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You may be able to obtain equipment, appliances and gadgets to help you if you are having difficulties with day-to-day tasks and activities.
Examples of problems you may be having include:
- getting in and out of your bath
- making a hot drink or a meal
- getting around indoors and outdoors
- using a telephone
- watching television or listening to the radio
- getting dressed
- getting on and off chairs
- getting in and out of bed
You can read more about equipment and aids, as well as other related subjects, in Age Concern's factsheet Disability equipment and how to get it.
Examples of equipment
Examples of equipment to support your daily living needs include:
- Items to help you with personal care and hygiene, such as using the bath or the toilet. This could include grab rails, bath boards and raised toilet seats.
- Products to help you to prepare food, such as lever taps and adapted kitchen utensils.
- Equipment to help you with the use of beds and chairs, such as a bed raiser.
Getting equipment
Newcastle Adult Services will be able to advise you about the types of equipment and aids that are available to help you to live in your home as comfortably and independently as possible.
You will be offered a needs assessment, which will give you an opportunity to discuss your individual needs with a specialist social worker or an occupational therapist. If you have a letter from your GP supporting your needs, this can often speed up the process.
Following your assessment, you will be told about the equipment that is available, what is most suited to your needs, and how you can get it.
Most equipment will be supplied (and installed, if necessary) free of charge if your assessment shows that you need it. However, if you would prefer to buy the equipment yourself, Newcastle Adult Services or Disability North will be able to offer you independent advice about this.
You may also have the option of using Direct Payments to buy your own equipment. For further information about this, see our section on Direct Payments.
If you aren't entitled to free equipment and are struggling to pay for the items you need yourself, it may be worthwhile finding out about occupational charities. Occupational charities exist to help former employees from a particular trade. They can provide or raise funds for a whole range of things. To find out if any exist that may be able to help you, contact the Citizens Advice Bureau using the details given below.
If you are a veteran, organisations such as The Royal British Legion or SSAFA Forces Help may be able to help pay for things to make your life easier. Their contact details are given below.
For further information, see the Disabled Living Foundation's factsheet Sources of funding for obtaining equipment for disabled and older people.
Second-hand equipment
If you want to buy or sell second-hand equipment, you can subscribe to the Disability Equipment Register. Subscribers receive a monthly magazine with details of equipment for sale. For more information, contact the Disability Equipment Register using the details given below.
Disability North also provide a second-hand equipment list. Contact them for further information using the details given below, or visit their website.
Who to contact
It is important to get the right advice first, to avoid making an expensive mistake. Advice will be available from various organisations, depending upon your circumstances.
You can choose to contact any of the following:
- Your GP surgery - may be able to help you to get equipment through, for example, the Community Nursing Service.
- BLISS=Ability - is a charity that provides information for disabled people, their families, and carers. They can advise you on what equipment is available and where you can get it from, as well as giving information on any other matters related to disabilities. To find out more, contact them using the details given below.
- Disability North - may be able to give you advice about the most appropriate equipment to suit your needs and on where you can buy it locally.
- Hospitals - If you are about to be discharged from hospital, you, or a relative/carer, could speak to a member of the ward staff who will be able to advise you on how to get the equipment you need for when you return home.
Other useful information
The Disability Living Foundation is a national charity that provides advice about equipment for older and disabled people. They have developed an online assessment tool, which helps you to assess your own needs for equipment. This provides a detailed report based on answers to questions about you and the environment you live in. To find out more, see the Ask SARA website.
The Disabled Living Foundation has also developed a website that allows you to search and compare personal care products called Bathing made easy. It aims to include every personal care product that is available nationally for older and disabled people in the UK. The information contained in the website is completely impartial and has been checked by the Disabled Living Foundation's team of therapists.
To find out more, visit the Bathing made easy website, or for advice call their helpline on telephone number 0845 130 9177 (textphone 020 7432 8009) from 10am to 4pm Monday to Friday, or email advice@dlf.org.uk.
Disability North can provide RADAR keys for use in disabled toilets across the UK. They will also provide a list of where the toilets are situated in the city. Keys cost £2.60 from Disability North or £3.00 if you would like a key to be posted to you. Contact Disability North using the details below for information about how to pay.
The Hunt and Almshouse Charity provides one-off grants to older or disabled people in need, for items such as computer equipment, essential household items and mobility equipment such as wheelchairs. Grants will be a maximum of £500 for women and £100 for men. This is bacause the majority of the Charity's funds were left in trust for women only. The Charity can accept applications from people who:
- live in England; and
- are in receipt of State Pension or a disability benefit; and
- are in receipt of a means-tested benefit (e.g Income Support, Housing Benefit); and
- live alone
For further information or to apply for a grant visit the website or contact the Hunt and Almshouse Charity using the details below.
Shelter North East can offer information and advice if you are having problems with issues such as care assessments, carers, equipment and aids, Direct Payments or accessing services. Contact them using the details below for further information.
Contact Information
Adult Services Team Newcastle City Council
Shieldfield Centre, 4-8 Clarence Walk, Shieldfield, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE2 1AL.
Telephone : 0191 278 8377, Fax : 0191 278 8312.
BLISS=Ability
34-36 New Green Street, South Shields, Tyne and Wear, NE33 5DL.
Telephone : 0191 427 1666, Fax : 0191 496 7573.
Email : enquiries@blissability.co.uk
Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB)
St Cuthberts Chambers, 35 Nelson Street, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 5AN.
Telephone : 08701 264 015, Fax : (0191) 232 0461.
Disability Equipment Register
4 Chatterton Road, Yate, Bristol, BS37 4BJ.
Telephone : 01454 318818.
Disability North
The Dene Centre, Castle Farm Road, Gosforth, Newcastle Upon Tyne, NE3 1PH.
Telephone : 0191 284 0480, Fax : 0191 213 0910, Minicom : 0191 285 7261.
Email : reception@disabilitynorth.org.uk
Hunt and Almshouse Charity
Telephone : 020 7213 0562.
Email : charitiesadmin@skinners.org.uk
Royal British Legion
48 Pall Mall, London, SW1Y 5JY.
Telephone : 08457 725 725.
Shelter North East Housing Aid Centre
1-2 Blackfriars Court, Dispensary Lane, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 4XB.
Telephone : 0844 515 1601, Fax : 0844 515 2914.
Email : tyneside@shelter.org.uk
SSAFA Forces Help
MEA House, Ellison Place, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 8XS.
Telephone : 0191 232 6218.
Email : Tyne.Wear@ssafa.org.uk
Article last updated September 8, 2008 11:03 am
