Having the right equipment and aids can be important to independent living. Some may be related to a particular health need, others to assist you with particular tasks. Your doctor can prescribe certain items from an approved list. You can get some items through the district nurse - this will usually need an assessment and recommendation by a nurse or therapist. Items include: Other health equipment available includes: Your doctor can also refer you to specialist services for other kinds of
health equipment. You can also contact these specialist services directly. You can usually get equipment to help make it easier to manage at home from your local trust - following an assessment by an occupational therapist. Equipment can help with preparing food or managing personal care. For example, kettle tippers or tap turners can help in the kitchen. Furniture raisers can be used to raise the height of chairs and beds to make getting
up easier. Bath seats, raised toilet seats or hoists can help in the bathroom. Adaptations can be made to your home, such as attaching handrails, changing the position of light switches or sockets, or door entry systems. Assistive technology is a term for equipment or products that can make it easier for you to manage at home. Generally, you can get this equipment through your local Health and Social Care Trust, following an assessment by a suitable professional - for example occupational therapist, district nurse or physiotherapist. Assistive
technology can help with a range of daily living tasks such as managing your personal care, assisting with your mobility and transfers. Examples include: Proper supply of this equipment can help to support you and/or your carer for your safety, independence and quality of life. You need to contact your local Trust to get in
touch with the relevant team and professional. Your GP or any other health professional involved in your care, such as a social worker may be able to help you with this. Adaptations can also be made to your property to make sure your home environment is safe and accessible. These changes can range from minor works like hand rails, stair rails, door widening and shower installation to major works such as as ground floor bedroom extensions. Generally an
assessment by an occupational therapist is needed to access these services. Assistance dogs are not suitable for everyone. Whether an assistance dog would be suitable for you must be decided taking your individual
circumstances into account. Assistance dogs need to be looked after, groomed, fed, exercised and taken to the vet just like any other dog. For many people assistance dogs have brought a great deal of independence and confidence, as well as companionship into their lives. Dogs for blind or visually impaired peopleGuide Dogs for the Blind Association has assistance dogs for people with disability and offers training and support for people with sight loss who would like to have a guide dog. Some dogs are trained specifically to help with certain tasks. To become a guide dog owner, you must be 16 or over, resident in the UK and have a significant visual loss which may be alongside other disabilities. You must also be able to use and care for the dog.
Dogs for deaf or hearing impaired peopleHearing Dogs for Deaf People train dogs to alert the deaf person to sounds they are unable to hear such as alarm clocks, babies crying, smoke alarms and many others sounds. To become a hearing dog owner, you must be severely hard of hearing or profoundly deaf and be over 18 years old. You must also be able to care for the dog.
Other assistance dogsSome charities train dogs to assist and support people with a particular disability. Disability assistance dogs can be trained to do many things. Examples include:
Dogs can also be trained in other ways, for example, to alert owners of an imminent epileptic seizure.
Wheelchair ServiceIf you need a wheelchair, the Department of Health's Wheelchair Service may provide one. Wheelchairs can be manual or powered; there are four different types of powered wheelchair and you will be assessed to make sure your needs are met. The Department of Health's Wheelchair Services are managed by the Regional Disablement Centre at Musgrave Park. There are also services from local assessment centres within the health care trusts in Londonderry, Enniskillen, Armagh, Newry and Antrim. An assessment of your needs is carried out by an occupational therapist who will recommend the wheelchair that best meets your needs.
