.  This  sale of  senior  notes  will  provide  Invacare  with a  strong
liquidity condition to support our growth plans in the future."

Invacare  Corporation (NYSE: IVC - news),  headquartered in Elyria, Ohio, is the
global  leader  in the  manufacture  and  distribution  of  innovative  home and
long-term care medical products that promote recovery and active lifestyles. The
Company has 5,300 associates and markets its products in 80 countries around the
world. For more information about the Company and its products, visit Invacare's
website at www.invacare.com.

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the
"Safe Harbor"  provisions  of the Private  Securities  Litigation  Reform Act of
1995. Terms such as "will," "should," "plan,"  "intend,"  "expect,"  "continue,"
"believe,"   "anticipate"  and  "seek,"  as  well  as  similar   comments,   are
forward-looking  in nature.  Actual results and events may differ  significantly
from those expressed or anticipated as a result of risks and uncertainties which
include,  but are not limited to, the following:  pricing pressures,  increasing
raw material costs, the consolidations of health care customers and competitors,
government  reimbursement  issues  (including those that affect the viability of
customers),  the ability to design, manufacture and distribute new products with
higher   functionality  and  lower  costs,  the  ability  to  accelerate  market
acceptance of and transition to new products,  the effect of offering  customers
competitive  financing  terms,  Invacare's  ability  to  successfully  identify,
acquire and integrate  strategic  acquisition  candidates,  the  difficulties in
managing and operating businesses in many different foreign  jurisdictions,  the
timely completion of facility consolidations,  the vagaries of any litigation or
regulatory  investigations  that the Company may be or become involved in at any
time, the  difficulties in acquiring and maintaining a proprietary  intellectual
property ownership  position,  the overall economic,  market and industry growth
conditions,  foreign  currency and interest  rate risks,  Invacare's  ability to
improve  financing  terms  and  reduce  working  capital,  as well as the  risks
described  from time to time in Invacare's  reports as filed with the Securities
and Exchange  Commission.  We undertake no  obligation to review or update these
forward-looking statements or other information contained herein.