Who can help? - key sources of information for older and disabled people (view report contents)
Making your home easier to live in
Q. How can I find a builder I can trust? How can I adapt my home to make it easier to live in? How can I get small odd jobs done?
Adaptations and repairs
Repairs and adaptations can be difficult if you are unable to do-it-yourself
and don’t have much money. Many areas have home improvement schemes
such as Care & Repair and Staying Put
who give advice and practical help. They also know about where to get
help towards costs of any work you need doing. Some have Handyman schemes
- people who will do odd jobs for you, free. They also have lists of local
services such as plumbers that they have approved. To find the nearest
contact
Foundations
Bleaklow House
Howard Town Mill
Glossop
Derbyshire SK13 8HT
Tel: 01457 891909
Fax: 01457 869361
e-mail: foundations@cel.co.uk
www.foundations.uk.com
If there aren’t any schemes in your area, ask your local authority (under the name of your Council in the phone book) if they know of anything similar.
Q. Can I get help with money for essential repairs?
If you are disabled or have a long term illness, your local authority has to help you with adaptations to your home or any equipment that they accept you need. This involves an assessment, and the help you get will depend partly on your income and their finances. Contact your local authority.
Older home owners: financial help with repairs and adaptations (No. 13) - free factsheet from the Age Concern Information Line freephone 0800 00 99 66.
Q. Where can I get expert advice about equipment and ways of doing things?
Getting an assessment
If you have a disability your local social services department (social work department in Scotland) can arrange for an occupational therapist or other expert to come and visit you and discuss your home and any equipment you may need. This assessment is worth having, as you will be given information on ways of doing things as well as on equipment which might help. Assessments are free, but there may be a long waiting list. The local authority may provide some of the equipment after the assessment.
You can get a private assessment if you are prepared to pay for it. To
find a local occupational therapist who will take private clients contact
Occupational Therapists
in Independent Practice (OTIP) on 0800 389 4873.
See the section on ‘Getting more information and
advice’ for more ideas about where to go for advice.
Q. Where can I find information on domestic equipment such as washing machines which are easy to use?
Easy to use domestic appliances
Appliances that you can use easily are part of being independent. All too often controls are difficult to grip, hard to set and labels and instructions difficult to read.
Free factsheets with details of design features to look out for and independent assessments of a range of products are available on this website and include kettles; vacuum cleaners; washing machines; microwave ovens; tumble driers; microwave ovens; irons and toasters.
Q. What is there available to help in the kitchen?
Making your kitchen easier to use Ricability.
Q. Where can I find out about helpful gadgets - for example to help turn on taps, open jars, washing, bathing, cooking, dressing?
Handy gadgets
There are hundreds of aids which make your home easier and give you greater
independence. Some are supplied by local authorities and health authorities.
They can be bought from chemists, specialist shops and by mail order and
over the internet. Gas, electricity and elephone companies all have devices
for people who have difficulty in using standard equipment.
What’s new? newer devices
and gadgets for older and disabled people 2007
This Ricability report provides information on newer products, available
in the high street and some specialised assistive technology equipment
designed to make everyday tasks easier. It is a useful starting point
to see what is now available.
Getting information and advice
There’s lots of information around which will tell you about helpful gadgets.
Disabled Living Centres - are Centres up and down the country where you can see and try out mainstream equipment and special aids. Expert staff are on hand to give free information and advice. To find your nearest contact:
Assist UK
Redbank House
4 St Chad’s Street
Manchester M8 8QA
Tel: 0870 770 2866
Text 0870 770 5813
Fax: 0870 770 2867
e-mail: general.info@assist-uk.org
www.assist-uk.org
The Disabled Living Foundation helpline answers questions on aids and equipment, and has lists of manufacturers and suppliers. The DLF also have useful publications on equipment:
380-384 Harrow Road
London W9 2HU
Local rate Helpline: 0845 130 9177
(10am to 4pm)
Fax: 020 7266 2922
Textphone: 020 7432 8009
Email: advice@dlf.org.uk
www.dlf.org.uk
DLF have a bathing products website: www.bathingmadeeasy.com
Mail order catalogues
Specialist companies sell gadgets and aids by mail order. Pictures and information in their catalogues can be useful. Available from:
-
Keep Able 08705 202122
- Ways and Means from
Nottingham Rehab Supplies 0845 121 8111 (8:30am
to 5pm weekdays)
- Ability from British Red Cross 0870
739 7391
- Homecraft Ability One from Smith and
Nephew 01623 757955
-
RNIB (Royal National Institute of the Blind)
105 Judd Street
London
WC1H 9NE
Helpline 0845 766 9999
Text: 18001 0845 766 9999
Fax: 020 7388 2034
e-mail: helpline@rnib.org.uk
www.rnib.org.uk
- Solutions from :
RNID (For Deaf and Hard of Hearing People)
19-23 Featherstone Street
London EC1Y 8SL
Telephone: 020 7296 8000
Textphone: 020 7296 8001
Fax: 020 7296 8199
e-mail: information@rnid.org.uk
www.rnid.org.uk
RNID information lines (Freephone)
Telephone: 0808 808 0123
Textphone: 0808 808 9000
- Partially Sighted Society 01302 323132
Page updated: Feb 2008
Report contents
Introduction
Communication
Caring for someone
Getting
around outside
Holidays
and clubs
Legal
advice
Making
your home easier to live in
Money
More
information and advice