Basic process for wheelchair provision:
Wheelchairs can be manual or powered and may have accessories such as cushions, armrests and trays. Referrals and assessmentsReferralsYou will be referred by a hospital, doctor, consultant or occupational therapist. Consideration will be given to the nature and level of your disability and/or medical condition, your lifestyle and needs, where and when you will use the wheelchair and your ability to use a particular type of wheelchair. Sometimes more than one type of wheelchair may be needed. AssessmentsAssessments are normally carried out at the Regional Disablement Centre, or at a local assessment centre or at the clients’ own home. The person doing the assessment will be a professional person who is qualified in wheelchair assessments - for example, an occupational therapist. Occasionally, a hospital consultant or doctor may prescribe a wheelchair. The process may also involve a rehabilitation engineer who will make any adjustments or add features and fixtures such as special postural seating. Where necessary, a specialist team can give assessments for equipment for people with severe physical disabilities who cannot use standard wheelchairs and/or controls. The assessment may include other professionals across health, education and social services. This is especially important if the wheelchair is for a child who will have development needs. All the situations in which a wheelchair may be used - such as at school, using transport and social activities - will be part of the assessment. Parents and carers should also be part of the process and their opinions and views will be considered. Ask your local social services if you need help with transport. Re-assessment of your needsWhen a person's needs change, a review may be carried out. This may include, for example, changing from a manual to a powered wheelchair. Receiving your wheelchair, maintenance and repairTimescales in which your wheelchair will be delivered can vary depending on the type of wheelchair provided and local resources. It may be from 'standard stock', ordered from a supplier, or 'bespoke' (made to measure). For a bespoke wheelchair, you may have to wait up to a maximum of 18 weeks. When it's ready, there is a formal handover of the wheelchair which could either be at the Regional Disablement Centre or local clinic or at your home (or where you are living). This should involve:
If you moveIf you move to a different area, the wheelchair should go with you. Depending on what type of agreement you have, the new Wheelchair Service may take over the future maintenance of equipment. Minor repairs can often be done at your home. Types of powered wheelchairIndoor and outdoor powered wheelchairs are for use by people with disabilities who cannot propel a manual wheelchair. There are criteria for using some types of electric wheelchair, for example, meeting DVLA eye test rules for road use, or the need for an attendant to go to a wheelchair clinic/centre along with the user. 'Attendant' means someone who helps push a manual wheelchair or controls a powered wheelchair on someone else's behalf. There are two types of powered wheelchair offered because a user cannot propel or use a manual wheelchair:
Highway regulations group outdoor powered wheelchairs into two categories, Class 2 and Class 3:
Rules 36-46 of the Highway Code cover powered wheelchairs and mobility scooters. Wheelchairs - hiring or buying a wheelchairFind out where can you buy or hire a wheelchair in Northern Ireland. Charities and other organisationsYou can get temporary, holiday and short-term loan wheelchairs from the British Red Cross, Shopmobility and Disability Action. Disability Action also offers advice about aids and equipment, holiday travel, housing issues, community care, disability legislation, mobility and motability.
Employment - the Access to Work programmeWhere wheelchairs are needed for specific work purposes they may be funded through the Department for the Economy's Access to Work programme. New or existing wheelchair users may be referred to this programme either from existing statutory providers or via the Access to work advisor in local Social Security / Jobs & Benefits offices.
Commercial companiesThere are many companies that hire and sell mobility products - often with someone coming to your home to show products to you. These can be found by searching online, in disability magazines or in the phonebook. Independent adviceIf you decide to buy your own wheelchair, make sure you get some advice beforehand. Take your time to shop around and try different models - this way you can make sure that you get a wheelchair you feel comfortable with. The Disabled Living Foundation has published some useful advice which you can download from its website.
Limbs, prosthetics and surgical appliancesYou can get artificial limbs and surgical appliances and have them maintained and repaired for free on the Health Service. Artificial limbs and prostheticsYour hospital consultant will refer you to the Limb Fitting Centre at Musgrave Park Hospital. Each limb needs to be individually made and fitted for each patient and there is a need for expert clinical supervision of the entire surgical, fitting and support process. You should also receive training on how to use your artificial limb.
Surgical appliancesIf you need a surgical appliance, your doctor will refer you to a healthcare professional who can supply or prescribe an appliance to meet your needs. Some examples of surgical appliances are:
What is the most important step in transferring a patient to a wheelchair or after moving them in the bed?Position and lock the wheelchair close to the bed. Remove the armrest nearest to the bed, and swing away both leg rests. Help the patient turn onto his or her side, facing the wheelchair. Put an arm under the patient's neck with your hand supporting the shoulder blade; put your other hand under the knees.
How would you transfer a person to or from a wheelchair?Put one of your knees between the person's knees. Hold the gait belt or its handles. Slowly slide the patient across the board to the wheelchair. Ask the person to help by pushing his or her palms on the board and moving towards the wheelchair.
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