A range of equipment is available to help make these tasks easier and to maintain independence. If you're caring for someone who is ill or has a disability, equipment can make it easier and safer for you to continue to care for them.
Equipment is available to purchase from the high street, through homeware catalogues or online retailers and it can be delivered straight to your door.
Before you buy or loan any equipment it's worth getting independent advice. This will make sure the type of equipment you're getting meets your needs.
These websites are very helpful:
- AskSara is an easy-to-use way to get personalised product advice - use this to look at ways to help with daily activities in your own home
- Living Made Easy is a service provided by the Disabled Living Foundation that can advise on choosing a wide range of daily living equipment, email info@dlf.org.uk
- NHS Choices provides a guide to care equipment, aids and adaptations
- Money Helper has guidance about shopping for disability aids and equipment - this includes how and where to shop around for the most suitable product at the cheapest price
- Age UK provides a fact sheet called disability equipment and home adaptations
Local pharmacies and GP surgeries often have information about where to purchase equipment, and if you have a health or social care professional working with you, they will be able to give advice on what equipment may be suitable for you and how to access this equipment.
Buying your own equipment
Whilst we are unable to recommend individual websites and no items displayed have been tested by us, the following list gives an idea of a range of self-purchase options:
Community equipment service
Medequip Assistive Technology is the provider of the Community Equipment Service on our behalf and the NHS Derby and Derbyshire Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG). Equipment is supplied on a long-term loan basis and should be returned to Medequip when no longer needed.
Returning equipment
If you have already had equipment loaned that you no longer need, Medequip can arrange a free collection, to recycle and help others in need, email derbycustomerservice@medequip-uk.com or tel: 01773 604426, or return it yourself to:
Unit 3 Wimsey Way
Alfreton Trading Estate
DE55 4LS
Opening hours: 8.30am to 5pm Monday to Friday.
You can also return the equipment yourself to some of our recycling centres.
Mobility
If your primary concern is difficulty with mobility inside or outside of the home, the NHS are best placed to support this where:
- you feel that you would benefit from a walking aid (this includes walking sticks, crutches, walking and zimmer frames, 3 or 4-wheeled walkers or rollators, and wheelchairs)
- you need rehabilitation (for example physiotherapy) or technique support to improve your mobility
- you are struggling with falling, and you haven't yet discussed this with a health professional
Contact your GP surgery to ask for a mobility assessment.
Or if you have a condition affecting your bones, muscles, nerves or joints, you can refer yourself to Derbyshire Community Health Servicesor tel: 01246 565050.
Find out more about services available in Derbyshire to help protect you from falling, or reduce the chance of falling.
Social care support
If you are unable to find a piece of equipment to help or you are having more difficulty managing at home, we may be able to provide more support.
Contact Call Derbyshire, email contact.centre@derbyshire.gov.uk, tel: 01629 533190 for advice and information about equipment and community services that could support you. More intensive or complex needs that cannot be addressed through Call Derbyshire, will be referred to a local team for further assessment.
Our 'you and your home - equipped for life leaflet' is attached to this page and gives further information about equipment options.